Happy No New Stuff Year - The support thread for those flying in the face of consumerism!

[WewishyouaBUMPERLICIOUS]

My husband and I have set ourselves a challenge of not buying any new stuff for 6 months. Obvious exceptions are food, cleaning products and toiletries. Also outside of the rules are items that it would be detrimental to buy second hand for my 6mo baby, i.e. cot mattress, dummies etc.

I posted about this a couple of months ago, and have also noticed some posts on the style and beauty threads proposing the same thing. So this is the thread for those who want to join this challenge in some way, whether it be just buying no new clothes, buying nothing new at all, buying nothing at all, buying only second hand etc. Our motivation are different, for some it will be saving money (me), for others it may be flying in the face of rampant consumerism (me) and for others is may be trying to mitigate their impact upon the environment and in protest against the poorly treated workers producing the dirt cheap goods we come to expect today (also me!).

This thread could be invaluable support, with links to various recycling websites, tips on altering your clothes to liven up your wardrobe, advice to stop yourself frittering money on non-fat lattes and a pain au chocolate each day on the way to work and support to tell you "no you don't need a new lipstick - here's how to make your own!"

So come one come all: I dare you to set yourself this challenge and not buy anything new for as long as possible!

I'm very up for this - brilliant thread

Sounds good Bumper . Not sure I'm going to be able to stop buying anything new (even allowing for your rules), but I am keen to dramatically cut down the amount of stuff I buy. This is mainly because of being sick of consumerism and worry about ethical/environmental issues, but also fits in nicely with the reduced income that is associated with going part-time at work.

I actually got really p'd off with the ammount of food DH bought in the week before Xmas. I know we'd just empied the frezer and wanted to restock it (runs more economically full) and I'd sorted out the larder and had a list of things to top up there, AND of course it's normal to buy more stuff and particularly more treats at Xmas but I felt rather sick at the thought of all the food coming into the house. I know it'll last ages and will all come in useful in the end, but it felt obscene! So perhaps my first mission will be to rethink our food shopping. We already buy LOTS of our shopping from the reduced to clear/last day of sale section, in fact apart from the Xmas goose I'm not sure what the last full price main meal we had was. This is good for the budget, but can lead to a tendancy to think "oh it's cheap, it therefore doesn't matter if we really NEED it or not".

There was a thread about voluntary simplicity that you might find helpful - here - even though it's not quite the same thing, it had some interesting links, though I failed miserably on the whole 'not buying it' thing. Good for you for going for it. For me, my downfall is emotional buying of things, not doing without things I 'need'. I find that very hard to change.

I will join in.
I was on the other thread too (it's Pruni) and read Not Buying It - a good read and quite a motivating one, if anyone's interested (it's by Judith Levine).
We are so strapped for cash it isn't true, and so the involuntary simplicity continues into the new year for us.
My sticking point is DH, really. He is half-hearted about it.
Looking around my house, I can see we are cash poor but asset rich - we need nothing but a few winter clothes, There is DIY to do on the house so all money will go towards that and it has a bit of a hair shirt quality for us too....(sadly).
I have unavoidable time away from the house in the afternoons, so need somewhere to be warm and to do a bit of studying: I usually use Starbuck's tbh but I will cut that down to once a week and use the library more.
Oh and I need to lose 2 stone or thereabouts, so I can fit into my summer clothes, else I will be in trouble....!

I am with you on this - I have no need for any new clothes and shoes (but will use eBay), my bathroom is full of toiletries which need using up. I will however be buying undies and tights as and when.......

I will also have a big sell on eBay in the New Year to generate some funds.

The best method I use is to leave my switch/credit cards at home when I am off to work as I tend to browse about the shops during my lunch hour. If I only have a tenner in my purse so be it!

Food is one of our vices too. We need to get into meal planning.

Clothes is going to be my hurdle. I love clothes, and I love looking good plus I am going back to work in April and half my clothes don't fit because I have put on weight and changed shape from having a baby. Also still bfing so can't wear half my tops so I am keen for any tips on adapting what you have to make it look better. I would love to do a clothes swap but I'm not sure I have anything worth swapping. No Ghost dresses hanging unworn in my wardrobe.

Another thing I'm going to have to stop is going for tea and cake in town when I need to stop to feed the baby. Of course if I am not shopping I won't need to stop, but tbh there isn't much else you can do with a 6mo. Especially for free. Any tips on that?

I'm with you! I'm going to start small and say I'll try for 3 months though (baby steps and all that) but with the intention of going for 6 months

I have already started by making myself look in the big chest freezer in the garage, which is scary. Since Thursday I have spent £20 on fresh fruit and veg and everything else has been me making more of an effort to use up what we already have, rather than going to the supermarket for the sake of it.

I am also knitting my mate a scarf for her birthday - which has the added bonus of keeping me off the fags

I have 6 birthdays in Jan/early Feb so will be looking to 'make/bake' presents as much as possible.

I am trying to save some cash for holidays. In addition to feeling all cluttered out in our home!

Aah knitting - I am knitting ds a sweater and have plans for two for me. It is not cheap but I got wool for my birthday recently and tbh I have SO MUCH of the stuff that I needn't buy any for about a year.
Knitted presents are great but you have to be sure the recipient appreciates the time you spent making it...(gave my friend a knitted jacket for her newborn last year and it was so obviously not what she would have wanted...groan).

