PJRVS

I resolve to not buy anything in 2012, except for necessary consumables (like food, hygiene products, gas for my vehicle). What I instead want to spend my money (and more importantly my time) on is experiences — travel, connecting, interacting – basically I want to be doing more and buying less.

Why?

I want to a) test my hypothesis that stuff has no co-relation to my happiness, b) see if possessions really are tethers, and c) challenge my day-to-day will power and see how it stacks up against high-level values I think I have (in regards to thinking my consumerist tendencies, on a lot of levels, are more harmful than good).

The rules.

I’ve never been one for these, but I figured some ground rules will help with clarity — both for myself and those curious about this endeavour.

A “necessary consumable” is something that is needed to be purchased in order for me to live healthily. Groceries, tooth paste, soap (laundry, dishes, body washing), etc. To this end, I will keep at trying to eat as close to an entirely whole food (and obviously 100% plant-based) diet as possible.

Travel is a priority for me, specifically road-tripping, so I’m going to include gas and car maintenance as a necessary consumable. I have a small Airstream that I plan on using a lot in 2012, so it’s necessary (to me) to travel, so I can consume more experiences. It should be noted it’s tiny and is being pulled by a fuel-efficient clean diesel compact car (a VW Golf TDI).

Replacing necessary items will possibly happen — like if the one pair of pants I own tears or the car breaks down. But only replacing items like this if it’s absolutely necessary and after careful deliberation. Caveat: if I do buy something, I will document it.

Actively reducing items I have already purchased by donating, selling or gifting. I’ve already spent a lot of 2011 getting down to having only items I feel are completely required to live the way I feel is healthy, but I know I can do better.

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I don’t feel this is an exercise in being deprived of things (ok, maybe I do a bit), I just want to move past the feeling like I need to keep buying things, owning things, and having things to be fulfilled. The real goal is to reduce worthless items, while increasing things like experiences, self-improvement and happiness.

After the next 365 days, I hope that this experiment will help me more intelligently question things I am thinking about consuming in the future. I have no desire to give up all my worldly possessions, but I do think there’s a good balance between that and where I am now.