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| Etruscan Pitcher |
I have been saying for years..."Glenda, use what you have, you do not need to buy anything else", as I click send for the latest order of supplies, something I just knew would make my art just that much better. Well, these past weeks have shown me that I can create using what I have. My life is changing and my cavalier love affair with money has to change with it. I retired a year ago and now live on my pension and Social Security. If I want to travel (one of my fave things in the world) I need to save and I can save a lot if I don't order the "latest and greatest".................... you name it I have to have it.
I have an artist friend who is starting month of not spending. I like that idea and have designated October as my Not Spending month. What does that mean? For me it will mean only spending on what is absolutely necessary, such as food, Sunday offering, bills. I want to see how much I really save at the end of the month. During October I am going to take stock of my art supplies, organize and label them so I really know what I have. I am going to donate the excess (I know I have some duplicates and probably triplicates laying around).
I think I am going to enjoy this process, this change, this learning to live on a limited budget. The picture I posted above was taken in Italy last year. I chose it because it is one that I would probably not use in anything and that would be a shame. Using what I have also means reassessing everything and use what would probably be an orphan languishing in saved to my computer never to use heaven.
I will be packing up my limited art palette today so my daughter can ship it to me. Time to switch to knitting mode using a limited palate of yarn and supplies. I know that my suitcase will be much lighter, my imagination richer and pocket fuller as I start my mantra now......you do not need anymore yarn. Ok, maybe I will limit myself to just yarn that I will faint if I do not buy it. Let's see how I do.
Thanks for stopping by.....Pilgrim
7 comments:
Ah...If only I could do the same. Maybe I'll join you in October for your "no-spending-month" and I'll try my best not to buy art supplies. I may die trying, but I'll give it a good ol' college try LOL!!! Good luck!
Sumaiyah, thanks for stopping by. I am going to give it the old college try also. Maybe I will blog about it. Good luck to you also
I love that you are doing a month of no spending, especially on art supplies. I have a done similar year long challenge to buy no new clothes and that included no new hats or handbags, which I just LOVE! But I also knew that I had more than enough clothes to get me through the year and it did help me start being more discerning about what clothes I would buy when the challenge was over...
This year I am doing a buy no new art supplies challenge and it's helping me be more discerning about what art supplies I will purchase in the future when this challenge is over, not to mention helping me use up what I have and see what items I don't use or want anymore.
As for living on a 'limited budget', there are so many ways to feel 'rich' that many people are not always aware of and it is most often found in the simple things, like being in good company or a tasty meal or even homemade lemonade! I can't wait to see where this month will take you =-)
Monica, you are really making me think about next year and a year long project. You have the best ideas.
I need to do the same...maybe we could get a support group going! October would be really hard for me as I love Halloween stuff...ok maybe I could do September!
The biggest thing for me when it comes to spending vs. not spending is constantly having to remind myself, "you have ENOUGH." It's that feeling of lack that I'm always battling. I -know- I am not lacking a darn thing, and yet that feeling is just ingrained in my psyche. It's not easy to overcome but the more you do, the more content you will be with -doing- things instead of -buying- things :)
There is a book I read many years ago now called Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine (see if your library has it!) that was a really interesting read of the author's experience with just that.
I enjoyed your post today! Looking forward to more :D
Cara, I agree. I was jus thinking this morning about having an over abundance of "things" thanks for reading and commenting on my post.
Carla, starting a support group will not work for me at this time. I may start a separate blog to chronicle my efforts, who knows, I also need to take this time to learn how to better manage my time.
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