Math was never my subject, and will never be my subject. I hate it only a little less than I hate vegetables. Last year Emma’s first grade math homework threatened to give me hives, so helping her became Bob’s task. This year was not much better but fortunately he’s been there when she’s needed help.

But I’ve been thinking about math and how I can use numbers to help motivate me through this busy month. I haven’t counted the number of things I’ve given away, and I don’t count the number of things I bring in either. Since I’ve started my project, my awareness of things coming in and things going out has been improved. Lately I’ve been working too much to spend much time shopping, which has helped. But I still want to be more mindful about buying things. When I’m out in a store and see things I want, I’ve gotten better at asking myself if I really want to bring those things into my house when I’m working so hard to get rid of things.

This month is going to be tightly scheduled with year-end school activities and work and preparing for a short camping trip we’re taking at the end of the month. When I’m stressed and busy I have a tendency to shop, but I don’t want to shop. So I’m going to start counting the number of things I bring into the house and the number of things I donate. I won’t count recycled stuff like junk mail and papers because it’ll make the numbers artificially high. I’m also not going to count food, since those items are temporary, and food storage isn’t an issue for us. Everything else- clothes, books, toys, knick-knacks, anything that will need a permanent home will be included. Ideally at the end of the month, the stuff-out number will be significantly higher than the stuff-in number.

This is going to be tough, because there is an amazing used book sale in a neighboring town during Father’s Day weekend. We went last year-two days in a row- and bought a lot. I still have not read all the books I bought, but I’m already thinking about the upcoming sale. I am a sick person.

These were our Day 1 purchases.

Restraint is not one of my strengths. I get emails often about used book sales in my area, and they are a frequent occurrence. I decided this sale will be the only one I go to. When the date gets closer, I think I’ll choose a number that’s reasonable and try my hardest to stick to it.

So far this month, I’ve brought nothing in but haven’t gotten rid of anything either. Next week I’m having a pickup, but since I collected those things in May, they won’t count. Plus there is a lot there which I would have to go back and count. Each post for the rest of the month will include updated numbers. Stay tuned!