The idea...

I decided to write a blog about an idea I had amid the dust, smell of old coffee and even older people while shopping at Value Village a short time ago. I am going to try to not purchase anything "new" for the rest of the year, making exemptions for food, unmentionables and perhaps gifts which I will try to make instead. I am going to try to buy everything 2nd hand, clothes, furniture, toys either from 2nd hand stores or on sites like Kijiji etc etc. I suppose I should start at the beginning....
Value Village was having a 50% off sale for all clothes and accessories so I spent 4, oh yes 4, hours there looking for clothes. What would possess a (relatively) sane person to spend that much time at ANY store looking for clothes you ask? Ever since I had my beautiful daughter just over 3 years ago my wardrobe has been VERY low on my list of priorities, something I am sure most new moms can relate too. There is the weight yo-yo (how big do my breasts REALLY need to get to breast feed?!), the style identity issues " Can I still wear that? I'm a Mom, now , is it too sexy? ". Not to mention that for the first year chances are you were going to get spit up on, peed on or showered with any number of other fluids I had no desire to try to get out of a cashmere sweater !! So now my toddler is potty trained, my weight is back to pre-pregnancy (mostly !), the fluids are more or less contained, and YES DAMMIT I can wear that, I am still a sexy, vivacious woman! So I wanted to get some clothes that didn't look like pajamas or workout wear. I hear that The Village ( said in a Parisian accent but of course) is having a sale so off I go. Four hours, 3 cart loads of clothes tried on, 3 times to the ladies room to wash my hands, and I emerged slightly haggard and a little sweaty. I spent $124 on 23 articles of clothes, one belt, 2 canister sets, and 2 books, and an idea. If I can get this much for this little why not try to get everything second hand for the rest of the year? I love shopping but the reality is my disposable budget isn't what is used to be. I am frustrated with the "disposablilty" of the things I am buying ie the fan I bought over year ago that just died, whatever happened to repair shops? Like the Fix It shop on Sesame street? Why is it cheaper to buy a new fan instead of repairing my old one? I want to try to pay less tax to the Harper government, I did NOT vote for them.  I love the idea of supporting other families like ours by buying directly from them. It's like the circle of life, but with strollers, blenders and couches. So here begins my journey to live a 2nd hand life.

Next I will tell you about getting everything I needed for my daughter`s first big girl bed and her new room, how I avoided going into Pier 1 (also know as crack to me, I LOVE Pier 1), caved in Homesense, and why it took 2 hours on a bus to get bedding.