"New Guests" Lists

l'Artisan Parfumeur candle, Couchling, Comme des Garçons marinière (source: la garçonne), books 

I have decided to introduce a new monthly post, named "New Guests", listing the items I acquired during the month. Borrowing the idea from Maja, I thought it was a good way to keep tabs on the new items I invite in my home and remain on track for my life editing project.

Why create such a list? The idea is not to boast about new purchases nor to make tedious lists of how many items I own in total. As I wrote before, I don't think numbers are important for a minimalist mindset. It is about connecting my Simplification Resolutions to concrete actions.

See, I speak about my theories to my friends as much as I write about them here, and often, people wonder how these beautiful speeches turn into real actions. The resolution list was the beginning of an action, but it is so easy to forget about a list made at the beginning of the year, once you're in a shop, credit card at hand. Also, updating my wardrobe list last Autumn was a wake up call of my 2012 clothes consumption, so it seems to be a good method for me to remain aware of my consumption habits.

Finally, a few rules, because no, it is not going to be an exhaustive list of my expenses. I am not going to list the carrots I got at the market or the plastic bags for the trash can.


In this New Guests List, will be:

Included:

• All material items acquired - whether they are purchased or gifted
• Special "every day" items such as a luxurious delicacy, expensive bottle of wine...
• Expensive electronics such as a new home console, laptop, iPad...
• Special refills - luxurious candles, expensive beauty product...
• Pieces of clothing, accessories, jewelry...
• Special "Every day" clothes: expensive silk underwear...
• New pieces of furniture, or expensive decoration items such as a new lamp...
• Physical cultural items such as books, CDs, Blu-Rays, video games...
• Special acquisitions such as a musical instrument, a bike...

Excluded:

• Non material objects: digital acquisitions, shows and exhibits tickets, bills...
• Every day material items such as food, house cleaning items, bed sheets...
• Regular electronics: new usb key or hard drive...
• Refills and replacements - day cream, black top, shower gel, incense sticks, tea bags...
• Every day clothes - underwear, work out clothes, pyjamas...
• Regular home items such as storage boxes for cupboard, hangers...
• Small cultural items such as magazines for the train...

This is not a definite rule, but as you can see, the idea is to include all items that I could have managed without, the "special" purchases after all basic necessary stuff is acquired. The stuff that doesn't fulfill a practical need but that is more of a treat, a special item.

Of course, there will always be borderline items. From which price do I include the bottle of wine? Which clothing items are "every day items"? Since this is a simplicity exercise for me, I have no reason to cheat. In case of borderline items, I will include them if they were particularly expensive compared to what I usually purchase, or if I consciously indulge in something I clearly didn't really "need".


Examples: The photo collage above is a set of objects acquired in 2012 that would have been included in the New Guests lists if I had made some last year:

L'Artisan Parfumeur candle: clearly, I can do with an Ikea candle for the ambiance. But I wanted to induldge in a luxurious, ridiculously expensive one, so it's in the list.

Couchling: This is a new piece of furniture I acquired after moving in Paris, since it is a one time item I needed to save money for, it's in the list.

Comme des Garçons marinière: This was a replacement for a Muji breton shirt that I had purchased to test the style on me. Since it worked out very well, the cheap one wore out and I indulged in an overpriced Comme des Garçons one. Even if it's a replacement, it's quite the upgrade in price and quality so it's in the list. - more on the breton shirt test in another post.

Books: I have a weak spot for books. For some it might be a necessity for class or work, or too cheap to be noted, but I know that, in terms of simplification of my home, I need to be very careful with new books. So it's in the list, unless I borrow it (library or friends).