No Buy

My no buy was kind of a bust.

I found out I’d be losing my job mid February so I put in offers on 3 shirts on Poshmark. All of them were accepted. Don’t shop when you’re sad kids.

The no music rule was mildly frustrating. iTunes makes it impossible to add just a song to your wishlist from the mobile store. Surface Pressure in Encanto resonated very deeply with me and I wanted to rock out.

From there, I tried to find more kid music I liked and would be fun for the toddler. Do you know how hard it is to find enjoyable children’s music as an adult? When Parry Gripp had a whole album of silly songs I didn’t hate, I was on it.

I need to be very careful with my spending but I also don’t see much point in denying myself for an arbitrary reason. For example, there’s a sweatshirt I was eyeing from Athleta that was on final sale clearance. I have it in a print that I’ve been wearing a lot this winter. I’ve seen the color in person and liked it.

There was an extra 20% that was only for a few days. The only reason I wouldn’t buy it was because I told myself to wait until February. I ordered it, the extra 20% paid for shipping, and I don’t regret it. This purchase was more carefully thought out than a lot of previous purchases. I think that’s more of the point. ‘This item I want is as cheap as it’s going to get. Now is a good time to buy it.’

I’ve got my eye on a few other items but I know clothing is one of my worst weaknesses. I want to do a more thorough inventory of all of my clothes next month. What gaps do I have? What do I have too much of? What can I part with and sell?

The rest of my clothing purchases this year will need to be more carefully curated. This is why Pinterest is a thing. I can keep track of what I like and periodically check for sales.

For music, I need to stick to YouTube rather than immediately buying albums. If I listen to it a lot on there, then it would be worth purchasing. I was hoping to use Spotify but I’m with Neil Young on this one.

New Year No Buy

I have too much stuff. One of the big things my husband and I want to do in the new year is declutter and get more control over our condo. The last thing I need to do is add to the chaos.

For the month of January, I’m not allowed to buy the following.

No makeup

In the last 6 months, I can count the number of times I’ve worn makeup on one hand. With caution around the latest COVID variant, I have even less of a reason. There’s lots of fun cosmetics out there (ya girl loves color shift) and I don’t need any of them.

No lotion

I have multiple lotions to work through before I order any more

No soap or body wash

I’m friendly with a soap maker. I currently have a backlog of fun soap to enjoy. If you know of any affordable and cruelty body wash, I might consider it to mix it up later in the year.

No shoes

I have winter boots and sneakers that will serve my purposes well. I cannot fathom a reason to buy shoes before February.

No audiobooks

I have a backlog of great options and access to multiple libraries.

No ebooks

I have a backlog of great options and access to multiple libraries.

No physical books

I’ve barely read physical books for 2 years. My spawn is not getting less grabby or demanding. I can skip this for a month or three.

No music

I have large and various collection of music. Unless Taylor drops another surprise album, I’m not spending money on it this month.

No jewelry

I wear the same stud earrings 95% of the time so my piercings don’t close. I rarely wear necklaces or scarves because I wear my mask on a cord.

No clothes

This is one of the tougher ones. My body has been on a weird journey since I gave birth 2 months before the pandemic hit. Finding clothes that fit well has been work.

I found cotton blend bootcut pants from Macy’s and bought 3. I found wicking polyester bootcut pants from Target and bought 3. I found a tee that fit well at Costco. I have it in 4 colors. I found a good wicking tank top and have it in several colors.

I’m slowly starting to have a uniform. Clothing that just works is a beautiful thing. Getting here was such a journey that I got in the habit of always being on the lookout. I need to break that twitch.

I’ve got 3 content subscriptions. I’m keeping Libro.fm to support my local indie. I’m currently trying to pause my Audible subscription. Their originals keep me coming back but I’m trying to space out how often they get my money. Harry Potter just came to Kindle Unlimited so I’m keeping that for now but would like to cancel it by the end of Q1.

One thing I want to do with the money I’ll be saving is getting some things mended and altered at the tailor. Use what you’ve got.

Black Friday Plans

There’s a lot of minimal criticism for Black Friday and with good reason. It’s starting even before Thanksgiving.

