A Month of Nothing

Well it is that time of year again.  If you are a Nohe and it is September, it is a Month of Nothing.  What is a Month of Nothing?  That’s the thing; you make up the rules because it is your own thing.  Originally it was Owlhaven’s thing, but it is spreading.

 

This being our second year doing a Month of Nothing, I have a better idea of what to expect and how to get the most benefit from the exercise of doing more with less.  I learned that this experience is more of a reset button for our family life than a world-changing event.  Last year, I had vision of us washing clothes by hand and spending a day subsisting on nothing but rice.  It seems that just cutting out the excess was enough of a learning experience.  I’m not saying that I wouldn’t like to try those things someday, but I’ve learned that there are lots of lessens in just simple putting the breaks on impulsive consumption.

 

We make up our own rules, so a Month of Nothing, means different things to different people.  For us, it means cutting out the extra, but keeping the day-to-day stuff.  Before you think I am a saint, we don’t turn off the cable, cancel gymnastics, or give up electricity.  So it isn’t really a month of  “nothing,” more like a month of less.  We give up the things that seem to be so necessary until you live without them and see that they really are luxuries. 

 

Last year Marty and I really debated what we should give up so that we made sure to feel the change, but not cause difficulties beyond the month long experiment.  So the kids got to stay in their classes, because for some it would mean re-registering ($$$$$) or not being able to participate at all even beyond September.  Some things we could give up, but they seemed like bigger sacrifices than we were ready to do last year.  The two biggest were cable and internet.  Last year, we thought that we were already giving up so much that giving up those two things would push us over the edge and doom us before we even started.  This month isn’t about suffering, as it is about self-reflection on our consumer habits.

 

So what do we give up?  We give up eating out, movies, candy, and new clothes.  There are no little gifts or impulse buys at the store.  No new videos, toys or games.  Plus, we try to keep our grocery budget to under $100 a week.  That change in and of itself cuts out a lot of extra buying that goes on at the grocery store.

 

I never realized how often I said “yes” to things for my kids, just because it was the easy answer.  Yes, you can get a pack of gum.  Yes, we can have McDonald’s for dinner because I don’t feel like cooking.  Yes, we can get that art-project-in-a-box.  Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  I’m not saying that I want to be the mean mom who always says “No,” but all those yeses can drain your bank account and fill your house with junk.

 

Plus, despite my feeling like I deserved the martyr’s mantle because I always said “No” to my wants and desires so that I could say “Yes” to the children, I learned that I do say “Yes” to the little extras as well.  Yes, honey why don’t you pick up a sweet treat for us on the way home tonight.  Yes, I do need flavored coffee creamer to start my day because milk is for cereal.  Yes, I should buy that book instead of going to the library to check out something different for free.  Yes, I should buy that sushi and eat it on the way home from the store that way I can already be fed while the children are eating and I will have more time for Facebook.  Last year, I learned that I can justify just about any “Yes” if I really want it.

 

There were some changes from last year that stuck and some that have faded and need a reboot to get up back in the habit.  Last year I started making our bread to save on the grocery bill.  A year later, I am still doing it.  We have also become avid library users and take advantage of many of the free activities offered in our area.  We found that we could live without AC.  And until, recently I was pretty good about planning meals, but that is definitely an area that could use a reboot.  But, I could defiantly use a reminder that I will survive without the luxuries of special creamer, movies on demand and special late night treats.

 

This year, I would like to add on a few more “sacrifices.”  I want to give up some conveniences that I take for granted, just to remind myself that I am blessed and lucky.  For example, I have gotten out of the habit of hanging out the wash because I like fluffy warm clothes for the dryer.  So the old clothesline will be reappearing.  Also, I would like to give up television and internet at least one day a week.  That should be interesting.

 

The Month of Nothing is not supposed to be about pain, gnashing of teeth or starving.  In my opinion, it should be used as a tool to take stock of what you already have and what you really need versus what you just want.  It made me aware of consumption for consumptions sake.  Also, I learned that there are conveniences that, guilt be damned, I wasn’t willing to give up.  But at least I had to give myself a good hard look first and face up to my own habits.

 

So off we go again in to our Month of Nothing.  I’ll keep you updated as to how it is going and what we learn this year.

Comments

[owlhaven]

Looking forward to reading about your month.

Mary