Beginning to realise that as of next Wednesday, I can say farewell to all those little 'luxuries'. I often give stuff up for Lent, but have never written a press release or blog about it. This adds slightly to the imagined pressure of getting it right. Therefore, I feel it's necessary to make a couple of preliminary confessions...
This evening, I will be flying to New York for a short break with my husband Jim, returning on Monday. Being the place to shop, I imagine that I may come back rather skint and therefore unable to purchase non-luxury items anyway, although I don't plan to stock-up in advance of Lent.
Also, many would consider trips to the cinema a non-essential and largely I would agree. But myself and Jim have a monthly ticket that means we can go as often as we like. Since Jim is not participating fully in no new shoes (he is giving some stuff up) the ticket will not be cancelled. Since we're paying for it, I reason it is wasteful not to use it. He has also offered to pay my portion of it so that I will not be paying for this luxury.
Doth the lady protest too much? Let me know...
Gone shopping?
Or has no new shoes changed our habits?
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10 comments:
Well done for this idea BUT today's blog doesn't bode well does it?
And this is before you've even started! If you do shop excessively in NY, maybe a confession on the blog will help?
What worries me is the travelling to NY in the first place - climate change and all that.
I'd like to proclaim you're cheating! But then I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do any better. I suppose a start somewhere is better than nothing. After all, most of us don't take a second thought about what we buy, at least becoming aware of it is a major step in the right direction! All the best with it though, I'm still to decide whether I can take up the challenge... it's quite a toughie!
Despite the fact that I am VERY envious of my friend nipping off to New York for an extreme form of retail therapy, I can't accuse her of cheating. This is because Lent does not start until she gets back, so I'm putting her shopping spree into the 'Shrove Tuesday' category of using up all your rich food before the fast begins.
I won't be going to NY but I may have to get a new moisturiser before 21st, or I'll look about 300 by Easter day!
300??? And the rest! ;o)
Oh no, I don't think it's cheating - as much as I'd 'like' to say it was! But that's only because I'm darned jealous of the NY trip - oh how I'd shop!!
Of course a start is better than nothing! After all, doesn't a journey begin with but a single step or something or other? Even if a step across the Pond does seem a teensy bit excessive! Still, you've convinced me. I'm signing up!
Welcome Green Patches - just 4 more shopping days until Lent!
Could we also encourage some of that essential shopping to be for locally produced and fairly traded food after all for some any shopping is a luxury. Sorry to sound sanctimonious don't mean to be I shall do my best to watch waht i shop for in Lent
Thanks anonymous. Your point is so important because 'no new shoes' is not an exercise in saving money - it is an opportunity to be conscious of the effect that our consumer choices have. My personal commitment to this project includes buying fairly traded products wherever possible and to buying locally too. I hope that if people save money they will consider giving it to charity. The 'deeper' motivation for me is that time not spent at the shopping centre can be better spent doing fun things with the kids.
Work (West Suffolk COllege) are doing a joint lent give-up and donating £1 a week to British Heart foundation. I was going to give up my Friday night pack of panfried vegetable crisps but since seeing nonewshoes.... I'm with you - better tell my friends!
Work (west suffolk college) are doing a team lent give-up, everyone gives £1 a week for their item and the money goes to Heart Foundation. I was going to nominate my Friday night packet of pan fried vegetable crisps but since seing nonewshoes.... I'm with you, better tell my friends
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