Australian Minimalist Reacts to pre-Black Friday

The Harsh Truth

The Minimalist Podcast

I’m trying to minimize but I lack money and need a few things. Hubs and I go to 2 places after lunch and we’re done. I have to work in the morning so I don’t want to go hard. We don’t need to.

Target

Athletic pullover – I know the exact type, color, and size. Cartwheel has 5% off.

Maybe winter socks or a lame movie I enjoyed. Food is always a viable option.

Kohl’s

Sneakers – I got a fantastic deal on my preferred brand last year. I’ve got a weird size so I was able to find them no problem.

Sweatpants – Winter is coming and I walk dogs. I need sweatpants in a plus size so I can layer them over leggings for warmth. I’ve got a couple already so I’m thinking 2 pairs tops.

Scarf – I got my southern SIL in the sibling secret Santa. My plan is to find a couple of good used books and wrap them in a nice fashion scarf.

I’ve got my eye on some items from Athleta which I’ll order online. Same with some Jurassic Park items from Hot Topic they recently got back in stock. Ebates and Friday discounts please.

I’ll be partaking in Small Business Saturday at my favorite bookstore. I’m toying with the idea of buying Michelle Obama’s memoir but the waitlist at the library is moving at a good clip.

That’s pretty much it. Nothing too insane since I plan on living cheaply until my next paycheck at the end of the month.

November Clear Out

I intended to start the minimalist game at the start of November but it hasn’t gone quite as planned. Instead of doing things in a regimented manner, I’ve been doing bigger clear outs. I’ll probably get rid of fewer things overall but there’s plenty of other months for that.

I gutted my nonfiction, fiction, and YA books. I plan on doing a similar gut of my graphic novels. I’m gradually cleaning out bits of junk mail. I got rid of multiple pairs of jeans and added several pieces of clothing to my ‘to sell’ stack. I cut the amount of makeup I own by a third.

I’m hoping to go through at least part of our coat closet and make some space in there. I took a box of board games to our library for donation. I should do a thorough clean out of my costumes and board games.

I’ll probably never be a ‘real’ minimalist but I need to take a page out of their books. Less stuff, more life.

Gray Sweats

I am a big fan of shopping ethically. It’s a great way to help the environment and let your dollars talk. I can’t always do it as much as I’d like. An absurd amount of ethical companies don’t make plus sizes. Thrifting is very hit or miss, especially when you’re a certain size or body type.

Sometimes I have to buy things new that likely came from unethical conditions because they’re affordable and I know they’ll fit. But sweatshops are not the absolute evil we are lead to believe.

Some are worse than others with Gap and its subsidiaries literally getting awards for their ample human rights violations. Even if it’s a loophole to get their stuff secondhand, I still feel kind of dirty. It’s not that hard to agree to not beat your staff with rubber hoses (yes, really).

Sweatshops are also frequently located in places awash in abject poverty. Forget get the bootstraps-American-dream BS westerners pretend is possible. There is no good way out for these people unless a micro-finance charity shows up. The working conditions are bad and often deplorable but it’s work where there might otherwise be none.

Child labor is not good but in places with this level of poverty, what else are these kids doing? They’re not off having a childhood as we understand it. There is not a branch of the Boys and Girls Club in Bangladesh IIRC. These kids are trying to survive or help their family. My husband had a classmate in college who said exactly this.

This awful factory jobs gave these kids somewhere to go, something to do, and a way to help their families. Is it good or ethical? Hell no but there is a moral gray area buried within this awfulness.

This problem exists because of bigger wealth inequality all over the planet. I think we need more ethical options but if you have to skip them, you are not a bad person.

Sweatshops beat abject poverty. Child labor gives these kids somewhere to go, something to do, and money to bring home. It’s not good but it’s not pure evil. Still avoid the worst of the worst and thrift where you can but don’t beat yourself up over not being able to live the ethical fashion dream. Do the best you can with what you have where you are.

