Some folks choose not to drink in January, others get gym memberships and such as part of their New Year’s resolutions. This year I am suggesting you take part in “Buy Nothing January”, as I’m calling it.

What does that mean? Well it really should be called “Acquire Nothing Non-Consumable January”, because obviously we have to buy food and toilet paper and things like that (and that title isn’t very catchy). But do you need a new TV? Nah. How about a new computer? Or a new tool? Or a new toy of some other variety? Most likely the answer is no, because you actually *want* those things and in many cases you already have something that serves the same purpose or you can make do without it (possibly forever!).

The point of all this is to eschew the consumerism-based culture we’ve all been raised in, even for just a little while. Somehow people made do for thousands of years with only the things they actually needed and didn’t seek out happiness by filling their homes with junk.

Chances are if you’re anything like me, your house is already full of “stuff”. I take a look at my bookshelf and think “How many of those books have I actually read”. I go window shopping for guitars and think “You know, I already have four guitars and they’re all great”. Apply the concept of “Loving the one you’re with” to your possessions and you may find a new sense of satisfaction with them.