tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post533794328242184112..comments2024-02-02T04:26:58.941-08:00Comments on My Year Without Spending: Reflections on My Compact YearAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16599239118658166008noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-79843844286058408792010-01-06T10:49:21.184-08:002010-01-06T10:49:21.184-08:00Thanks Betsy, but I still don't think I'm ...Thanks Betsy, but I still don't think I'm amazing. Blogging has been so enriching for me. When you write a story or an article, a few people will write to you, but with a blog it's a constant conversation. It's incredibly stimulating and rewarding. <br /><br />The Frugal Brit- Thanks for commenting! And yes, to some degree, it is a day-by-day thing. I think the main point of the "experiment" of the Compact is to notice how ingrained our consumerism is. Not to beat ourselves up, and certainly not to feel guilty or worried. Although I admit I was a little worried at the beginning. And yes, your years living on less will help, as did my several years in college and post-college.<br /><br />Marie-Josee- Thank you so much for telling me! And yes, for me it works better to focus on one big thing at a time. Since you'll already have a move and a big weight loss goal on your plate for 2010, it seems very wise to start thinking about the Compact this year, but wait until 2011 to officially join. Good luck with your weight loss goals, and don't get discouraged when you're not perfect. I have a post planned on that soon- I've made a lot of big changes this year, but I've "fallen off the wagon" and not achieved my goals many times. I just pick up and keep going. It's a huge lesson for me not to try to be perfect and not to beat myself up. I tend to be incredibly forgiving of other people's weaknesses, and more judgemental of my own. Not good. <br /><br />Gauri- Thank you so much for telling me! Good luck, and please feel free to write to me at my email address with any questions or concerns. <br /><br />Angela- I'm so glad you found my blog and thanks for your comment. Whenever I'm writing this blog or reading the blogs I love, I feel like there's a community we all belong to and it's a great feeling. Sometimes in the "real" world I can get depressed that a lot of hard work can be undone in seconds. And yes, on a personal level, I think we've all found that part of ourselves was convinced that we would be happy if we had more "stuff." It's a sad realization, but liberating on the other side. <br /><br />Thank you all so much for your smart, insightful, and also supportive comments.Angelahttp://myyearwithoutspending.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-54674425526358916902010-01-06T06:38:14.711-08:002010-01-06T06:38:14.711-08:00I recently discovered your blog and the intentiona...I recently discovered your blog and the intentionality with which you live is very inspiring and encouraging. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I also began a "compact-lite" lifestyle last year but didn't have a name for it. I started because I wanted to be more intentional in my spending. I found that my spending habits had increased over the past few years, though my needs did not. It was a fruitful and, to be honest, scary, experience to investigate that I was spending money to avoid my own sadness. I found it alarming how my mood seemed to be tied in with consuming. (I found the cliche "retail therapy" to be fitting.) I think you said it best with her comment, "it feels like the materialism and consumerism is so ingrained that most people will never get away from it or be able to examine how they want to incorporate it into their lives." Thanks!<br /><br />Angela in WAClandestine Roadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13940122890388505695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-4632121729795446152010-01-06T01:41:13.105-08:002010-01-06T01:41:13.105-08:00Hey Angela. I'm a first-time commenter, and I ...Hey Angela. I'm a first-time commenter, and I wanted to let you know that you've inspired me so much that I am doing The Compact this year. :)Gaurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02960534052955735645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-91963461258899501162010-01-05T07:31:12.321-08:002010-01-05T07:31:12.321-08:00Reading your blog has been so enriching and though...Reading your blog has been so enriching and thought provoking. My husband and I will be joining The Compact in 2011, and I credit you for this commitment. I want to focus on losing weight this year by doing Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live program, which is a low carb, low protein, low fat but very high fruit and veggie lifestyle. This will be a big challenge for me, but my husband and son are joining in to support me, and for their own health. Plus we will be moving in February and we thought that it would be very hard to observe The Compact while making a new home. We do intend to look for used items first before heading out to the store. Your kitchen remodel post really got me thinking. Thanks again!Marie-Joséehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12895515743881722310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-27311572551373581822010-01-03T22:22:13.137-08:002010-01-03T22:22:13.137-08:00I just discovered your website a couple of