[fishhound]

This is interesting but extreme. They parred way down but they must have saved a boatload of money. I don't think they are Un-American or economic terrorists.

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.

[Jaysun]

I think they're idiots but that's allowed. They can do without if they want to. This same story has already been peddled by the LA Times (I think).

[TASMANIANRED]

Boycott was a little extreme but most of it was just good judgement.

[Pukin Dog]

I would not applaud this, as the goal of these hippies is ultimately to turn San Francisco into one big commune, while driving out Markets and Industry.

[Alia]

I've in past lived this way. It frees up your time enormously; and yes saves money.

That being said: It's a lot more fun to SHOP! lol

[DainBramage]

I have to shop so I can buy my wife beer. She has a problem but Im sticking with her through it.

[najida]

I think anyone crazy enough to get up at 6am to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving.... is just,
well,
crazy.

Sleeping is more fun!

[Old_Mil]

Given the extremely liberal causes that many corporations support with their profits, such a lifestyle is not a bad one for the dedicated conservative.

[dawn53]

There would be no new clothes, gadgets, computers, car parts, mobile phones, books or music for them for a whole 12 months

I could do this, most of us could. I have plenty of clothes and enough gadgets, music, and books to last.

But what about the car part...couldn't do without a car, and if say your water pump goes on your car, or a tire blows out, how are you going to get by without buying another replacement part.

[tickmeister]

Big deal. I've never "shopped." If I need something, I buy it online or hit Walmart, if I don't need anything I don't buy anything. I have mixed feelings about the effect of everybody acting as I do. The economy would be a good deal smaller, China would be a good deal poorer, and things like ipods and gameboys would be labratory curiosities. As long as we've got the best weapons, medical system, best food production system, and decent affordable banjoes and fiddles, which we do, it's hard to see how we would be in any worse postion relative to the world.

I don't care what other people do, I just think it's too much trouble to own a bunch of stuff.

[mystery-ak]

I saw one of these couples interviewed on CNN, unfortunately I just caught the end of the program as I was flipping channels...one thing I did hear is that they may not have shopped, but they did get a lot of free things...off the internet and with coupons...I wish I could have heard what all this free stuff was.

[msnimje]

I doubt there is a single person living in San Francisco the Puritans would want associated with them.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

San Franciscans have an easily recycling system: a bunch of stuff--including bones--is tossed into the recycling bin, and that's it. Over here, bones aren't recycled, and the newspapers and containers are separated (though there's still only one wheeled bin, with segment of plastic down the middle).

[Dallas59]

They can do what ever they want...If you don't need it don't buy it....I need this...

[Aikonaa]

These silly, self-righteous games leftists like to play are simply nauseating. How come they basically ended their 'experiment' after one year? And why are they excited at the prospect of shopping once again?

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?

[LibWhacker]

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

[operation clinton cleanup]

Some of us are frugal with our money because we have to be. Who uses shoe polish anyway?

sustainable alternatives to new shoe polish

[Perdogg]

There was an article this past year about how some people of means who managed to live by going through the garbage. The woman said she found a lot of designer clothes in the garbage that were perfectly good to wear.

I don't remember if the found food like that.

[kalee]

ping

[relictele]

This story/cause is being printed and reprinted everywhere. Their message may not be "consumerism is evil" but Guardian-minded people will trumpet that interpretation.

[HangnJudge]

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.