First Crisis: Toothbrush!

I had my first crisis.

I lost my toothbrush.

OK, maybe it seems dramatic to call it a crisis, but as I looked around my bathroom, and it slowly dawned on me that my toothbrush was nowhere to be found, I realized I was about to have my first "But do I NEED it?" conversation with myself, and, frankly...I did not want to.

I have been using an electric toothbrush for several years.
But, like, not a nice one, ok?
A cheap, disposable one.

When my husband asked why I couldn't just clean the base and replace the head, I replied "because it was the disposable kind..." and he busted out laughing at me and said "Oh man! Really?!? That is the height of consumerism, babe!"

I was like "...I see that...now...but...obviously I didn't really ever THINK about it.
Or, if I am honest, I'm sure I did, and I dismissed it.
I justified.
I made a choice to do what I wanted to do and remain willfully ignorant. 

So.
My electric toothbrush is gone.
And I DO need a toothbrush.

My MIL puts a plain, non-electric toothbrush in my stocking every year, so as luck would have it...I DO have a new toothbrush available, so no.
I do not need a replacement for my "height of consumerism" disposable electric toothbrush.

I will be using the perfectly good REACH toothbrush my MIL lovingly placed in my stocking. When that one wears out in a couple months...I doubt I will be replacing it with the kind I like. I was making a lazy, selfish, thoughtless choice. I might buy another electric toothbrush (when the time comes), but I will be more thoughtful about the waste I am creating when I do.

-Saving money on stuff I didn't need since, like, 12 days ago.

<3 EJ

Do I NEED It?

Do I need it?

Ultimately, regardless of whatever rules I have set in place, whatever guidelines I set up, there will be times when there is seemingly no rule or guideline that addresses whatever thing is in question.

The question to ask then is; Do I need it?

Do I really NEED it?

For years, I have only written with pens with pink ink. I can almost guarantee I actually have enough pink pens and refills to make it 12 months. But if I run out...do I NEED it? What happens if I write in blue ink? Or green? Or purple? Do I really need pink pens?

No. I don't.

I want them.

I want to teach myself to feel the difference between a NEED and a WANT, and to acknowledge that difference.

So... "Do I Need It?" will be a question I ask a lot this year!

I am going to do my very best to be honest, because most of the time the answer will be no...no, I don't need it.

What I Bought on The Way Out

Once I decided not to shop for a year, I admit I panicked a bit.
I did some last minute shopping.
Is that in line with the spirit of the experiment?
Probably not.

But... it's whatever, man.

First I hit up the FreePeople sale section and choose two kimono type toppers.
Like, honestly, the VERY DEFINITION of things I DO NOT need...

($78 for the rose burnout dress, and $60 for the plaid)

I went to Tenoversix to grab a Make eyebrow pen ($20). I literally walked in yesterday and said "Quick! Sell me the eyebrow pen before it's 2018 and I can't try anything new!" (Not going to lie, so glad I did, it is a great product and gave me beautiful brows. Unless it dries out after just a few uses, I will most likely replace this when it does run out.)

I bought a beautiful ring  ($188) I do not need from a highly rated Etsy seller. I should and do feel the most guilty about this purchase, but I had Christmas money to burn and I swear my pockets were actually ON FIRE.

And a new work bag ($243), second hand. A Philip Lim Pashli in the large size (and it is LARGE)

So. That is the level of damage I did in 3 days with Christmas money (and let's be real, a little non-Christmas money).

THREE DAYS. 

I suspect you are starting to see the need for some control now, yes?
I'm not good at telling myself no.

Here we go...