#YLW ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶t̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ not buying anything except groceries

update 8 day 49 - 57

🥴 Couldn't help myself. 2 books more... Both for "inkpotandpages’ 2026 Literary Cannibalism Challenge"

What doesn't help is feeling sorry for myself.

From June 16th onwards I'll be in hospital for (at least) a month and then in isolation covid lockdown style for another three months at least. I agreed to spend those months at my Mom's place as she won't be able to visit and is still adjusting to her life as a widow.

This period is way too long to do without decent audio. So I was thinking what setup to bring over. Ofcourse none of the ones I own was good enough (they are 🙈).

So I bought an Wiim Amp Ultra because I convinced myself I need the room correction capabilities (could do without). And I bought an external harddisk to clone my music collection.

Upon reflection I got aware the reason I bought new stuff is also that my mind is overflowing. I can't think of the other options with existing gear. Buying this stuff really helped in the sense that it makes me feel better about the coming time. I have this sorted.

But I could have asked for help. I have gearheads among my friends. They could have helped me to reach this without buying new stuff.

#YLW addendum to update 7

Maybe that update is a bit long -and I am making it worse now- but writing down my excuses helps me to reflect. This is my challenge notebook after all.

I'm not too pleased with the last two weeks and that then colours my feeling about the entire 48 days. Reading the earlier updates I think however something has changed for the better; I'm spending a lot less time browsing webshops and wanting to buy all kinds of stuff all the time.

That book about those Middle Ages churches still itches though 🫠

#YLW ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶t̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ not buying anything except groceries

update 7 day 25 - 48

Not buying books proves to be tougher than not buying other stuff I don't need.

I'm reminded of that person in stop-smoking group who explained that it was harder to quit smoking than it was to quit heroin (which she had already done). "Smoking is such a accepted addiction". Friends, and family all know, accept and stimulate me to have many books. I got another two books as a present from a cousin this month.

As for myself: since last update I bought six.
4 as part of the literary cannibalism challenge:
Wide Sargasso Sea & Jane Eyre
A Bend in the River & The Heart of Darkness.

And 2 books about Vikings
'Children of Ash and Elm' because I like it a lot as audiobook and 'Introduction to Viking Mythology' because it was quite cheap and didn't add to post+packaging as I got it from the same dealer.

And although I don't need those books, I don't feel shit about buying them. Not really

As discussed earlier not buying merch is also difficult for me. I failed the challenge on that score as well, buying a record, a poster and a t-shirt of Cisnienie which will come back in my TL this #MusicWomenWednesday

And two more records besides, 1 as a present and 1 because of my addiction to buy stuff

Not the best 2 weeks

Going through security at the Kelowna airport and my bag is being searched. My luggage always gets searched at this airport. Every. Single. Time.

#Kelowna #YLW #Today

#YLW a month of not buying anything except groceries

update 6 day 17 - 24

Things went pretty well these past few days.

Except... When I went to visit my youngest son, he took me to an antiquarian bookstore.... I just couldn’t resist a book on the history of Islam and a facsimile of the first edition of Bordewijk’s 'Blokken'. That was Wednesday.

However, I didn’t buy the book on all Churches from the Middle Ages still existing in the Northern parts of the Netherlands and Germany. That unbought book itches!!

And as my resoluteness was being worn down by the itch, I saw yesterday a book by Amadou Hampāté Bā on Tierno Bokar’s life and thought for just € 8,13 …

So 3 books added to my library in a week and still that unbought book about those churches nags.

It is silly, I bought 4 new bookcases already this year *and* I have about 20 boxes with books stored in my two attics. And still I’ld like to own that book on Middle Ages churches.

😒 This is addict behavior.

And the urge to buy stuff is stronger now that my paycheck has arrived…

The added challenge of not visiting supermarkets led me to find another farmers’ store in the neighbourhood. Very happy with that, so it is not all bad.

#YLW a month of not buying anything except groceries

update 5 day 12 - 16

This challenge is slowly leading to a new challenge: how to stop buying at supermarkets. That will be a lot harder I think, but very worthwhile. Started to source all my vegetables from a local eco farmer this week.

Buying stuff as a pass time was less difficult, as I had to pay quite some medical bills this week.

But a comrade published a book, so I bought it. And the mead I made for my youngest son is ready for bottling, so I bought empty bottles as well.

Not very strict of me, but still happy with how this challenge is seriously raising the bar on buying stuff.

#YLW a month of not buying anything except groceries

update 4 - day 7 to 11

Kicking the habit? I've the impression that the challenge is becoming easier. I certainly spent less time abandoning electronic shopping carts.

But it's way too soon to be confident I really made progress. This weeks realisation is that this challenge is not so much about spending and more about that immediate response of getting stuff in reaction to new information.

Saw someone suggesting 7 mathrock bands in response to the Angine de Poitrine hype, downloaded 14 records of 6 bands. Going to the GY!BE show later tonight, downloaded 12 concerts -all with the same 2 hour setlist. And the SMWS podcast still did make me check their whisky webshop, though I have about 50 unopened (and 10 opened) bottles already.

However, it could have been worse and it has been. Actually buying a bottle didn't cross my mind and at least I didn't download entire discographies like I've done often enough.

Writing this update and reflecting on my behavior made me think of a less consumerist response. Why not look for mathrock in my existing music collection instead of getting new stuff. Etc.

#YLW a month of not buying anything except groceries

update 3 - day 6

Maybe I should call my habit of buying stuff I don’t need an addiction. The reason I think that might be more honest, is because I noticed that my mind is responding to this challenge by looking for loopholes.

This weekend I ran out of coffeebeans. I was resolved to source my coffee from vrijemarkt.org but I forgot, so the choice was: no freshly grinded coffee or buy in a supermarket. I choose the latter, though I now think I should have chosen the first.

But now I found me browsing the site to buy coffee. But I don’t need coffee, nor do I need the olive oil I put in my online basket. It was my addictive behavior, not need, that brought me to the site. Leveraging my bad feeling about my coffee decision to try to get me to buy stuff.

The mind is a curious thing

Decided to fail the challenge once: Bought a ticket to the Night of Philosophy this Saturday to hear Clarice Gagard, Mathijs van de Sande and others