3 months in, I've stuck to my project

I'm approaching the three-month mark of my personal bid to keep consumerism at bay.

It's been difficult at times to walk away from the cute dress on sale at the Gap or the purse on clearance at Kohl's. I've managed to tear myself away without shedding too many tears in the process.

My husband, Jeff, has felt sorry for me, but mostly, he just chuckles to himself and tells me I never should have put my intentions in print for anyone to read.

The way I see it, though, it's been a great thing.

I've got readers - tons of them - willing to keep me honest in my attempt to go a full year without buying anything for myself.

It's worked so well, in fact, that a lady at Target nudged by me one evening and told me I really didn't need that oval bowl after all.

You know what?

She's right. I didn't need it. If I bothered to go home and look in my sideboard, I'd find one almost just like it waiting there for my use, which is exactly what I did.

I've not just cleaned out the sideboard. I've also spent many a cloudy afternoon clearing away the clutter from the closets in my home.

It shames me to admit that I've unearthed two designer handbags I'd completely forgotten about, seven tubes of ChapStick (something I'm always in need of this time of year), a handful of containers of dental floss and more winter coats than I have people to wear them. Another bonus: A stout handful of change I deposited in my kids' piggybanks.

By cleaning out just one area of my home, I've uncovered all of this stuff I figured I'd lost or was certain I needed to replace.

Having met with such success on that project, I've moved on to the closet in the master bedroom. It's not a task I will accomplish in a single day, and I've learned that I've got something of an emotional attachment to many of the items I've hung on to all these years.

I see a skirt I've not worn in years but I'm reminded of the dinner I wore it to with Jeff.

I've got a dress that I haven't been able to part with because I love the green in the pattern on the flowers.

There's the blazer I received on my 30th birthday from my parents.

Gradually, literally piece by piece, I'm getting rid of all of these things that not only clutter my closets but clutter my life.

It's a corny thing to say, but I feel freed from believing I have to have all of this stuff to feel happy.

Lots of my friends have asked Jeff if he's in on this plan, too, if he's given anything up because I have. He's happy to tell them he's not, and my children are thankful my project doesn't involve them.

Maybe, though, they'll learn by watching me that my possessions aren't what defines me.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.