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 ...
Retail spending counts for 60 -70% of our economy. A concerted move by more than a fringe group like the "Compact" could lead to an economic slowdown.
True enough. I'm coming back from a hard knock right now, and my whole attitude about money and buying things has completely changed. I can walk around all of my old favorite toy stores, and not even be tempted. I'm much more interested in not being broke ever again.
does that mean "shop or die"?
They were still dependent on other people shopping, too.
I'd hate to give up my computer, remember San Fran temps are milder and cool in summer, so I doubt they have the utility bills some of the rest of us have.
Now that being said, I have a London Fog jacket I swear is 20 years old. I show it off, keep it mended, washes in the machine, does not look very worn at all, and it's been my regular coat all that time. Wouldn't want to go back to handwashing. I have two nice, trendy coats, but I like that old one better :-). I did not used to be this way.
If I had to, I could furnish my house with what people throw away except for appliances, even some of those might still work. It wouldn't look so good. You'd be amazed at some of the things I've found in peoples' trash. I don't do it every week, but sometimes drive around and pick stuff up. Got a Duncan Phyfe mahogany drop leaf table for my granddaughter. Got a few things for myself, a milk can I tumble morning glories over, a great pair of sawhorses I'd been wanting, a small trellis, 36 glass blocks, lumber, nice bassinet for my grandson (people were evicted, they put all their stuff out in the rain, made me feel bad, very nice house), brass planter, big plastic tub for brush, and that's not even trying very hard.
If I don't like it or need it, and it's really a nice item, I offer it on freecycle. It's amazing how glad people are to get some of the stuff I find, a Vincenzia leather coat w/small tear, two chairs, house front or back door, some stuff I didn't want the hassle of selling that was mine.
My clothes last a long time now. If they fit and I like them, I don't mind second-hand stuff at all.
We carried out 8 huge hefty sacks of clothing. For 3 days, there were piles of clothing and every single mirror was perpetually occupied as my daughters tried out different types of "personnas". And from all the categories: grunge, preppy, provocative, etc.
It was nearly a week of "let's play dress-up". Bottom line, they each found newer (to them) styles which made them feel MARVELOUSl this ultimately made any type of department store shopping very clear to them as they now had a new "base" to operate from and branch out into. (and then of course, all the laundering of the new items).
The rest, we bundled back in the bags, and presented these bags to friends of ours with 3 daughters. They were instructed to do the same, or keep it all. Turns out, they had a week of "let's play dress-up", and then gave the remaining bags to another family of daughters.
I guess some might call this "play it forward"; but my oh my these young ladies had fun.
And dittos, here, on your in re trying out items/appliances which one normally would not. I still have items I'd gotten second hand from... 20+ years back.
However, I will say this: purchasing clothing in NC is far, far less expensive than it is in SF. Food is more expensive here, tho.
No, it would not lead to an economic "slowdown". The goods not sold in the US would be sold elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, most all second hand stores are part of the economy. Purchasers of raw goods would look for better deals in order to retail here in the U.S.
The Inuit do it, so why can't you (rhetorical)?
If i ever need an excercise bicycle or althelic equiptment like a wieght bench i can find them barely used on trash night around here.
On craigslist i got a used trash compactor and a horizontal freezer for free. Both in excellent shape. New that would probably be a few hundred dollars.
I have heard about freecycle.
I think its the balance that you have at the end of the month that decides how frugal you need to be.
The American branch of the Unitarian movement began primarily in the Congregational parish churches of New England.
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.
In general, folks of this persuasion are not content to just living their own lives along the path they have chosen. I'm sure most of these people would welcome public policy which would force others to adopt their way of life.
lmao. Hallelujah bro! I am saved; I'm gonna shop till I drop!
Raising hand! I did this too!
Well said.
You hit both nails with one sledge hammer stroke!
But you do see the flaw in your statement, right?
That little "common sense" thing......
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."
Here, here!
Last year I lived probably even more frugally than they describe. I got by on under $10K and that included $2K for overdue dental repairs. Okay, so I bought a replacement car battery, a pair of steel toe workboots, a thousand rounds of ammo, a gun and a couple dozen books. Priorities, priorities. I'd bet I spent less on guns, ammo, books AND food than one of those people did on just food.
They made an exception for food and health care products.
exactly right!
Up is down and good is bad in this new world of the democratic "majority".
From the article;"Compact members found themselves attacked by conservatives as "un-American" and guilty of "economic terrorism"."
Even if we have to put up with Republican's failures, at least we didn't have so much of this kind of double speak going on, and the constant drumbeat of 'conservatives are bad'.
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