| Jan 5, 2007 @ 9:39 PM |
No shopping for a year
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,699
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I really like this idea, anyone want to join me in a year off from shopping?
S.F. group enjoys shopping sabbatical
By LISA LEFF, Associated Press
Wed Jan 3, 4:12 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO - It began, as grand ideas often do, over a dinner —
risotto, artisan cheese and wine. What would it be like, 10
environmentally conscious friends wondered as they discussed the state
of the planet, to go a year without buying anything new?
Twelve months later, the results from their experiment in
anti-consumption for 2006 are in: Staying 100 percent true to the goal
proved both harder and easier than those who signed on expected.
And while broken vacuum cleaners and malfunctioning cell phones posed
challenges, some of the group's original members say the self-imposed
shopping sabbatical was so liberating that they've resolved to do it for
another year.
"It started in a lighthearted way, but it is very serious," said John
Perry, 42, a father of two who works for a Silicon Valley technology
company. "It is about being aware of the excesses of consumer culture
and the fact we are drawing down our resources and making people
miserable around the world."
The pledge they half-jokingly named The Compact, after the Mayflower
pilgrims, spread to other cities through the Internet and an appearance
on the "Today" show.
As it turned out, The Compact was modest as far as economic boycotts go.
Several cities in the United States and Europe have communities of
"freegans," people whose contempt for consumerism is so complete they
eat food foraged from Dumpsters whenever possible, train hop and sleep
in abandoned buildings on principle.
The San Francisco group, by contrast, exempted food, essential
toiletries like toothpaste and shampoo, underwear and other purchases
that fell under the categories of health and safety from their pledge.
But perhaps because its members included middle-class professionals who
could afford to shop recreationally, their cause caught on. Nearly 3,000
people have joined a user group Perry set up on Yahoo so participants
could swap goods and tips.
Besides thrift stores and garage sales, participants found a wealth of
free or previously owned merchandise in online classifieds and sites
where people post stuff they want to get rid of, such as
http://www.freecycle.org and http://www.garbagescout.com.
After going through an initial period of retail withdrawal, discovering
just how easy it was to score pretty much anything with a little time
and effort was an eye-opener, according to participants.
Rachel Kesel, 26, who works as a dog walker, said she was astonished by
how often the items she needed simply materialized — the friend who
offered a bicycle seat when hers was stolen, the Apple store employees
who fixed her laptop at no cost.
Similarly fortuitous timing happened often enough that group members
came up with a name for it — "Compact Karma."
After postponing purchases such as a new wind breaker and a different
stud for her pierced tongue — she couldn't bring herself to buy a used
one — Kesel broke down only twice.
Once was when she was planning a trip to
Israel and couldn't find a used guidebook that reflected current
political realities. The other was after her commuter coffee cup
suffered a fatal crack.
"I really found a lot of times there were things I thought I needed that
I don't need that much," she said.
The pledge provided unexpected dividends as well, such as the joy of
getting reacquainted with the local library and paying down credit
cards. Gone, too, was the hangover of buyer's remorse.
Perry got satisfaction out of finding he had a knack for fixing things
and how often manufacturers were willing to send replacement parts and
manuals for products that had long since outlived their warranties.
"One of the byproducts of The Compact has been I have a completely
different relationship with the things in my life. I appreciate the
stuff I have more," he said. "I don't think I need to buy another pair
of shoes until I'm entering Leisure World."
Over the holidays, Compact members gave homemade gifts or charitable
donations in a recipients name instead of engaging in the usual
Grinch-making shopping crush. Kate Boyd, 45, a set designer and high
school drama teacher, visited a new downtown shopping mall and felt like
she had just stepped off a flying saucer.
"It was all stuff that had nothing to do with me, yet for so many people
that's how they spend their weekends," she said. "It's entertainment and
it is the opposite of where I've been for a year."
Now that they know they can do it, Boyd, Kesel and Perry are ready to
extend the pledge into 2007. But first, they plan to give themselves a
one-day reprieve to stock up on essentials — windshield wipers, bicycle
brakes and tongue studs.
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| Jan 5, 2007 @ 9:44 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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My family does not celebrate the overloaded, spend til you drop Christmas.
I don't support a sabbatical on shopping, but rather the opposite. If I see something that reminds me of someone on my gift list, I'll buy it. I shop all year and buy small presents for everyone on my list.
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| Jan 5, 2007 @ 9:46 PM |
No shopping for a year
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spongebob777
Posts: 7,904
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My family does not celebrate the overloaded, spend til you drop Christmas.
Same here and it's so much more relaxing and enjoyable. 
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| Jan 5, 2007 @ 10:17 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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What?? It's the only time I do shop though!!!!
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| Jan 5, 2007 @ 10:27 PM |
No shopping for a year
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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I immediately thought: "What about underwear??"
I think I could actually do this if I could have bras, underwear, and 2 pairs of New Balance shoes.
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| Jan 5, 2007 @ 11:59 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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It's not right I tell you!!! 
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 6:34 PM |
No shopping for a year
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Luckygem
Posts: 3,531
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I could do this...I know I can, I hardly ever buy myself anything anyway...just for the kids........well I do have that trip coming up in March, I do need to buy some clothes for that....
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 7:00 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,279
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I NEED to do this. I think I still have every single thing that I've ever owned 
Actually, some of the tips these people share are things I wrote about when I started to write a book called "How to Survive Poverty with Flair"  My husband was out of work for two years, but because we were "adaptable" and "self-reliant", we barely noticed a change in our lifestyle  ...it just cost us 2/3 less
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 7:11 PM |
No shopping for a year
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suzieq0808
Posts: 1,080
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This is a great idea. Wonder if I can do it???????????
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 7:58 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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loisday
Posts: 1,333
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Touch................I'll join you, I've had years of practice. Even food cost can be effected with the smallest of gardens. Clothes with the price tags still on them can be found in thrift shops. Libraries, and the internet offer a wealth of information for repairing just about anything. But, I'm not giving up the tanning booths and hair dye!! I have my priorities!!
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 8:31 PM |
No shopping for a year
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suzieq0808
Posts: 1,080
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Just back from shopping at Amazon. The library did not have the books that I'm wanting to read....
I'm not doing so good wid dis, am I!!??
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 8:38 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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loisday
Posts: 1,333
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^^^^Books don't count...........they are one of the basic food groups!!
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| Jan 6, 2007 @ 10:17 PM |
No shopping for a year
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,699
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If any of you are serious about this, email me and let's start a group.
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| Jan 7, 2007 @ 7:46 AM |
No shopping for a year |
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luvmycats
Posts: 10,208
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I just did my year! Course the reason I did, was cuz I didn't have any money to spend! 
This next year isn't looking too promising either. I am searching for a job, but who wants a dam crazy woman working for them?  ....Everybody should, I am awesome entertainment with one crisis after another. Who needs soap operas when I am around? 
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| Jan 7, 2007 @ 5:42 PM |
No shopping for a year
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daisy315
Posts: 4,946
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I believe I could do it if I didn't go thru tennis shoes every three months at work... come to think of it.. I need some now...lol
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| Jan 7, 2007 @ 5:54 PM |
No shopping for a year |
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definitelydi
Posts: 12,602
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I broke it already. I just bought a $169 coat for $44.68. Oh well. This is too much like a new years resolution! 
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