Consumerism. Our generation is based on blatant consumerism. Even with terms like recession and economic downturn being bandied about – we’re still spending money hand over fist. Well most of us are. The few of us who are trying to live below our means are often pressured by society, peers, even family members to spend, spend, spend!

My upcoming move has me trying to decide what I will have room to bring along. My kitchen in particular is at issue. I currently have a good sized kitchen. More than enough counter space, lots of cupboards and big roomy drawers that house a large variety of pots, pans, utensils, and small appliances. And if I were to run out of space in the kitchen there’s lots of space in the cold cellar and garage to store more stuff. The apartment has a tiny galley style kitchen with very little counter space or storage. I’m dreading the thought of going through my small appliances and deciding which I can bring with me and which I’ll have to sell or donate. The kitchen is the one room that is giving me the horrors when it comes to “rightsizing” my life.

After lamenting this fact in a brief moment of self-pity the other day a good friend replied that we should cross the border and go shopping at all the outlet malls in western New York next week. Great sales on everything I could want for my kitchen she says. A day later while lamenting the fact that I’ll have so little kitchen storage my sister suggested I come spend a day shopping in Toronto with her. She knows all sorts of great little places to pick up dishes, cookware, crockery, etc. really cheap she says.

I’m a little boggled. Everyone knows that my funds are severely limited these days as I start my business. Everyone knows I’m moving into an apartment that is 1/3 the size of my house and my goal right now is to get rid of things I own not to add to the pile of clutter!

I’ve been having real difficulty keeping myself to the frugal straight and narrow recently, as I’ve mentioned with my bed dilemma (I’ve decided to go the most frugal route… I’m using the antique sleigh bed which means I only have to buy a double mattress now) and now I’m considering buying a new freezer.

This is an improvement though. At one point not too long ago I had decided that it would be best if I sold all of my furniture in the house and just bought all new furniture for the apartment. New everything: new dining room set, new sectional for the livingroom, a wall unit/entertainment centre, new drapes, rugs, lamps, new bedroom sets for both myself and my son, and so on. I’ve managed to talk myself out of most of that but it sure is hard.

Especially when friends, family, peers tell me all about the cool new things they just bought this week.

And they all wonder why I never answer the phone.