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Post by eagle on Oct 3, 2010 13:30:23 GMT -5
I instituted this rule about 5 years ago, and am still adhering to it, as it helps me reduce the excess in the house. You'd think I'd be getting close to having a much more minimalist type of home after all this time, but that's just not the case. I am a far cry from a minimalist, that's for sure.
Why am I bringing this up today? Well, I was reminded of my self-imposed rule when I went shopping on the way home from San Antonio at one of the many Outlet Malls I saw along the way. I was recently lamenting the fact that my one pair of comfortable sandals with decent arch support was beginning to wear badly and that I was going to have to replace them soon.
So I stopped along the way and ended up buying 5 pair (different styles, only 2 are the same). Which means I had to come home and get rid of 10 pairs of shoes!
That's not all of it, though. I also bought a denim jacket and a cowboy hat (I had left my other cowboy hat at home) while in Gruene with the ladies from Squalorfest. Granddaughter was with us that day, BTW, and she really had fun.
And I couldn't resist the Cowboys tank top at HEB, as I am a dyed in the wool Cowboys fan. Then there were the 2 pair of boot socks and one more top ($2.00 on sale, what a bargain).
So all in all, I came home with 5 new pairs of sandals, 1 new jacket, 1 new hat, 2 new tops & 2 new pairs of socks. I did need the boot socks, because I only have 1 pair of actual boot socks. And I did need at least one pair of the sandals. The rest was just because I wanted them.
How am I doing with my One-In-Two-Out Rule in light of these purchases?
So far I have removed from service (donated or tossed in trash):
Socks: 8 pair
Tops: 3 4 (as of 10/4/10)
Shoes: 7 10 pair (as of 10/4/10)
Jackets: 1 leather jacket + 1 sweatshirt
Hats: 1 ball cap type hat + 1 knit hat
Still to choose to go:
Shoes: 3 more pair (It's getting harder to choose.) done as of 10/4/10
Top: 1 more to go (tank, camisole-type, blouse or shirt) done 10/4/10: cut up for rags
Hat: 1 hat (any type fits the criteria) done 10/4/10
Jacket or similar: 1 (to fit similar criteria, it can be sweatshirt, cardigan or heavy shirt that I wear to keep warm) done 10/3/10: cut up a sweatshirt for rag bag
I mentioned my criteria above. For every thing I bring into the home 2 LIKE items must go out. So a jacket or a cardigan or sweatshirt is acceptable when choosing what to get rid of when I get a new jacket. For the cowboy hat, any type of hat is okay (ball cap, knit cap, garden hat).
Exceptions to the rule are food items, because we consume the food. However, not all consumable items escape the rule. Some personal care items do, such as deodorant and bath soap, but there are other items that we already have too many of, so if a new one comes in, 2 like items must leave.
This generally helps a lot to curtail spending, although it didn't this trip. I even considered returning one pair of sandals so I wouldn't have to get rid of so many shoes, but then I though of how many shoes I have and which ones I haven't worn at all in over 2 years. I wear sandals every day. I haven't worn high heels more than twice in the past year, if that.
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Post by yearning4order on Oct 3, 2010 14:45:50 GMT -5
Thanks for this Eagle--I'm not sure I can yet adhere to the getting rid of like items yet. I still seem to have a great deal to get rid of so typically I'm close to like items!
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Post by shopgirl on Oct 3, 2010 15:29:14 GMT -5
It's a great rule, Miss Eagle. I have been inspired by your rule for a good long time now. I especially relish getting rid of shoes that KILL MY FEET. Weirdly enough, some shoes that I swore by in the past now are killers.
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Post by dtesposito on Oct 3, 2010 19:36:35 GMT -5
Eagle, your dedication to this rule is amazing, this is something I don't know if I could ever do. Although I'm realizing it would be a good idea to do it with books.
Diane
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Post by glowworm on Oct 3, 2010 22:22:11 GMT -5
I'm really impressed by your self-discipline!
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Post by Chris on Oct 4, 2010 9:28:40 GMT -5
I admire your diligence with clothing! Recently, I have been successful with the one in one out rule -- because I really shouldn't/can't be buying clothing (due to finances/under-earning) so this rule is mostly about not buying anything unless it's to replace a no longer serviceable "must have" clothing item like underwear, jeans, shoes, etc. A few times I broke my rule because I had no like item to get rid of when I was getting a few things to wear to church for the first time in my adult life.
I am in awe of your being able to buy and let go of clothing! 1 in 2 out -- that's amazing.  |
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Post by eagle on Oct 4, 2010 14:05:17 GMT -5
Thank you for your comments.
I only have to choose 3 pairs of shoes to let go of now. That's not going to be as easy as everything else was. But I do have one pair of high heels in mind. I haven't worn them since we moved here, and probably not for 5 years before that, either. I had the insane notion that I would sell them on eBay to some shoe fetishist because long ago that was going on with these types of high heels.
On a whim, I bought these crazy high shoes with solid metal spiked heels. Totally uncomfortable. I wore them once or twice and that was it.
So they will be easy to let go of. Now to check the rest of my shoes....
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Post by Arid on Oct 4, 2010 14:20:38 GMT -5
eagle: Thanks to you, I did the "one-in; two-out" thing recently. I'd bought a nice, brand-new Eddie Bauer ladies shirt on sale for--$2.00!! So, I *MADE* myself get rid of two blouses!! Fortunately for me, a friend of mine asked for clothing donations right at that time. That made it so, so much easier for me! Still, I really, truly did suffer some genuine "pangs" at getting rid of two "perfectly good" blouses that I "could" wear, had I needed them. . . never mind the fact that I can't remember ever having worn either one of them in the ten or so years that I'd owned them . . .!  !! Anyway, just so you know--I was thinking of you, eagle, as I took that action! Arid |
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Post by eagle on Oct 4, 2010 18:00:49 GMT -5
Congratulations, Arid. I sure do understand those pangs. It does get easier with practice.
I just practiced getting rid of the final 3 pairs of shoes. The impossibly uncomfortable sado-masochistic metal spiked high heels, worn no more than 2 or 3 times, quite attractive, I must say. And a 'perfectly lovely' pair of leather calf high boots with a short spiked heel (I really don't need to or want to or should wear spiked heels anymore.) And finally, a pair of dress flats I wore at least twice per week for two years, but not in the past year. Don't like them anymore, so why keep them?
Yes! I am done (until the next time.) AND, for good measure, I added 2 purses to the donation bags. All 3 bags are now in the car awaiting a trip to the donation station.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Oct 4, 2010 23:58:10 GMT -5
Quite an interesting concept - 1 in, 2 out. I don't think I ever could do it, and have been wondering why since reading this thread. Yes, it would be very difficult, but there is something more. I think it's having to follow a strict rule, even one I put into effect myself. Obviously I generally follow some rules/laws (speed limits, paying taxes, etc), but strict self-imposed ones I have more difficulty with. I would feel great resistence about one like this, even though it seems to work. More power to you.  |
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