Challenge Me

A couple of days ago, I picked up my Moutain Equipment Coop magazine that had been lying by bedside buried amongst piles of books and magazine. I had the thought to read it as when I recieved it I didn't really even look at it, I just sort of tossed it aside.

After flipping through the pages of magazine and thinking about what my next purchase would be(perahaps a new small carry all?)I came across page 79, to which there was a small article about two contest winners who had received a $1000 gift card from MEC.

Basically, Grant and Jen as well as their roommate made a pledge to not buy ANYTHING for a whole year. That means clothing, cds, makeup, shoes, etc. You get the point. And at the end of the year, whoever had the least amount of garbage in their bin won. It's called the CLEAN BIN PROJECT.

After going to the projects site(www.cleanbin.wordpress.com) and reading more about the challenge, I got to thinking about how much "stuff" every person buys on a daily basis. Starbucks coffee, garbage. Cd wrappers, garbage. Tooth brush packaging, garbage. It adds up over the year!

I began to think about my own purchases, and how much stuff I buy that I really don't need. Yesterday I bought some makeup brushes that I had been eyeing for a while which by the way, were on sale. Still, I can't help but think that I didn't actually need them. And how about my slurpee run almost daily to the Mac's beside us. Those plastic cups they come in add up!

So while I don't think I could be as hardcore as Grant, Jen and their roommate Rhyannon(think composting, recycling, and even makeing your own cleaning products including toothpaste, yes toothpaste!)I think that this can teach us/me/we about how we choose to spend our money.

So, Im going to challenge myself to limit what I purchase to a minimum. I will try not to buy anything that I do not need, and if I do purchase something, I will be sure that it is resuable, and that I don't buy anything that I already have(for example I already have enough shampoo to last me a year).

I am interested in seeing how this challenge will stretch my will power.

I would like to encourage my friends to hold me accountable to my actions, keeping me focused and cheering me on.

Wish me Luck!