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Don't buy anything new for a year.

topic posted Mon, June 4, 2007 - 11:47 AM by 
Haha! Did you say "seriously??"

I have been reading articles lately about people who have plenty of "things" and have decided to forgo purchasing anything but essentials for one year.

The real question is... how much new stuff do we really NEED?

Think about your closet... do you have enough clothes? Do you find yourself purchasing new clothes just because they are on sale or fun or "cute"?

Do you really need more kitchen items?

Do you really NEED to purchase that book or movie?

savannahnow.com/node/208312

------------------------------------------

Here is what I propose.... (for those who want to participate)

ONE MONTH OF NO PURCHASES

Take this week to make a list of anything other than essentials that you REALLY need to purchase this month.

Don't purchase anything else. No clothing, no jewelry, no "oh this would look fun on the kitchen table" etc.

You might call me a pansy for only doing this for one month but that's fine with me. I want to start simple and be honest.

I'll link to the other articles I have seen tomorrow.


This will start next monday and we will check in with each other every week to see how it goes.
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  • Amira
    Amira
    offline 68

    Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Mon, June 4, 2007 - 4:37 PM
    Sounds like a good idea to me! :D

    Lately, (ever since we saw "Wal Mart, the high cost of low prices.", actually) the hubby and I have been really cutting back our unnecessary spending. Buying food fresh, so we aren't throwing away pieces of fruit and bags of veggies each month saying "Aw, it's too bad that went sour before we could eat it!". And we've cut waaaaayyyy down on our mindless "Oh wouldn't THAT be neat to have?!?" spending since we stopped shopping at the 'Mart.

    It's amazing how little you will end up buying when you go out and start shopping for what you need on purpose.
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  • Clif...
    CliftonGK1
    offline 47

    Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Tue, June 5, 2007 - 9:51 AM
    This sounds similar to me and 'Nista, and how we currently purchase things.

    There's not a lot of "stuff" that gets bought simply for the sake of having stuff.
    She bought a new swimsuit this year because her old one didn't fit anymore.
    I bought some new bike shoes because my old ones fell apart after having them for 15 years. (And some new bike shorts because the elastic in the old ones wore out.)

    Aside from that, we buy food (more and more at the farm markets during the summer) and household essentials (TP, etc.)

    We're honing down the amount of "stuff" we have, trying to simplify and de-clutter.
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  • Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Tue, June 5, 2007 - 10:27 AM
    seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/...0.html

    "For Hyde, 2007 has been a year of not knowing what to expect, so having two dozen women — most of them strangers — strip to their underwear in her living room at a "clothing swap" to try on pants, skirts and blouses is just one more part of the adventure.

    Hyde is the instigator of a loosely formed group trying to go a year buying as few new possessions as possible, and sharing insights on ways to reduce consumption for economic, social and environmental reasons.

    "Most American consumers act as if we can have anything we want, anytime, cheaply," she said. "Without thinking about where it came from, how it was made or where it may end up when we are done with it."

    Her efforts were inspired by news stories last December about "The Compact," a group of friends in San Francisco completing a year in which they agreed to buy nothing (or hardly anything) new, except for food and necessities for health and safety."
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  • Clif...
    CliftonGK1
    offline 47

    Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Tue, June 5, 2007 - 12:55 PM
    One method of cutting down on buying things has been by buying something: A sewing machine.

    Jeans get a hole in them? I can fix that.
    Buckle falls off some overalls? I can fix that.
    Hell, I can fix most anything wrong with clothes and camping gear. I've made repairs to my camping gear which most people would chalk up as a total loss and buy a new tent or backpack.

    Sometimes a pre-emptive purchase of a utilitarian item can prevent unnecessary future purchases.
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  • Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Thu, June 7, 2007 - 10:13 PM
    okay, I admit I'm a "cheapie"...

    I buy 3 or 4 pairs of black slacks a year (professional dress code and all), but I buy them NOW because they are on clearance...

