Day 303

Last summer, when The Simple Year was still new to us, my oldest daughter’s piano teacher sent me her monthly invoice which included the cost of lessons and the cost of new books.  So, I called her and hemmed and hawed something like, uh, remember, I mentioned that we weren’t buying anything new and I was going to try to get Kayla’s books used?

She said, “Oh yeah, I forgot.”

I was gobsmacked.

I mean, how in the world could she forget, when the very act of not buying anything was taking up every available bit of concentration and brain power I had?   I was like some sort of addict that has to continually THINK about not lighting up another cigarette or taking another drink.  If I lose focus, I lose control. (when you read that, imagine a bit of a strung out voice in your head)

OK, I’m exaggerating, but only a bit. I’m really not that histrionic.  But, it is amazing how much mental energy changing your habits requires.  Now, ten months later, our reduction in consumption has become a routine.  I don’t spend very much time thinking about it and the rest of my family seems to have fallen into the same cadence.  In fact, my oldest daughter  actively chose a science fair project that wouldn’t require us to buy a lot of supplies.  This was her idea, not mine.  She was even a bit sheepish we needed to acquire a poster board for its display.

So last week, when her piano teacher sent home a note indicating she was going to need the next set of books, it was a much different story.  I notated it on my list and later that week, spent about five minutes on eBay and bought the books used.  Incidentally, they cost about half the price including shipping.  So I’m going to definitely continue this habit well past The Simple Year.  I did the same with her school band books.  Honestly, it never occurred to me to do that before.  Usually, they just hand the kids the books and I write them a check.

I guess it is not such a bad idea to examine our spending on even “required” items.