Going Greener

Reducing your carbon footprint isn’t that hard if you start small. My footprint is still bigger than what I’d like but I’ve taken the edge off by doing the following:

Unplugging shit

Did you know appliances will still leech energy even if they’re turned off? Unplug your toaster, blender, chargers and any electronics you don’t need. TVs and internet stuff might be a little more complicated but unplug what you can.

Changing my laundry routine

My favorite detergent was discontinued. It seemed like a good time to try something new so we decided to go really green with econuts. Throw a few in a bag and into the wash and your clothes still get clean. We added a plant based stain remover and are killing our dryer sheets before switching to something else to prevent static.

Because I wear a lot of athletic wear for work, my clothes generate a lot of problematic microfibers in the wash. Insert the GUPPYFRIEND wash bag! I haven’t seen a ton of fibers but it definitely catches something.

Eating less red meat

I’ve ever been much of a hardcore carnivore. There’s all sorts of info about how the cattle industry is bad for the planet so it makes my ambivalence even better. I even have days where I don’t eat any meat.

Removing my makeup remover

I switched to an oil based makeup remover instead of those wipes that just go in a landfill. Use oil, use face wash or baby shampoo depending on the intensity of makeup, scrub with washcloth, done. I use baby wipes when I travel but I’ve started using coconut oil as a travel conditioner and moisturizer. We’ll see if that changes things.

Thrifting

Buy secondhand. Textile waste in the western world is insane. Keep that down by using thrift stores, GoodWill, Poshmark, thredUP, eBay, or garage sales. It’s also cheaper. On the same token, sell or donate what you don’t want instead of throwing it away. What can’t be donated should be recycled. Textile recycling is a thing and I’ll be doing a drop off sometime this month.

Personal rant: I sold items to thredUP stuffing that bag to the gills and paying for them to send the rejects back (they charge for this). The prices they offered me for my items resulted in me turning a profit of $0. I still feel extremely ripped off. Several influencers I follow have been hyping them but I’m not a fan.

Changing how I shave

I’ve been dry shaving with coconut oil. It shortens my shower time and I don’t buy shave cream/gel. I have to use a rag to get the hair off the razor but it’s still better than wasting water going blind in the shower. Sugar scrubs are also supposed to be a good option.

Changing my period products

I switched to reusable pads and period underwear. I made the switch right before the hottest, mightiest day of summer which made the day so much more comfortable for me. Diva cups are also a good reusable option but I haven’t used one personally. If you still want or need disposables, switch to organic cotton.

Recycling and Reusing at Snack Time

Napkins and paper towels are products you buy just to throw away. Pick one to switch with a reusable product. Hubs and I use and love flannel napkins and recycle or compost paper towels. We discovered a local company that makes reusable snack bags, among other things.

Composting

This one won’t be doable for everyone but Hubs and I live 2 blocks from an organic market. We have a little trash can in the kitchen and use compostable liners. In addition to veggies, fruit, and bread, we can also compost a lot of paper products.

There’s more I can do but these are the ones I do regularly and easily integrated into my routine.

The Privilege of Minimalism

I’ve been watching a lot of minimalist videos on YouTube since I’ve been especially broke lately. I came across an article by Chelsea Fagan of The Financial Diet. She has some serious vitriol for minimalism.

Her critique of the ‘no-makeup makeup’ reminded me of The Anna Edit, who freely admits to liking that look. Anna has professional photographers take a lot of her insta photos, rocks purses that cost hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars, and uses makeup that would kill a week’s worth of my pay. While she makes some fun videos, that life is not attainable.

Anna probably had money to start with and, through hard work and luck, created a life on YouTube and Insta that makes some people hate themselves. So much on social media screams, to quote Fagan, “Look at me! Look at all of the things I have refused to buy, and the incredibly-expensive, sparse items I have deemed worthy instead!”

Part of the minimalist mystique is that it’s voluntary. I think this is why the KonMari method blew up the way it did. You can look at your stuff, decide what brings you ‘joy’ and get rid of excess. Some people can’t get rid of a beat up old coat that doesn’t spark joy because they don’t have a replacement.

