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The year of living frugally: how 10 friends survived without shopping
The Telegraph UK ^ | 05/01/2007 | Catherine Elsworth

Posted on 01/07/2007 4:48:05 PM PST by fishhound

It started as a pledge over dinner between friends worried about the impact of mass consumerism and today's disposable society.

"Let's see if we can give up shopping for a year," they said. advertisement

Now, at the close of the "12-month flight from the consumer grid" — in which the 10 friends were egged on by thousands of supporters inspired by their idea — some have declared the experiment so revelatory and life-changing that they plan to continue the boycott indefinitely.

The 10 middle-class professionals living in San Francisco dubbed themselves the "Compact" after the Mayflower Compact, drafted by Puritan pilgrims who reached the New World in 1620.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: prudence
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To: Riley
I do, but it doesn't have to be purchased very often. A big tin of black shoe polish will last for years.

I used it when I was in the Air Force, I think I still have a can of black and one of neutral around here somewhere.

41 posted on 01/07/2007 5:15:40 PM PST by operation clinton cleanup
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To: rabscuttle385; RockinRight

...or at least what I was thinking at time. *sigh*


42 posted on 01/07/2007 5:16:20 PM PST by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * Allen for U.S. Senate in '08)
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To: Riley

I use shoe polish, and my Dad did too (I ended up with his propomotional pack of black and brown polish, two brushes and buffing cloth).

If you need good heating repair call WAlnut 6-2243.


43 posted on 01/07/2007 5:17:23 PM PST by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: Jaysun

Yeah, and If I remember correctly, this story has run for the last 2 years as well.. I seem to remember seeing a "We have not shopped all year" story last year for sure. Seems like every year someone else tries it.


44 posted on 01/07/2007 5:17:41 PM PST by eXe (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: najida
The Salvation Army where I lived was the bomb! I was wearing designer clothing. And I would be happy to travel to the areas of income far greater than my own and because the Goodwills and Salvation Army merchandise was of even better quality.

As a matter of fact, a couple of the very well to do from a City near mine, appeared in my particular Salvation Army one day. We waved at each other from a distance, almost a wink, 'cuz they'd caught me coming out of their local "2nd hand place" the month before.

A bargain's a bargain -- doesn't matter what income class you are in.

45 posted on 01/07/2007 5:17:50 PM PST by Alia
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To: Alouette

HA HA HA, thanks for the laugh.

I can just picture trying to do that, wouldn't work for us


46 posted on 01/07/2007 5:18:01 PM PST by ThreePuttinDude ()...On 9-11 & 7-7 Islamic missionaries came a callin'.....()
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To: Alouette
sifferent schedules

=Different schedules.

PIMF.

47 posted on 01/07/2007 5:18:10 PM PST by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 83-87)
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To: fishhound
Buddhists of the world would applaud

The Second Nobel Truth

The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardour, pursue of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: craving and clinging.
48 posted on 01/07/2007 5:19:11 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: rabscuttle385

"Of course, though, if you want to do this, great. If you don't, you have that choice too...and if you think that these ten folks are idiots, you are definitely allowed your own beliefs."

I just wonder what they ate if they never went shopping.


49 posted on 01/07/2007 5:20:15 PM PST by driftdiver
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To: fishhound

>>After seeing the insane automaton shoppers this ChristmaS in my area and those waiting in lines at 6pm on Thanksgiving day I can appreciate this.

We went to Churchill Downs on Black Friday, with an extended family group of 14 or so people, from age 4 to age 72. It was great, and would have been even if the patriarch and matriarch hadn't both won "big" ($200 and $1400[!!]), and we're people who buy a $2 ticket or two per race. Club level seats were a whopping $10 each, food was reasonable, it was a bright sunny day, and we all had a great time.

It beat the heck out of fighting crowds at the mall. I'd rather take a beating, than do that.


50 posted on 01/07/2007 5:20:27 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: Alia

What I love about the one close to work is it's the cities central hub store, so it usually has the best stuff.

And I don't feel guilty if I buy something goofy I've been wanting to try (Bread machine). If it doesn't work out, I bring it back. But most of my house is decorated in Early Goodwill.


51 posted on 01/07/2007 5:21:51 PM PST by najida (If it wasn't for fast food, I'd have no food at all.)
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To: Aikonaa
The Unitarians are descendants of the Puritans?

As for the main topic, again, these people weren't meddling in anybody's affairs except their own. They simply bought less and conserved their money.

52 posted on 01/07/2007 5:22:11 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( WND, NewsMax, Townhall.com, Brietbart.com, and Drudge Report are not valid news sources.)
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To: fishhound

And from Adam Smith
The Wealth of Nations, Book II, Chapter III

Parsimony, and not industry, is the immediate cause of the increase of capital. Industry, indeed, provides the subject which parsimony accumulates. But whatever industry might acquire, if parsimony did not save and store up, the capital would never be the greater.


53 posted on 01/07/2007 5:22:39 PM PST by HangnJudge
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To: driftdiver
I just wonder what they ate if they never went shopping.

Let's not go there.

54 posted on 01/07/2007 5:23:32 PM PST by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * Allen for U.S. Senate in '08)
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To: FreedomPoster

Hey.you got to be with family (priceless),
shoppers got stuff from really articulate and informed.... teenagers.........LOL
sounds like like you had a great day....good for you!


55 posted on 01/07/2007 5:25:37 PM PST by fishhound
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To: LibWhacker

"Wackos. But let 'em be wackos if they want; it's just more for me."

I'm with you.
Plus 10 less people in line in front of me, and 10 less carts in my way when I shop. :)


56 posted on 01/07/2007 5:26:08 PM PST by GottaLuvAkitas1 (Ronald Reagan is the TRUE "Father Of Our Country".)
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To: Aikonaa
There's nothing wrong with common sense and frugality when it comes to spending one's money but why does this have to be made into a self-righteous fashion statement?

You hit the nail on the head. They don't have a problem with taking gift certificates as presents. But since they don't shop, they won't be buying many presents--just hand mades or hand me downs.

It's one thing to be frugal and live within once's means, but this group sounds like they are trying to make their own stinginess some type of statement.

57 posted on 01/07/2007 5:26:10 PM PST by World'sGoneInsane (LET NO ONE BE FORGOTTEN, LET NO ONE FORGET)
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To: fishhound
Please ping me when the first divorce papers are filed by a fed-up husband with a mono-obsessed wife. This subject was discussed on the Holloway divorce thread. National media spotlight does strange things to people.

Or maybe a wife will file when she finds out he's got a girl-friend who lavishes him with gifts and comfort while he shops at Victoria's Secret for her.

If the husbands are obsessed feminized liberals like their wives, who cares what happens.

These people are so 60's.

Leni

58 posted on 01/07/2007 5:26:49 PM PST by MinuteGal (The Left takes power only through deception.)
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To: HangnJudge

there is no doubt we have a savings problem here in the U.S.


59 posted on 01/07/2007 5:28:13 PM PST by fishhound
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To: operation clinton cleanup
I used it when I was in the Air Force, I think I still have a can of black and one of neutral around here somewhere.

I had to use it constantly when I was in the Corps. To this day, if I didn't have shoes, I'd probably absentmindedly spitshine my feet.

60 posted on 01/07/2007 5:28:16 PM PST by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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