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Buy Nothing New

December 20th, 2006 at 08:12 pm

I've been reading the thread "10 friends" on the forum and have been inspired. The thread discusses a group in San Francisco that agreed to buy nothing new for a year.

I'd definitely like to try this for several months. It is a good extension of what I already do. I try very hard to always buy used.

I do not have the self-challenge structured yet. I am unsure on several fronts. For example the original group permitted members to buy services. I am not exactly certain what that means. I know that toilet paper and underwear are allowed purchases but what about buying something new at Goodwill.

I'd like very much to hear your ideas. It would also be nice to have more people doing this. Maybe we can form a group?

Posted in Buy Nothing New | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Buy Nothing New”

  1. Dido Says:
    December 21st, 2006 at 02:02 am 1166666520
    1166666520

    I'll have to check out that thread. That's something I'll have to think about trying. I don't know that I could do it, although I do make an effort to buy things used--almost all my furniture is used, and some of my appliances and clothing, and the majority of my current book purchases. But this year I had a lot of expenses on "new stuff"--mostly either things for the new computer or for the new dog. Having spent all that this year, I'm probably in decent shape for joining the challenge, but I'll have to think about it.

  2. Bookie Says:
    December 21st, 2006 at 04:34 am 1166675657
    1166675657

    Buying services simply refers to paying someone else to do something for you. It was important because some of the participants had small children in daycare for instance.

    Items donated to Goodwill or other charity outlets would probably qualify as "used," even though they were still packaged. The donor would have absorbed the purchase price depreciation.

    Not sure I understand the point of the exercise. Most of us are already practicing some version of frugal restraint in purchasing. Sometimes I think we need to ask ourselves the purpose of our frugality.

    Smile

  3. DivaJen Says:
    December 21st, 2006 at 06:41 pm 1166726475
    1166726475

    This would certainly give one pause when considering making a purchase at all. Can I get it used? If so, where? And when? That in and of itself would be a worthy new habit to develop, in my opinion.

  4. baselle Says:
    December 26th, 2006 at 06:00 am 1167112811
    1167112811

    I understand the point - I mocked it when it first came out because most folks on this blog think long and hard about their spending, generating no positive attention, while a small group of SFers can whip up a "Compact" and get lots and lots of attention.

    Its not the goal I mind, its the PR. Big Grin

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