days ag...I just discovered your website a couple of days ago and although I don't think I can go the entire year without buying anything new (we are remodeling our bathroom), I will try and my husband is reluctantly agreeing to go along as well for as much as we can. Maybe this is a day by day thing... I've lived on an extremely small income before as a single parent and yes, those were the most creative and fulfilling days to look back upon. Kudos to you to be able to add such distinction to your resume! -The Frugal BritAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-14897357705609729442010-01-03T13:01:24.063-08:002010-01-03T13:01:24.063-08:00Angela, I disagree with your statement "there...Angela, I disagree with your statement "there's nothing amazing about me." Of course most people can do this if they set their minds to it, but not everyone would take the time to share the experience with total strangers. Thank you for opening up your life to us this year. I'm excited to see how this experiment impacts your "regular" life going forward.<br /><br />Happy New Year!Betsy Talbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01567850058897989530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-25797081756048353052010-01-03T12:17:10.148-08:002010-01-03T12:17:10.148-08:00Thanks Cate- As I've said before, I really do ...Thanks Cate- As I've said before, I really do think it's easier to do the Compact when you're older and have acquired things. You've got a lot on your plate right now, and you're doing great with your priorities! Thanks so much for reading and commenting. <br /><br />frugalista- Good luck! Interesting about it being unacceptable to swap clothes. I do think there is a bit of a stigma about used clothes even here. As far as food and money, they're not STUFF so as far as I understand the Compact, there's nothing against giving food or money. I hadn't thought about cash, but I love to give food as a gift.<br /><br />Non Consumer Girl- yes, for me it is the only way. When I look at the general culture, sometimes I feel like part of a changing tide. But other times it feels like the materialism and consumerism is so ingrained that most people will never get away from it or be able to examine how they want to incorporate it into their lives. <br /><br />Compact UK- Congratulations and good luck. And thank you so much for the compliment on my writing. I love to read and to write and it matters to me how words are put together, so I work hard on that and I appreciate that you notice. Thanks.Angelahttp://myyearwithoutspending.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-36352900151702075932010-01-03T04:21:04.111-08:002010-01-03T04:21:04.111-08:00I am so impressed at how the challenge had so many...I am so impressed at how the challenge had so many positive influences on your life, I really hope I can learn half of what you have learnt through my own year of the compact.<br /><br />I think the reason why so many people have been inspired by you is because you write so well. Reading your blog makes realise that it isn't impossible to do, fun to do, and so fulfilling. (I apologise for not being good enough writer to eloquently express how good a writer you are).Akiyo Kanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742986666167609153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-90636325446683654602010-01-03T02:32:38.019-08:002010-01-03T02:32:38.019-08:00It is an interesting point you make about living a...It is an interesting point you make about living according to your values.<br /> <br />I have found the same during my year of buying nothing new.<br /><br />It is easy to feel powerless against consumerism and the impact on the worlds resources of consumerism. <br /><br />But in making small changes to our behaviours, we can align them with our values.Non Consumer Girlhttp://www.lala2074.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-2660143402171308852010-01-03T01:37:25.326-08:002010-01-03T01:37:25.326-08:00I am doing the compact this year. Well actually I ...I am doing the compact this year. Well actually I started on the 1st. I have to adjust some of the rules as I live in Asia and where I live it really isn't acceptable to swap clothes unless it is with relatives or really close friends. Also we don't have goodwill here. On a more positive note, I can get USD2 jeans brand new a few times a year from factory sales.<br />I am really hoping I can go through the whole year. February will be a challenge as it's Chinese New Year and food is the main thing. We don't exchange gifts instead we eat alot. Also there is a need to give out money packets to the children ( no exception here). Wish me luckfrugalistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04106217046047889083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7718743594504287977.post-20297461902062306522010-01-02T17:13:43.237-08:002010-01-02T17:13:43.237-08:00Reading your blog has definitely made me consider ...Reading your blog has definitely made me consider doing The Compact. While I don't have any plans to start in 2010 (though I'm not ruling out the possibility of doing it in 2011!), your blog has definitely helped me examine my priorities. I'm so glad you'll still be writing here, because I love reading what you have to say.Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16264419866877407201noreply@blogger.com