Tag: Retrospective

After how slowly the first quarter of the year went by, it’s almost incomprehensible to me that we’re already half-way through 2025. But, here we are on day 183 of 2025, and that means it’s time for a mid-year check-in on my purchasing resolutions and wish list.

Purchasing

My rules for this year are:

• Pens
  • Add 30 pens max to my collection (including non-fountain pens and gifts).
  • Limit mainstream brand acquisitions to 14.
  • Don’t buy pretty ink sticks unless it’s a friend’s collaboration.
  • Save up for pens rather than buying on credit and paying them off.
  • Sell at least 10 pens.
• Inks
  • Don’t buy any bottles without trying a sample first, or at least seeing a swatch in person when it’s not possible to get a sample.
  • Get rid of inks I’m not using.
  • Use every “for use” ink sample at least once.

So, how am I doing?

I can hardly believe we’re already half-way through the year! But, it’s true, and that means it’s time for a mid-year check-in on my purchasing resolution.

My rules for this year are:

• Add 36 pens max to my collection (including non-fountain pens and gifts).
• Limit mainstream brand acquisitions to 18.
• Don’t buy pretty ink sticks.

So, how am I doing?

When I wrote about my previous month’s purchases in January and February, I intended it to be a monthly post, but life derailed that idea. Now that we’ve made it halfway through the year, it seems like a good time for a check-in on my 36 pens maximum for the year.

I’m only counting the fountain pens I purchased. Gifts don’t count, and neither do rollerball or ballpoint pens.