This year some things are going to be very different for me. I’ve committed to not buy anything new for all of 2017! As a lifelong shopaholic, I have found myself trapped in a cycle of mindless consumerism, buying things I don’t need which only end up taking up space in my home. Even though almost everything I could possibly need already exists in a secondhand store somewhere, I still buy the majority of my belongings new and cheaply made. This year, I want to break my bad habits and reflect on my relationship with material goods and consumerism. I believe that how you choose to spend your money can almost be a form of voting. You can make an effort to support and endorse large corporations who treat their employees and the environment terribly, or choose to be a mindful consumer who carefully weighs their options and supports locally sourced, ethical, and environmentally sustainable goods. I’ve started this blog to aid in this reflection, discuss my experiences in this, and to hold myself accountable.
The rules for this no buy venture:
1. This will start January 1, 2017 and last until January 1, 2018.
2. I am only able to buy necessary things like hygiene products and food new, but will make an effort to start buying from local, ethical, and environmentally responsible companies with the money I save from cutting my budget.
3. I can also replace or buy things needed for work, or a specific activity if I legitimately need it and cannot rent or borrow. I can also buy with the purpose of reselling for profit.
4. I can purchase things that will help me become more self sustainable in the future through learning or building on skills, eg. yarn for knitting, lumber/tools for woodworking but I need to plan ahead and try to buy these supplies secondhand or borrow if they’re available.
5. I can spend money on movies, outings, meals, etc with friends and loved ones. Money can and should be spent on experiences and memories rather than consuming. Because shopping trips aren’t as memorable as trying something new with people you love!
6. Vacations are another exception: small souvenirs and mementos are allowed as long as they are ethically made and support the local economy.
7. With a focus on minimalism, I am going to be selling, donating, or giving away a lot of the possessions I’ve accumulated over the years and don’t actually need. A loose goal is to get rid of around half of what I’m starting with (which is mostly clothes).
At the end of this year, I want to:
1. Be able to create instead of consume
2. Resist sales and instead plan the items I buy carefully, spending more money on items that will last longer and were produced sustainably.
3. Have purged all of belongings that don’t have a purpose in my life or aren’t used regularly.
How long can you go without buying? A year may be far-fetched, but I challenge you to see how long you can go without purchasing something new - a week, a month, a semester - just to see if you can!
