***Updated 4/21/09

**Updated 2/4/09

*Updated 1/26/09  So soon you say?  As of yet I haven’t actually purchased any of the new exceptions so maybe I will still find I can do without.  But if not, I’ve given myself permission.  Thank you self.

I got a good chuckle when I read The Compact‘s statement regarding exceptions – “you’ll know in your heart when you’re rationalizing a violation”!  We shall see as the year progresses if I keep my list as short as it is now (01/05/09), but I promise to be honest throughout.  I am pretty good at rationalizing to myself so if I have to explain myself to you (who are you anyway?) maybe I’ll think twice.  Or not.  We’ll see.

But what’s on the list right now?

  • food (duh)
  • medicine – okay really that’s just the occasional Tylenol but you probably wouldn’t want to be around me when I want it and don’t have it.
  • new toothbrushes – that’s really rare and just me because my husband uses the free one he gets from the dentist and I use the electric kind which isn’t very compact-y anyway because it uses all that electricity to stay charged but if you had my gums you would understand the need.
  • underwear – kind of like sand shouldn’t get some places neither should someone else’s underwear.  (and this includes bras because the only reason to buy new bras is because yours are worn out so wouldn’t you expect that if someone else wore the bras first they would wear them out too?  Sorry to the male readers.  Assuming I have any.   Male readers that is.  I know I have readers because I know at least my mother will read this.)
  • batteries & light bulbs – they don’t really fit into the categories of either health or safety so my need for perfect clarity demanded that I list them too.  (I could just use more candles but if you knew my son you would know that might just put light bulbs into the safety category.   No, my son is not a pyromaniac.  He’s 18 months old and will climb on any surface he can, especially if it promises something he shouldn’t be touching.)
  • gift certificates – I know part of the compact is to reduce the “new” purchases regardless of who’s paying but I am giving in on this one for my family (read husband).  We decided that any gift cards given to us could be redeemed regardless of store or product, including new items.  My only rule (can you have rules for the rules?) was that it should be prioritized for needs before wants.
  • toddler shoes – although I will continue to hunt and peck through the consignment and thrift store shelves I have also resolved to buy new shoes for Toddler L if need be as foot binding is just not my thing. (*ADDED 1/26/09)
  • hardware – this one was less obvious in the beginning but if I need a certain do-hicky/screw/latch thing to fix something I am running straight to my locally owned hardware store (just being ridiculously clear here, you might be saying “duh, no shit sherlock” but I like complete clarity).  (*ADDED 1/26/09)
  • jewelry – now this is a very specific ring so I’m allowing myself a free pass.  When our son was born my husband gave me a ring with his birthstone (the baby’s not my husband’s).  It’s part of a set.  I get jewelry with every labor and delivery.  It’s only fair.  And I’m not letting this one go just because a kid is being born this year. (*ADDED 1/26/09) (***I’m really reconsidering this one.  Especially as one reader called me out on it and said it wasn’t a good exception.  I’ll let you know which way the decision goes.)
  • salad spinner – I promise to hit all the nearby thriftys and on-line for this first but if I don’t find it soon I’m going native.  I figure this one eliminates the waste of food so it’s a wash. (*ADDED 1/26/09) (**found at a local thrift store!!!)
  • potato masher – this one follows the same logic as the potato spinner.  I’d love to make mashed potatoes but can’t figure out how without a way to mash the suckers. (*ADDED 1/26/09) (***“Gifted” by my mother.  Free and used!)

Services I can’t see giving up:

  • knife sharpening – strange to be on the top of the list but it’s not in order of need and I have an abject fear of getting cut by a dull knife.
  • drycleaning – this is really just my husband but as I dragged him on this caravan I have to give him allowances too, and I hate ironing so green cleaning is the best I can offer.

And now the game begins. What will I add?