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!

P-Snape, we have some pots of paint that you could probably have, if you're able to collect? We're in Oxfordshire. I'd need to have a sort out of what we have, and I warn you some of it is several years old - I don't know how well it keeps?

I'm in blooming Glasgow! thanks for the offer milky - I'm sure I'll get some on freecycle...

Ah well, hope you manage to get some.

just have to post to get back on my 'threads im on' shall look properly later

Very late reply re the book - I'm an early to bed girl. No didn't try bookmooch as untill now had not researched it. Did try the library, but already a long queue of others requesting it.
So far, I think its great. A bit too much focus on the seriously rich, ut easy to see how to some extent we can all become 'infected' by what he calls 'affluenza'- which is not just things, but also status and money. Not that he's saying wanting these things is nessecarily bad for us - it's more about what motivates us, for example making pots of money is not bad in itself, but if it is the motive of wanting admiration/status that goes with it then it's probably not that healthy.He talks about intrinsic motives, doing things for the pleasure of the activity, or beauty as healthier mecanisms.
Oversimplified, but I'm only a quarter way through. Great read though, thought provoking and is making me do a personal 'audit' of thinking why I do things or why I buy things.
Will put on bookmooch after it has done the rounds of friends.
Off to do the school run now, I'll check back later.

Now here's a thought. I walked past our local 2nd hand bookshop this afternoon (2 mins from my house) and found myself thinking oh for pete's sake, just go out of business and shut up shop!

The thing is that he only opens 2 afternoon's per week, and I kind f feel that he can't actually need the money, or surely he'd be open more. And then I thought that maybe someone wants a property to run a business from and can't have this shop because the old man keeps it on for a little pin money. There's another shop in the same parade that changes hands fairly often, unfortunately no one manages to make a go of it, but it suggests there is no shortage of folks looking for the opportunity, as it is never empty for long.

OK, sorry Bumper, I know that this is only vaguely linked to this thread, but I (at least) thought it was interesting enough to want to share.

Am I the only one who just cannot find what I want on Bookmooch?

I dunno if I have just really eclectic tastes in books but...its odd, have never found anything I liked and thusly never signed up.

I'm having my doubts about Bookmooch - I've spent a fortune on postage sending books out, I'm not sure theres anything I want at the moment, and I havent benefitted Oxfam, which is where I used to take them

lol, I think we have actually established that yarn and other crafty things don't count

which is rather useful for some of us

Seriously I am destashing this year, I think. Also considering the 100 mile yarn diet, but this is a bit tricky when AFAIK there is bugger all yarn produced within 100 miles. Fine for those who live in Yorkshire

ohh, i'll have yarn stash on ebay the next time they do a 10P day.....

bookmooch is a bit mffffpppph. I've sent out four, but anything i fancy has 30 people glugging for it. all i want is Philippa Gregory bodice ripping nonsense...

oh when I returned a few weeks ago I was charlieandlolasmummy (CALM), for various convoluted reasons.

And then someone asked me if I had actually called my kids charlie and lola, and I realised that my name was perhaps not the ironic and clever thing I had once thought .

I don't think I will ever namechange again, its all getting a bit surreal.

am to have missed the yarn swop though.

Thanks for all the shoe advice (way back on Sunday) everyone-- good tip about Kendal, rialife; I'm in Scotland but sometimes pop into the New Balance outlet in Shap if I'm travelling south on the M6 (though not now of cours ). They are made in Vietnam though, at least the ones I just bought dd are .

hi everyone, right i have brought nothing for over a week! yay me!

although have been stuck inside with dc's for 4 days as they've been ill.

oh and me and dh have split for good, so shall be having to fund lawyers soon, fun fun!

Oh stacey that's crap. Are you ok? Well done on the not spending though.

I had a real test of will power yesterday. I looked me and DD out of my flat at 9.30, and DH didn't get back til 6.30

Buggy and car seat were in the (locked) car. Fortunately I had the sling but it was a looong day! Was mostly cross because I ended up spending money in cafes, then in the afternoon I went to a friend's and bought some food in M&S as I didn't want to eat her out of house and home. On the plus side though if it wasn't for this challenge I would have spent a lot more out of boredom and to "cheer myself up" including some lovely crockery on sale in whittards, some shoes in M&S, a gorgeous V&A design water bottle in the museum shop, some sale clothes in baby gap and some Max factor foundation. But I didn't buy any of it so I actually saved myself a lot of money! But it does help not going into town as I didn't realise any of this existed and didn't want it before I went into town. I do have a real tendancy to buy stuff when I am feeling down as a treat. But I feel virtuous now!

Our TV has died. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

1 portable tv available for loan bumper if you want

"it does help not going into town as I didn't realise any of this existed and didn't want it before I went into town"

god that is SO true

Like I say, one clear advantage of having too many kids is that you just cannot shop recreationally, except online (which I loathe anyway).

Ok though I have just spent £20 on bath bomb moulds (HE expense ). I now need to buy egg timers to make my life easier (I do have a kitchen timer but the kids need the visual cue, I think-the issue here is toy sharing)

I THINK it is more than 100 miles away

The other problem though is that I actually do not like colinette

I LOATHE varigated yarns.

Hello folks - is it too late in the life of the thread to join you?

I am reading Beyond Greed at the moment, looking at the idea that money has become our cultures god. It's quite challenging (a Christian book, but I think interesting to anyone).

I hate the fact that can say to myself one day "I need nothing, we hae now, officially, bought all we need", and then a week later be wanting (needing?) something else. It's horrible, soul destroying, false hope, no way to live, and yet so enticing.

Apart from that, the ethics of buying 'cheap' goods are dodgy, and I cant generally afford to buy all that I'd like from Ethical shops, which means I must buy less - be willing to make a sacrifice ("I will own fewer, fairly traded, clothes") in order to start redistributing some of my gross wealth to others.

And, we are immigrating to Australia in July, going via Europe, so we need the money for shipping, air fares, a camper van etc, and we don't want more STUFF that we will either end up shipping at great cost, or leaving behind.

M DC are almost 2, and 3, so not too demanding financially, and they don't watch telly, so don't see ads, and hence, never ask for things (so I can't blame them!)

Here is some eco friendly washing and dish washing powder which is cheap, and especially cheap as they have some offers on at the moment. Delivery is free too. I got mine yesterday and am about to order another 5, its really good. The washing powder says to use 2 tablets per wash, but I have done 3 loads with only 1 tablet per load, and they have all come out clean and sweet smelling - so even better value, and less damage to the environment.