[VEGirl3]

SAN FRANCISCO - It began, as grand ideas often do, over a dinner risotto,
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">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?</div>
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<br><br><br><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070103/ap_on_re_us/shopping_sabbatical" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070103/...ing_sabbatical</a><br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:">

 

[Skylark]

I'm doing something similar for my New Year's resolution. I'm not buying things I don't need. This pretty much limits me to food, cleaning supplies and things like toilet paper. Oh, and gasoline, as this is something I need to buy to perform my job.<br><br><br><br>
So, for one year, I'm not going to buy books, CDs, DVDs or clotheseven used ones, which is what I normally buy. I realized I've got so many books I haven't read yet, DVDs I haven't watched, and CDs I haven't memorized, why not focus on appreciating what I have? I'm also a clothes horse, so there's little chance I'll literally run out of clothes. I will buy underwear if mine wear out, of course.

 

[gaya]

it probably wouldn't be an issue for me...i hate to shop, even for food. This past holiday was tough. My DH usually takes care of all our shopping biz. something happens to me chemically when i shop and it's not positive. I was recently tortured by some friends in a mall. We were walking through to get to a parking garage and ended up being in the place for an hour or so and they were just playing with toys at brookstone (massage stuff). I actually dished some attitude at them lol but they didn't care.<br><br><br><br>
when i was living on the road I had a policy of only owning a certain amount of stuff. I obviously couldn't fit a whole lot into a minivan. If i wanted a new article of clothing, I had to give up an article of clothing. It worked out well for me at the time.

 

[MmmmVeggies]

I think it's a good idea. Except for things for my dogs (some of them frivilous, like extra toys), I would love to do something similar.

 

[tearhsong2]

I haven't decided on my resolution yet (there are so many things I can pick that would improve myself), but this isn't a bad idea. Our debt (particularly after Christmas) needs to be paid off anyway and buying stuff we don't need keeps interfering with paying it off faster.

 

[GanyGreenBean]

Dude.. thats such a cool idea. I think I will try to spend less also. I'm sure my bank account will thank me.

 

[GhostUser]

Its been 1.5 years since i went shopping. Other than for food. and Im damn proud.

 

[Sirene]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>skylark</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
why not focus on appreciating what I have?</div>
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So true !!

 

[Chrysalis]

I used to be so careful with my money that it has backfired and I just want to go out and buy things. I don't think I could follow this 'buying nothing for a year' idea. Not this year anyway. However what I would like to improve on is buying less material things and buying more things that can bring me real enjoyment, like the money i just spent on strength training lessons. After these lessons are done I am going to buy some kickboxing lessons. And in return, I won't buy myself anymore clothes, except new socks and underwear since I kinda need some.

 

[Eek]

Oi. I'm a shopaholic...that would kill me. I will say though that I'm really trying to cut back to only buying things i will really get lot of use out of...and second hand where possible...

 

[Kiz]

I've been very busy lately, and very stressed. In consequence I've not been getting nearly enough sleep.<br><br><br><br>
It's beginning to tell... at first I read the title of this thread as "A year without sleeping". My first reaction was OMG!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
The year without shopping idea is quite a good one though. You'd want to be handy with fixing things though.

 

[greenheart]

I saw this story last week online! I think it's a great accomplishment; I'm in awe of their dedication and discipline. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/notworthy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":wayne:"><br><br><br><br>
Not sure I could do it myself. I do try to buy used whenever possible, but...

 

[cftwo]

Someone on another board is doing this - a week so far - after outlining with her DH what types of shopping were permitted (used stuff, what constituted a necessity, etc.). Just hearing about it has been enough to make me think twice about buying stuff I really don't need. (I suppose this means I need to re-think the DSL idea, though.)

 

[Kiz]

They are planning to buy nothing new for a week or they are planning to buy nothing new for a year and have only been on the scheme a week?