“The only people who can “practice” minimalism in any meaningful way are people upon whom it isn’t forced by financial or logistical circumstances”
I missed half a paycheck to take a vacation and it definitely screwed up my finances. I’m forced to not spend extraneously because I have bills to pay. However, I like that I’m being forced to change my ways. I don’t like being this broke but I’m hoping to learn something from this crappy situation.

I don’t live in poverty but it can warp your thinking in ways people who’ve never struggled with it don’t understand. According to John Cheese, you develop tastes for cheap, processed food and often don’t know how to handle money. They will buy the cheaper shoes even if it will fall apart sooner and investing in a better quality item would save them money in the long run. This concept well described by Terry Pratchett.

Some important tenants of minimalism could be useful to people in low income situations where an extra $50 a month could make a huge difference. However, a lot of the more visible minimalists can be pretentious shits so a lot of folks in dire straits aren’t interested in what they have to say.

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, now famous for their devotion to minimalism, write about exactly this but do it in such a way you kind of want to smack them. “If we have less money, then we must be more intentional with how we spend it” is a perfect point that gets overshadowed by the ‘look how smart I am’ name drops in the last paragraph.

I think minimalism started as a natural response to the economic bust of the late aughts. People getting loans they couldn’t pay to buy houses they couldn’t fill eventually tanked out economy. Rather than dive into the consumerist lifestyle that impacted an entire generation, people started going tiny, buying locally, and trying to learn from those mistakes.

As with any major social change, you have people who go to the extreme. These are the spiritual minimalists like Nicodemus and Millburn who promise total life satisfaction. They have a documentary, a podcast, books, and tours. They got rich off capitalizing on this movement. If they’re smart with their money, they will be able to live off this for the rest of their lives.

I think there are important takeaways from consuming less, consuming consciously, and spending wisely. You do not have to be all in or voluntarily participating to find what about minimalism resonates with you. Making it your lifestyle doesn’t make you a bad person; failing to see your own privilege makes you a bad person. I aspire to be more minimal in a lot of aspects of my life. That doesn’t make me a bad or more enlightened person; it just means I’m figuring out what works best for me.

Fast Fashion Fast Slowed

I was bad. While I didn’t give my business to some of the more notorious fast fashion brands (Zara, Forever 21), I didn’t participate in ethical fashion either.

I needed more wicking capris for work. I need to walk half a mile to the metro and I get overheated easily. I’m sweating like crazy by the time I get to the station and the mediocre temperature controls aren’t great there either. Basically, if I wear it out, it’s going in the laundry. I don’t have in-unit laundry so I’m at the mercy of my floor on when I can do laundry. Usually it’s not a problem but I don’t like my wardrobe decisions being at the mercy of strangers.

I checked Poshmark but they didn’t have what I needed so I caved and went to Kohl’s website. I got some wicking clothes there for Firefly so I knew what brands I preferred and what sizes I needed. I got a couple of capri leggings, one wicking shirt, and a new sports bra.

I wasn’t happy but I’m fat and have a limited budget. Meeting those needs is not that easy so I tried to just keep it simple. It should have ended there. But it didn’t.

I picked up my order from a local Kohl’s because the shipping was free. I got trapped in the store by an unexpected deluge and started surfing the web. I found Torrid’s new Harry Potter line for the summer.

This kimono will be mailed to a local store for me to pick up (again, free shipping). I could argue that it was on sale and I used ebates and those are totally my colors but those are justifications. I didn’t need it; I just wanted it. Whether Torrid is fast fashion or not is a debate for another post but it’s definitely not ideal.

Either way, I participated in the consumerist machine and am here for atone for my sins. I started this for a reason and I need to remember that reason. I need to change my habits to stop hurting our planet and my bank account.

Love/Hate Athleta

I’d heard my FSIL laud Athleta’s leggings so I poked my head into their store when I was at a local mall. I left with an insanely comfy cardigan that I later figured out was magnetic. I’ve worn it several times since then and love it. Hell, I’m wearing it as I type this.

If you buy something in store, you get a reusable tote bag instead of a regular shopping bag. Another big plus but it also acts as free advertising for them so take that how you will.

