Tees and Cees

"What about UNDERWEAR?" or "What about WEDDING PRESENTS?" or, "What about MAKEUP?" (Actually, the last one I thought of myself today while I was sitting in the staffroom stroking one of my most permanent pimples, it's kind of like a member of the family now, really..).
Ok, so, since making my challenge public I've been bombarded with questions about the guidelines!  Everyone wants to find the exception.

I guess that I'm just making it all up and setting my own goal posts.  However, instead of taking it on a case-by-case basis, I feel "The Rules" must be outlined.  In the absence of a guideline...we usually end up falling!
Here's what I've got so far:

-  Food shopping is permitted
-  Purchasing medicine or self-care products is fine (bandaids, razors, deodorant)
-  No clothes shopping AT ALL (even underwear I'm afraid)
-  No gifts
-  No luxury items (ie, perfume, straightening balms, anti-wrinkle cream (that one's probably not really necessary at this point anyway so it's easier to scrap..) etc)
-  No development of photos (killer for me - I'm Kmart's most loyal developee. I should warn them that their business is going down...)

I think that this whole thing is best summed up by NEEDS vs WANTS....although, I'd say that in this day and age, the lines between those two things are somewhat blurred.  Do I need my scented body wash gel or do I want it?  Do I need yoghurt or is that a want, too?  It's hard to know how far to take it.

The other thought I had today was about charity.  I was desperately trying to problem-solve the gift-giving aspect of this challenge and considered those World Vision gift cards where you buy a family from a poverty stricken country a donkey or a well.  I guess it's still "shopping" whether it's donkey shopping or shoe shopping.  Something to think about.

Today, I must say, I had my first realisation of how much I should be doing this challenge.  Having never had a credit card and never making purchases over triple digits, I had a bit of an illusion that I wasn't "as bad as everyone else".  We love that comparison scapegoat don't we?  Basically, we say, as long as there are people out there with bigger issues than us, we're blameless little halo-wearing, harp-playing angels.  It's our favourite justifying tool. 

Anyway, today after I finished work (for 2 whole weeks - yippeee!), I straight away thought to my happy little self, "I'll go and have a wander around the plaza for 20 minutes before I head home... and I'll pick up a magazine to read infront of the fireplace tonight....". RED ALERT!  I stopped myself in my thinking.  No. I wouldn't go for a wander.  I'd go home and read a book.  I felt a sense of loss - like a kid who has been told their friend can't come over. 
But when I got home I gave myself a pat on the back...CRISIS OVERTED!