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

569 replies

WewishyouaBUMPERLICIOUS · 30/12/2007 08:17

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!

OP posts:
Pruners · 13/01/2008 10:01

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BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 13/01/2008 10:15

To be honest I have always been wracked with consumer guilt, having always grown up poor. But it is a good thing in a way. It's what makes me come home with a £20 pair of new look trousers rather than a £60 FCUK pair!

I do see what you mean about joyless though pruni, and I think the key is allocating resources for a "pre-approved" treat so you don't have to beat yourself up about it each time ruining the enjoyment if you do actually have a treat.

This has made a difference though, I know it has. Even though it's difficult to quantify what you haven't bought, I know that given the opportunity I would have been raking the sales for the dregs of the crap on offer that I don't need, or stocking up my make up bag with the latest must have cleanser/foundation which are going to revolutionise my life (with for the record is this!).

BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 13/01/2008 10:21

Actually that foundation a perfect example of the marketing drivel that we are subverting (or trying to at least) it uses words like "miracle" and the tag line "be the perfect you". What a load of bollocks, but I completely feed into it. I am constantly striving to be this more beautiful, more stylish, more intelligent person, who I think will have a much more fulfilled life, and that (I have just had the startling ephipany) is the root of my consumerism. God, it's so obvious now.

So what I need now is ways in which I can feel more beautiful and more fulfilled without over consuming, which is difficult when I am on maternity leave with a 6 mo baby.

Pruners · 13/01/2008 10:56

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mybabysinthegarden · 13/01/2008 16:26

OK, can someone explain to me what to do about shoes? Bought dd (13 months) her first pair yesterday-- £20 and I have to go back and have her refitted in 6 weeks apparently. So will she grow deformed hobbit feet if I put her in ones that approximately fit from charity shops/ebay or is that just shoe shop scaremongering? And if not, is there any better way to get them? I am pretty brass-necked when it comes to bargain-hunting, but not sure even I could brazen out having her measured in Clarks and then finding the right size on the internet.

Pruners · 13/01/2008 16:38

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sophy · 13/01/2008 16:42

With kids shoes I would always buy Clarks or Start-Rite and get them properly fitted. Then, if they are outgrown before they are outworn, pass them on to a charity shop. If you can afford to buy new it is worth it IMO. We have had a few disasters where I have bought shoes at say, Gap, which were the right size but the fit was terrible, or badly made and didn't last.

Kids shoes will be the only new things I will be buying during my year of consuming abstinence.

twentypence · 13/01/2008 17:42

I get ds proper new shoes - and buy ones that are made in a country that doesn't use children to make them. THEN I sell them on Ebay.

thisisRialifebaby · 13/01/2008 18:40

There is an excellent Clarks outlet in Kendal if you're up north. They meaure and fit them properly and everything but they're last years designs so they are a bit cheaper. I think I got DS1 (10) & DS2 (31/2) school shoes each for just over £40 in total.

It's a worthwhile expense for the first few years, but DS1 won't be having Clarks for much longer. (are they made by exploited/child workers? I have never thought about that with Clarks).

motherhurdicure · 13/01/2008 21:55

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motherhurdicure · 13/01/2008 21:57

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motherhurdicure · 13/01/2008 22:01

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Pruners · 13/01/2008 22:05

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motherhurdicure · 13/01/2008 22:42

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motherhurdicure · 13/01/2008 22:43

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Pruners · 13/01/2008 23:33

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Snaf · 14/01/2008 08:38

Am trying to think if I've done any spending this week and I believe I've been pretty good! Did go out on Sat night but a rich friend paid for the meal and anyway I'm not sure that having a lovely time with good friends in a reasonably-priced restaurant counts as rampant consumerism, does it? (God, I really hope it doesn't!)

Doing this has brought home to me how much I do in the way of boredom spending. I had the weekend to myself (no ds) and it was so tempting to just amble into town and drop £50 on nothing - but I didn't. Yay me, perhaps?

Plus I have started doing that 'shoebox covered in masking tape with a tiny slot in the top for spare change' thing, so we'll see how much is in there in Jan 2009!

Minum · 14/01/2008 08:41

I bought DS1 a new pair of school trousers - he only has one pair, and now has to wear them for rugby club, as well as school, so I think its too risky to manage with a single pair. Havent ever been able to find his size (teenager) second hand. Otherwise, really enjoying the buzz of sticking to this.

BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 14/01/2008 09:37

Yay snaf! It is boredom a lot of it isn't it? I think the key is finding your trigger and trying to distract yourself.

Having children does make it more difficult, so I think everyone is doing brilliantly!

If anyone has any I would love tips on adapting clothes to make them more funky. I keep reading about these clothes swap parties where you can swap clothes and there are stalls which give you advice on adapting clothes, but it's seems you have to live in London of LA to find them. I'd like to do my own, but I can honestly say if I don't want to wear some of the clothes I have no-one would!

motherhurdicure · 14/01/2008 09:38

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CharlieAndLolasMummy · 14/01/2008 11:41

HANDKNITS has shut? NO! I used to walk past there and wish I knew how to knit . I have had in the back of my head in all my knitting adventures that when I can afford a trip back up to Edinburgh (2017?) I would go back there and fondle their yarn.

I think a yarn swopping party would be fabulous. We could all chuck our car keys into a hat on the table and take it from there...

(otoh my problem is more with needles than yarn...I do have too many needles, but I also love them all. ooh this morning some caesin ones that I bought in October (backorder) arrived, they are lovely...no this isn't the place, is it?)

I have just realised that I have not bought anything for this baby. I mean, nothing. Obviously, 6k worth of car aside -but WTF can you not get 3 car seats and 2 adults in a normal bloody car? Families of 5 didn't used to have to remortgage, as we have, I am sure of it. Also, over there it used to be all trees...

So I am going to buy some yarn and make it a cardigan. The thing is, should i go to my lys which is 30 minutes drive away, or hobbycraft, which I drive past anyway this afternoon?

I am sorry, as always I am steering this thread towards fibre arts stuff

CharlieAndLolasMummy · 14/01/2008 11:48

(oh lys = local yarn store

I seriously need to get out more. Up I get...)

motherhurdicure · 14/01/2008 12:54

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Snaf · 14/01/2008 13:04

I've just bought a book on amazon, secondhand, for 88p. Plus postage and packing, of course, but I would spend that or thereabouts on petrol and parking charges if I went to the nearest decent secondhand bookshop. And I'd probably have a latte while I was there...

I saved 94% and recycled at the same time!

milkyJammy · 14/01/2008 13:06

Received my 1st book from Bookmooch this morning 5 given away, 1 received, 3 on the way and some points in hand to spend still. Feels good.