What I’ve bought this year besides food
I tried to remember what I bought this year besides food. My doormen remark when a package arrives for me since I get a few per year. I ask if anyone else gets less. They say not even close. They tell me that some people receive more packages in some weeks than I do in a year, and many such weeks.
As for food, I probably spend about $200/month, though I don’t keep track. My biggest food cost is probably dried legumes in bulk.
One example:
I had been looking for a pair of shoes in my usual way: checking Craigslist and Offerup when I thought of it for a few months. My current pair has holes in the bottom. Since they’re minimal, that means my feet sometimes touch the ground. I already run barefoot sometimes—technically I plog—so touching the ground isn’t the problem. Sometimes pebbles get in.
Actually, two pairs are threadbare. This picture make them look worse than they are. One pair is probably over ten years old, the other close. I thought they were at the ends of their lives years ago, but the tops don’t look bad. After all, I don’t walk on the top parts.
In any case, I don’t plan to stop wearing shoes, so I want to buy new ones. After a few months of seeing nothing on Craigslist and Offerup that I could buy local, I bought a used pair from ebay. As usual, I messaged the vendor to minimize the packaging: no box etc needed. They obliged and the shoes came in a single bag. Actually, it’s the second pair this year I bought that way.
Material things:
- Two pairs of shoes, used from ebay. Searched Craigslist and Offerup for local. Wrote vendor to request minimal packaging.
- I also got pair of shoes free from one of New York’s Freegan “really free free markets,” where anyone can bring or take anything free. This pair of shoes is for patrolling in, which have to be all black, have thicker soles, show no logo, and other constraints. They’re work shoes.
- Bed sheets, unopened but pre-owned, Craigslist
- Nibs for track point on computer. I searched everywhere to find them locally, used, or any way besides from Lenovo, but I found no better option.
- Replacement screen and battery: I forget if I bought them in 2024 or 2025. I’ll check, but in the meantime I’ll list them. The battery contains cobalt, so buying it funded slave labor.
- Headphones and adapter: used from Craigslist
I can’t remember any other material things I bought this year besides food. If I think of any, I’ll update the list.
Services:
- Internet: hosting for my web page hosting, email address, newsletter sender, Zoom, probably a few other services I’ll update when I think of them
- Phone and connection to internet: $25/month for all my phone and WiFi needs. I haven’t found a better deal.
- Building fees: my biggest monthly expense.
- Homeowners insurance: mandatory
Non-material things:
- Subway fare
- Train tickets: mostly commuter (MTA, SEPTA), also Amtrak trips under two hours. I don’t think I bought any bus tickets.
A couple pictures of the tops of the shoes:
EDIT: I bought a masquerade mask for a Halloween party. It was used on ebay for less than new ones at stores. and I figure I can use it for future costume needs. It was handmade in Italy and has a stick to hold it with my right hand that looks classy, like old Venice.
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