I don’t hate the holidays. In fact, I love certain things that are unique to this time of year, like advent calendars -25 days of tiny, delightful surprises. The excessive consumption (and the Kay Jewelers commercials), however, sticks in my craw.
Maybe ironically, perhaps fortuitously I stumbled upon Kate Bingaman-Burt’s blog, Obsessive Consumption. On this blog, Kate records her daily purchases by drawing them, be it a box of band aids or a box of mac n’ cheese.
Yes, it’s a bit obsessive to record even the pack of pens one bought at Office Depot, but it’s not excessive.
If a few more of us we’re a little more obsessive in this way, perhaps a few more of us would be less excessive about what winds up on our charge card balances. Just saying…from experience.
BTW — You can purchase copies of Kate’s zines, each of which is a collection of drawings of her purchases, from her Etsy shop. (Hey, it’s not like I said we shouldn’t buy anything ever.)
My husband and I are limiting the amount we spend on gifts for each other this year. It’s sort of fun to puzzle over “what can I buy him for the $3 I have left?”
Another liberating feeling: I recycle all catalogues without even looking at them because I KNOW I won’t be ordering anything. This has been a real time saver.
Kate’s zines are only $4! Perhaps if you rummage under the couch cushions you might find another dollar’s worth in change?
Discovered I have more than $3 (I am adding-and-subtracting impaired). Am in a muddle about what to do with it.