Buy Nothing New for 12 Whole Months

Latest Articles

Buy Nothing New for 12 Whole Months
Page Previous 1, 2, 3 ... 17, 18, 19

Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Author

Message

wishus

Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 777
Location: Northampton, East Midlands

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 06 7:02 am Post subject:
Doing quite well on non-essentials, except I bought a nice musician's CD for £1 the other day.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 06 2:34 pm Post subject:
Bit of a hit and run post this ... is there anyone taking this challenge who lives in the BBC SouthWest area, please? That is Cornwall, Devon West Dorset, Somerset ... If so, please can you PM me? Thank you!! Laura x

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 1:57 pm Post subject:
Oh, look - my anniversary passed on Friday!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 1:58 pm Post subject:
How did you get on, Lozzie?

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 2:03 pm Post subject:

It's been a real experience.

It made me examine, very carefully, EVERYTHING I buy. The first realisation was just how much I did, in fact, buy.

Christmas was "interesting", but not quite as hard as I was fearing.

The worst bit was, I think, having to buy birthday presents for my children's friends. Those are not the sort of birthdays that you keep a record of and can plan in advance for so easily, so there was quite a lot of blatant last-minuteism going on

I've really enjoyed doing this challenge and see no reason to stop. It's become like a habit now

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18421

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 2:25 pm Post subject:
Well done, Lozzie. That's great ! Without intending to, in 2007 I've ended up buying almost nothing that isn't business-related, food or fuel/other utility bills. I could still do better though.

n

Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 211
Location: Lothian

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 2:39 pm Post subject:
Well done. I read the book, and I was looking for this thread the other day. Have you seen this blog ? (May have been mentioned elsewhere, if so, sorry.) https://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/ n

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 3:41 pm Post subject:
No, n, I hadn't seen that one yet. Perfect to read on a wet afternoon, preferably with a large mug of tea and perhaps a biscuit. Or two. There's a lot there to digest!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 4:40 pm Post subject:
Well done! I still don't buy new if i can help it, but haven't conciously been tracking stuff recenty (especially as we just built a house, which is only buying a new one in bits!) Might have resurgence on it though. I rather enjoyed not buying stuff.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 4:47 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

Might have resurgence on it though. I rather enjoyed not buying stuff.

Me too. I did the challenge for a couple of months last year and it has stayed with me. I'd be up for having another go.

One of the big changes I made was to plan and prepare my own food when travelling. I still find this a real treat and have got into the habit even if I'm travelling for work and someone else is picking up the bill. I'm now a very cheap date as far as client expenses go.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 7:52 pm Post subject:

How about next month for another go? I think we did September last time, actually - holidays and back to school are done with, and Thingymas hasn't really started. Work requires me (as opposed to I need!) to buy a new pair of trousers for work, which will probably have to be new, as they are hard to find (sports trousers - navy, no stripes, no logos, full legnth! I require cotton content, pockets, and as locally bought an ethically made as I can manage - not easy with sports stuff) but I can't think of anything else I need (but then I never can until I want some!)

The challange made me think more carefully about everything I buy. I haven't stopped buying new stuff, but I try to buy things in accordance with my principles - I buy mostly from local, independent shops if I must buy new, which is probably only about ten percent of the time - I like the way I now think of new as a last resort, rather than a first port of call.

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 7:57 pm Post subject:
I'd be up for September to give it another go. I think I realised all the things I really didn't need at all - not bought new or second hand either. There was so much I managed very well without. I ditched my magazine habit and have been a lot better for that and haven't really gone back. I buy the odd one as a treat, but I'm very picky now and it is a treat. Yeah - bring it on.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18421

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 07 9:28 pm Post subject:

I've found it makes me feel even less 'mainstream' / even odder than before. And made me even more aware of how large a part consumption plays in our society. Which has taken me into different social circles again. Though that might be a combination of rural living and an increasing need for frugality.

Recently been to a wedding and a christening. Quite a lot of expectations regarding presents there, especially with the happy couple specifying on the invitation that they wanted cash as a wedding present in order to save for house deposit. They got the surprise crate of gooseberry champagne I'd made for them from the bush opposite their cottage instead. And seemed rather pleased, despite.

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 07 4:15 pm Post subject:

I think your idea of gooseberry champers was a really good one, actually Gil. I mean, it's all very well people saying that they just want the cash, but actually money is not a very romantic or traditional present by any stretch of the imagination. Especially with something like a christening.

Don't you find that people are surprised and a bit chuffed to have a present that has been hand-made? It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "It's the thought that counts", as it shows an awful LOT of thought has gone into the gift.

As for the Challenge I guess I'm up for another year, then!

n

Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 211
Location: Lothian

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 07 8:21 pm Post subject:
Another YEAR. There is no hope for us amateurs then.... n

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2, 3 ... 17, 18, 19
Page 19 of 19

View Latest Posts