Later, I realized some things about Athleta and their history that made me question how great this brand truly was. I love some of their products but some of their history is genuinely troubling. Here are some of the things that contribute to my love/hate relationship with this brand.

Their Sizing

Athleta actually has a pretty generous sizing. It’s unusual for me to walk into a store and walk out with a size XL dress that looks good on me. While most of their extended sizes aren’t stocked in the stores, their return policy is very generous. It still omits the far end of the fat spectrum but many stores don’t bother to include any of us so it’s a nice change.

Their parent company is reprehensible

In 2014, Gap Inc. received the Public Eye Award which are given out to companies with the worst human rights and environmental records. They have had factories permit abuse of workers, child labor, and ignored basic safety regulations.

How does Old Navy sell shirts for just $5? At the expense of workers and our planet.

They have ethically made and/or sustainable clothing

I’m fat so finding something that’s comfortable, flattering, affordable, and good for my conscience is nigh impossible. The fact that Athleta has sustainable and ethically made options in my size is refreshing. While not cheap, they’re not obscene either.

However, nothing is marked as both sustainable and ethically made. You must pick one or the other. Those options only make up a small percentage of what’s available on the website so what about the rest of their stock? Was it made using the deplorable labor practices from this 2013 article? How bad is it for the environment?

The prices

I can readily accept I’ll have to pay more for clothing that is ethically and/or sustainably made. It’s the nature of the beast. However, since only a portion of Athleta’s offerings fall into this category, why is everything else so expensive?

This dress, which I bought on a whim and love, costs $89. It has the sustainable sticker, it’s comfy AF, and looks great. It’s a minimalist’s dream dress in a lot of ways. This dress is incredibly similar except for the hem, slightly longer sleeves, and pockets. It’s also $89 but does sweet FA for your conscience. Since this dress probably cost them less to make, why is it the same price?

Here’s another example. This dress is purple and has spaghetti straps whereas this dress is gray and has short sleeves. They have the same name and the same price. Why does one get the stamp and the other doesn’t? How much more work would it have been to make sure the other dress from the same product line didn’t hurt the planet?

By charging the same price for garments with one being made kindly and the other not, one of them generates a significant markup. They can pretend to be doing some good and still scam customers

Conclusion

Striving to live more minimally means consuming mindfully and knowing yourself. I know I love some of their products but I also know it’s a problematic brand. If/when I buy from them again, I will only buy their fair trade or sustainable products. By putting my dollars toward their more conscious products, I’m letting my dollars say what I want the company to hear. I can also check Poshmark and do some thrifting. It doesn’t count if I buy the bad brand secondhand, right?

The Wonders of Coconut Oil

You read that right. I am a huge fan of coconut oil. I’ve only used the kind with a texture like petroleum jelly but I know there is an oil-y form as well.

Moisturizer
I had major issues with dry skin in winter. I wound up using petroleum jelly because it was the only thing that worked but it still left me feeling greasy. Coconut oil goes on lighter, does the same work, but doesn’t feel nearly as greasy. I’ve even used it sparingly on my cheeks and it works great.

Shaving Gel
I’ve been using it to dry shave instead of shaving with soap in the shower. I’m never going back. I can jump in the shower when I’m done and I can wear my glasses and see what I’m doing the entire time. It moisturizers while you shave too.

Conditioner
There are two ways to do this, use a little bit applied directly to hair or use it as a setting treatment and washing it out. I tried the first one. It did the job but it made my hair feel a tiny bit greasy. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it. It will do in a pinch but I think I’ll stick with my current product.

Digestive Help
My little tub of organic coconut oil came with nutritional information. Yes, folks it’s entirely edible. It’s supposed to have a variety of other health benefits so I’m going to try to incorporate it into my morning smoothies.

Makeup Remover?
I have no tried this but I use another kind of oil now. When that runs out, I may see how it measures up.

Cooking?
I think this is meant more for the oil consistency but it’s supposed to be great for things like stir fry.

I’m sure there’s a variety of things but these are the things I can either verify or want to verify. I’m told it can also be used as an organic diaper cream or as part of an organic bug repellent. There are so many good things it can do, you should look into what coconut oil can do to improve your life.