Maybe we need a list of skills we have and we could do a bit of MN bartering?

Bumper - coffee and cake in town.....tbh I think a) it's winter and b) you are breastfeeding. You need to be warm and you need to eat and drink.
You can use your local library for free but you can't eat and drink there. Why not say: come the warm weather, I will start packing a flask and a snack, and find a good park or a bench in town with a nice view? And just carry on for now.

Tbh pruni I think just not going into town will help the whole thing. I need to join some more baby groups perhaps.

As for skills, hmmm I don't really have any in a practical sense but dh is v good at photography and computery stuff.

Oh motherhurdicure are you a doula too?
I am training atm.
I can offer that and knitting and erm English lessons.

What translation mhc?

no lattes?

I will lurk

But surely latte count towards the 'food/drink' group of exceptions!!

I would so love to do this, bu t I would probably last a full day (or possibly 2 as new years day I am likely to be at home hungover and if I have breakfast stuff in thehoue, I needn't get dressed at all!)

By day 2 I can see myself falling off the wagon. HOWEVER How aboy very very baby steps, in that I will start making my own lunches again (I am going on a diet anyway) when I am at my local offices, thus saving money. And no new clothes until I have lost weight.

I agree with the principles of this, so for me, baby steps is all I can do

I am intrigued!!!

I too am getting very disillusioned with all the stuff we have/buy/think we need.

I am ready to take up the challenge, but I will buy pressies for people.

Oh, and new shoes for the kids.

I do already buy alot from the charity shop, but am prepared to step it up. My dh could be a problem though. I would love to get him on board (would save us a fortune)

My big problem is that I don't plan ahead, and we tend to just "nip to the shop" for whatever. Also beacause I don't plan ahead, alot of veggies get wasted.

COUNT ME IN!!!!!

BTW, kinda related to this - I am starting to get really uncomfortable with the selfish little life I have. I do give to charity, and give my time to the school etc, but...still... Over Christmas when everyone was talking about how much they were getting their kids, I kept thinking about all the millions of kids that have less than nothing. Its just a growing niggle.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack

Bumperlicious, I am really glad you have started this thread as I have decided to try and give up all non-essential shopping for a year, and I think I will need lots of moral support.

My motivation is mainly green I have been inspired by some other friends who gave up flying for a year (which we cannot do as we have family abroad) and I hope that it will become a talking point among friends and acquaintances which might just spur them into more eco-conscious behaviour.

I realised just how hard it is going to be at a drinks party a couple of nights ago when I was having a very jolly chat with some other gals about jewellery shopping and the relaive benefits of Tiffany vs M&S. I couldn't bring myself to tell them I was giving up shopping for a year becuase I thought I would come across as a joyless holier-than-thou type, or just plan weird.

Other problem is that dh thinks I am bonkers (which I suppose in a way will make life easier as at least he will be able to buy birthday presents for the kids when I won't be able to, and he might buy the occasional newspaper which I am giving up.)

I've ordered the Judi Levine book in my last Amazon splurge. Now roll on a low-carbon, low-consumption New Year.

yes there is the risk of sounding preachy or priggish. I will keep my intentions to myself in RL and tell people I am skint (which is true). And come on here to talk about it

(We have just had to buy 2 fence panels but that is a neccesity!)

re buying pressies for people - I've tried to make some of the presents I have bought over the past year either from "green" shops, or consumables, or tickets (theatre etc). I prefer the latter 2 groups as they don't add to the endless pile of "stuff" people give and receive, but are used, (hopefully) enjoyed, and then leave room for other things to be enjoyed (and hopefully some nice memories). I shall try to more of this in the coming year.

I could not in good faith give anyone something I made!!!

Maybe instead of buying pressies, if you can't make something then give cash..... at least then the person in question can get what they want rather than having a gift given that they may not want and thus be wasted....?

yes nice idea! Many of my friends are very charity-minded so it feels insulting to go down the Oxfam-unwrapped route. Will do lots of loving-from-the-oven instead .(god I hate that expression!)and cinema/theatre tickets I think.

Now, any ideas for a nice cheap wedding present? (have weddding tomorrow)

Great, glad you are all joining. I think the key to this is to set a goal that is just a little bit beyond what you think you you can achieve. Don't set an unrealistic goal. You'll just feel depressed when you fail, but by the same token you can probably do a bit better than you think. That's why DH and I have said 6 months, not quite as show shopping as a year but more achievable. Set your own rules and give yourself small rewards. It's amazing the small pleasures you will appreciate once this starts.

Also if you fall off the waggon, don't give up completely. Just write that day off and start again the next day!

Present are difficult but i am going down the route of making fudge or biscuits

Btw purpleduck frozen veggies are a good way to avoid wastage, whilst maintaining all their goodness. failing that chuck em all in a soup and freeze!

My Dh is firmly on board with this so when he gets back from work I will see if he has any words of wisdom on how to convince any stubborn partners!

Yes, cash very good present for kids I think as it teaches them the value of stuff -- and they love getting it.

For the cheap wedding present, how about something to plant in the garden -- a small tree or shrub (rose bush suitably romantic). Won't look very impressive at this time of year but certainly quite eco-friendly.

Get thee to the garden centre!

oh yes!! Thanks