purplerabbits

This is new for me as I don't usually do resolutions, but my resolution for the New Year is to not buy any New Things in 2011 in the manner of The Compact. This is about changing my picture of the world so I'm not a 'consumer' all the time, so that many days go by without spending money and so I have less impact on the planet - plus it should save me money and make me happier by helping me break away from the idea of retail therapy.  I don't know how it's going to go, but to break it down the rules I've set myself are:

I am allowed to buy:

• Food and alcohol
• Medicine
• Things for cleaning myself and other stuff - by which I mean cleaning fluids, dish sponges, soap, shampoo, mop heads etc
• Repairs to essential things such as the flat, heat, light, water and cooking equipment. This can include replacements if other options have been exhausted. This includes my shower; I am trying to get it mended rather than replaced, but if I need a new one I will get it. If a kettle or toaster or microwave breaks I'll get another, though I will look for a used one first. New lightbulbs are allowed :-)
• Underwear
• Shoes if I have run out of useable shoes and can't find any second hand, cos my feet are fussy and it's a health need
• Glasses (should I need them, but I just got some, so probably not. I may buy some contact lenses for special occasions, but probably not)

I am not allowed to buy new:

• Books, magazines, CDs or DVDs
• Computers, cameras, iPod-like devices or non essential household appliances (and I have all the essential ones, so any replacements are covered above)
• Clothes other than underwear
• Makeup (seriously, I am not going to run out in a year)
• Moisturiser etc until I actually run out, which I wouldn't be surprised if it was a whole year
• Yarn. This might be hard, but I have enough in stock for umpty hats gloves and scarfs, and two more sweaters, and you can buy second hand, so I'm going to try.

Exemptions I have decided on (other people doing this have different exemptions)

• A phone to replace my phone when my contract runs out in June. I will pass on my old phone to someone, which makes me feel a bit better about this (and if anyone happens to have a spare android or iPhone they want to pass on, that would be cool too)
• Hair dye - it may be a cop out but I consider it essential to my mental health
• Bubble bath - I'm chosing to count it as a cleaning product, so there
• And, to tie this into the title of the post - eleven things (well ten, cos the phone would be one of them).

I don't know what the eleven things will be yet. They might include a set of extendible knitting needles, a wee plant-pot table for my globe, a table for the sewing machine I'm getting, a copy of the new Jill Patton Walsh Dorothy Sayers book (but then I might hate it), a gift for my mum cos it's that or knit her one, or a pear tree to put the partidges in.

But for each of those I'm going to try to think of an alternative first.

Can you think of any exemptions you'd need? Or stuff I've missed out?