We've all been there. That moment in time when you came across something in a store that just called out to you. Maybe it was the color. Or the smell. Or how it sparkled. So you bought it. You brought it home and it sat on the kitchen counter for a few days. You would look at that shopping bag and think to yourself, "Oh yeah, I've got to find a place to put that! So it sits. You begin to resent that stupid bag. It eventually gets shoved somewhere as you get in a frenzy to clean off your kitchen counter, because people were coming over. You will discover it next Spring at the bottom of your coat closet. Or in that dark corner of the bookshelf. Or behind the piano. Or in the bottom of the toy bin that contains all of the crappy broken toys.
It is time to engage in a new mental game when you go shopping.
1. Use the buddy system. Preferably not the buddy that would say, "Oh!! That looks absolutely adorable on you!!!" Use the buddy that is the other side of the marital equation. The one that you balance the checkbook with. Each purchase over a predefined $$ amount should have joint approval.
2. MAKE A SHOPPING LIST. I have two separate shopping lists - an itemized, aisle-by-aisle grocery store list for the store I always go to, and an itemized list for Target grouped by category. I fill out each list in detail before I even leave the house. I even have a subtotal in mind before I go. I have already justified the purchase of everything because I know we need it. I am not guessing that we are low on flour or sugar - I know we are.
3. Don't take the kids unless they are an asset to the mission (ex - they keep the running total on the calculator or they fetch products from the shelves as you go). If you are sucker for peer pressure, you will be thwarted on each and every shopping trip. You also don't want the baby's first coherent sentence to be "It's not in the budget!". (Then again, maybe you do...)
4. Have a plan for how you will use the object you so desire. New set of mixing bowls? Where exactly will you store them? Are they replacing your old set? (You had better be saying 'yes'). How often will you use them? Can they take heavy use? Can you put every kind of ingredient in them? (you don't want to mix anything tomato-based in a metal bowl) Do you really need 10 different sizes or can you get by with five? Is the largest size really going to be able to handle the big jobs like the monster-sized pasta salad recipe your aunt gave you? Can you multipurpose the mixing bowls to be used as serving bowls as well?
5. Use FIFO. First In First Out. If you are buying new socks, out with the old. If you are buying new jeans when you have four pairs at home, give away the oldest or oddest-fitting pair. Don't bring in something new without getting rid of something else. This especially goes for toys!!!
6. Justify it, justify it, justify it. Do you REALLY need this item? Do you really need the latest book hot-off-the-press when you have at least 10 unread novels currently sitting on your bedside table, and four others checked out from the library? (of this offense I am guilty, guilty, guilty) Do you really need another coat when you have six in the closet already? Do you really need that trip to Sonic when you could spend a fourth of the money and make due with a carton of ice cream, milk, ice and a blender?
I had to really work hard on this lesson a couple of weeks ago when I went to Barnes and Noble to use my $25 birthday gift card. Twenty-five is enough to buy about two books. I had the whole store to explore and no kids - what a gift! I kept reminding myself about 'need' vs. 'want'. I had to ask myself several questions:
* would I read it more than once in the next two years?
* is it something I would absolutely want my own copy of?
* is it available from the library?
* how long have I wanted to read it?
I finally chose my two books: The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman. I have wanted both for a long, long time. They will now join the ten as-of-yet-unread novels sitting on my bedside table. At least they are in good company.
