Lessons from the Office

I never want to shop again. Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, and I don't want to set myself up to fail. However, when I shop from now on, my money will only go towards quality stuff that will last for years (like real leather boots, or the couch we actually like), quality cooking ingredients, or something I know I’m going to use up right away (like soap - not that I need any for the next 6.3 years).

While cleaning out the office last month, I kept thinking, "THIS.IS.RIDICULOUS." No, it's not...it’s BEYOND ridiculous. Stocking up on something when a price is good is a nice idea, but what happens when you get so much of it that you forget what you have (like, oh, 23 rolls of Scotch tape) and you just keep buying it?

How about this idea: Instead of hoarding like there's no tomorrow, I simply pay attention to when we’re getting low on something (i.e. we have 1 large pack of toilet paper left or I just opened my last deodorant), and then start looking for deals on that item? I don’t want to get to the point where I’m paying full price because I wasn’t paying attention and I ran out of something, but I don’t think a lifetime supply of tissue paper is necessary either.

Just like everything else in life, it's about finding a balance. It seems that we can get so caught up in the deal-finding game and "spending to save", that we forget about the idea of being frugal in the most simple way of all: not shopping. Quite honestly, with the exception of things like milk and cream and eggs, we could probably stay in our house and live off what we have stored up for at least 6 months. Possibly longer. That, my friends, is simply wrong. I have failed to be a good steward of what the Lord has placed in my care.

After working in the office for several days straight, I sent the following email to my husband, first, because I know I'll weaken at some point and second, because he needed to know that I was serious.

"Bath and Body Works sale this summer? Stop me. I won’t like it, but you can even save this email and wave it in my face. After Christmas clearance? If I look at the tissue paper, remind me that we have 6,742 packs at home. And yes, we have white. Hallmark Christmas Open House? We don’t need Christmas cards, wrapping paper, doodads, Christmas ornaments, or one more stuffed Charlie Brown character. I don’t care if the bag of goodies is “Free” when you spend $50 – NO! NO! NO!"

And you know what? I’m guessing he's not going to have to remind me about that email. After hours of digging through enough tissue paper to last a lifetime, roll after roll of tape that I didn't know I had (thus the end count of 23 rolls), and stuff that I purchased "just in case" I needed a gift, I sat back, stunned. Do you know what all the unnecessary stuff surrounding me represented? What could have been a paid off mortgage with enough interest saved to take a VERY nice trip to Europe as a reward. Instead, Europe is in my office closet and it has a clearance sticker on it.

But you know what? It doesn't have to represent something as large as a European vacation. The basket of  "just in case" hostess gifts (for all those meal invitations we don't get) could be more dinners out at Carrabba’s with my husband – guilt free! {le sigh}

Let me be clear: shopping isn't an evil activity. However, when there are people around the world who don't know where their next meal is going to come from, it makes me think twice about buying one more "just in case" gift that, if it was ever needed, would probably be going to someone with bulging closets of their own.

Have you gone through your stuff and really, honestly, taken a look at it all? Like me, you might be stunned by the amount of wasted money it represents. Now that my desk is cleaned off and my office is a working space again (thanks to Jules' William Morris inspiration), I've put this framed quote (that I found while cleaning out the closet) next to my computer as a daily reminder...

So, all of that to say, I'm not 100% ready for the Big Office Reveal, but it's 96% done (including new art on the walls), so come back next Thursday for some pretty amazing Before, During, and After photos! And for more inspiration this week, make sure you visit Jules and the other participants in the William Morris Project!