    Have any of y'all tried www.netflix.com ? Great place to swap movies!

    I am a frequent Goodwill donater & shopper ;-) as well as a frequent freecycler...

    I couldn't go a year without something my kids or I need, but have gone several without things we want

    blessings,

    Dawn
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    • Clif...
      CliftonGK1
      offline 47

      Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

      Fri, June 8, 2007 - 11:29 AM
      I'm a bit reticent to call Netflix a movie swapping site. It's a movie rental business, same as Hollywood Video or Blockbuster; just without a physical storefront.
      Unless they've introduced a business feature where you can trade in movies you own for different movies, then you're still paying a monthly fee for a rental service.
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      • Clif...
        CliftonGK1
        offline 47

        Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

        Sun, June 10, 2007 - 6:20 PM
        We just did a majour budget overhaul and ditched most of what we considered to be our "bling" expenses:

        Organic grocery delivery (we can go to the farm stands for the summer/fall)
        House cleaners (I've got time to clean now that I'm not working 60 hour weeks any more)
        Weekly massage (her)
        Alcohol (me)
        MVP service at video rental store
        I called and had my car insurance rates dropped because I bike commute (under 5000 miles/year on the car)

        But we did end up, during our de-blinging, to pick up a new bling toy:
        - We went to get a lower phone package because we don't use as many minutes as we have.
        - We qualified for a free phone upgrade.
        - We got AT&T 8525 WinMobile PDA/phones
        - We dropped our minutes by 50% but got an unlimited data package, so we aren't actually saving money. We're just not spending anything more than we were.

        Verdict: FAIL!
        - Sorry, but I'm too attached to my technolust to pass up on such a cool toy when someone waves it under my nose and says "Yes, your current phone is nice, but you can get this one for free. Look at all the flashy lights and shiny buttons!"
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  • marg...
    margaret
    offline 163

    Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

    Tue, June 12, 2007 - 9:43 AM
    I dress like a bum and sleep on a 40 year old mattress because I'm a skinflint. I need to learn not to feel guilt over buying new shit. Thank goodness I work at home, but really I always feel slobby wearing five year old clothes to work functions. (happens maybe twice a year).
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    • Step...
      Stephanie (smoorefu)
      offline 144

      Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

      Tue, June 12, 2007 - 2:08 PM

      Perhaps in your case, your assignment is different. It could be, buy one thing new every month.
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      • marg...
        margaret
        offline 163

        Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

        Wed, June 13, 2007 - 10:10 AM

        Assignment: Shopping


        a chore! :(

        I did buy Vinnie some candy though. Now I have to get around to sending it.
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        • Step...
          Stephanie (smoorefu)
          offline 144

          Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

          Wed, June 13, 2007 - 10:17 AM

          I know, I don't like shopping either. Unless it is books.

          And sorry, I'm pretty sure we said food doesn't count...

          Personally, I need to get rid of some things that are sitting around taking up space, and I need to buy some new towels and a couple of new shirts to wear to work.
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          • marg...
            margaret
            offline 163

            Re: Don't buy anything new for a year.

            Wed, June 13, 2007 - 10:56 AM
            Shit I'm avoiding buying:

            -Probably a new transmission.
            -A couple new mattresses. (Though I am considering taking Mom's and buying her a new one.)
            -Clothing. I was going to buy new bras recently, but the one dept store in the area is being renovated. :D Unfortunately, I assume this means when they open in August, the clearance rack will be bare. :( I sort of wish Stacey and Clinton would show up to my house with a $5000. I don't think I'll have trouble spending their money on ugly clothes I hate. Ha ha ha. But no pointy pumps. I can't walk in that shit. I would go to V. Secret except I might as well just glue pieces of tissue together as their products last five minutes on my body.


            I like shopping for records and books and shoes. I buy used or I download or go to the liebury--except the shoes.
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