Jenny’s mom sent us an interesting article from the Dallas Morning News. I hope you read the whole article, but it’s about a couple who decided to go an entire year without buying anything new. Used items were okay, as were necessary purchases such as gas, food, and toiletries. But it did mean no new clothes, games, electronics, cars, or toys, even as gifts. From this experiment they saved a huge amount of money and realized that they really didn’t need all the stuff they used to buy.

Other people go on short-term spending freezes where they don’t buy ANYTHING for a week or two at a time except absolute necessities. When they’re hungry, they dig something out of the pantry. If they “need” a new pair of shoes, they just keep wearing what they have until the freeze lifts (thaws?).

Jenny and I are attempting a short-term spending freeze right now, with the following exceptions:

• Gas
• Dinner out with friends on Sunday nights IF we split something)
• Um, anything else that we absolutely cannot live without

So far it hasn’t been too bad except that my cell phone holster broke. I have a Blackjack with a large (already cracked) screen and exposed QUERTY keyboard, so I am prone to accidentally dialing people if I carry it in my pocket. So if you get a call from me but all you hear is background noise, yell really loud to show me what I’ve done. =)