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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 · 23/01/2008 09:44

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Pruners · 23/01/2008 09:51

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PersephoneSnape · 23/01/2008 11:31

half price listing day on ebay tomorrow - I have 90 (!!) things listed and a further basket full of stuff to go. all my debbie bliss merino and rowan 4 ply is hopefully going to a good home.

I got a cheque for a birthday present, spent some of it on groceries (...) put a bit in my sealed savings box and got some books - linda smith anthology for 59p, nigellas domestic goddess (oh it look fab! food porn!) FOR £2 in cancer research and jamies italy for £3 in the PDSA.

I also won a £150 voucher for john lewis - i really couldn't think of anything i needed as such and as i scrimp and save and make do for myself and spend most of my money on my children i bought a distinctly huge flashy unethical ipod for me. seems we can justify just about anything when we put our minds to it... at least it wasn't my money....i may need to assuage my 'purchase' by slinging some cash to oxfam.

FillyjonkisCALM · 23/01/2008 18:39

ok I think I have accepted that we are going to be a two car family . Which means re-mortgaging...which is the opposite of simplifying...I have realised that we actually would have needed one anyway, if dp was ever to see his kids, but still, I hate it.

OTOH I am working through my (yarn) stash to make some stuff for baby #3. I am actually feeling pretty good about my stash, it fits onto one shelf of a small IKEA bookshelf...If anyone is interested, I am making a dna cable cardigan for the baby, followed by possibly a dna cable hat and then I am wondering about subbing dna cables into eris (I know I am shamelessly talking about knitting, I am a little bit trying to subtly reel in bumper here)

Astrophe · 23/01/2008 20:43

filly, it def sounds like you are doing the right thing, although it does suck that public transport isn't better where you live. We have two cars too - DH has been 'just about' to buy a bike and ride to work for the last 2 years. We did at one point buy a second hand bike but then realised it was going to cost £80 to repair, so we didn't. , and the public transport is woeful - what is a 10 minute drive would be more than an hour on two buses for DH.

But anyway, you are about to have a baby, and even going out n the car with 3 kids is a palaver, let alone the bus. Assess the situation again in another few years - things might have changed by then.

I am doing ok with not purchacing, alhtough my resolve is weakened by the People Tree Goody boxes.motherhurdicure, can you tell me roughly what one might contain? Have you even bought the mens ones? Am thinking DH and I can give them to each other for Valentines day.

I will have to make a purchase of new crayola markers as I threw all ours out yesterday after watching the kids scratching away with the dry old ones we had. But I feel fine about that.

A friend brought 'round a huge plastic garage today that she bought at a charity shop for £2 - she said her DC weren't interested in it so we could have it. I feel fine about that too!

Not sure about this though - my DB in Aus has sent some money with instruction to buy the kids something...they don't need anything, but I know he takes great joy in me telling him what I have bought them, and sending some photos etc...not sure what to do. If I buy it will be some playmobil, but should I?

Filly and others, am off to start a pre-school home ed thread, so come and give me some thoughts pretty please

BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 24/01/2008 11:34

Persephone that's great about you winning those vouchers - you did the right thing treating yourself! What a fab gift. If it was money you would only have spent it on bills or groceries!

Filly I definitely think you need to be easy on yourself. How long till LO comes along?

Astrophe could you buy the DC's a day out? Or National Trust passes or something?

SueBaroo · 24/01/2008 12:07

Right then.

Timne to stop the madness. I am vacuum-packing 90% of my wardrobe and filling some pots with compost to start growing rather than hoovering up 'stuff', and I am going to be the hippy I am at heart.

I've always been interested in things like permaculture, I've just been too nervous to take first steps, and the 'no new stuff' is a brilliant way to start. I know it's not quite the beginning of the year, but hey, it's all cyclical anyway .

FJ - if it helps, we're a two car family - one big vehicle for me and the children to get out in, which is vital with my mobility issues. But like all big vehicles, it's expensive and polluting. So we bought a small run around for Dh to drive to work in, and we've saved loads of money, and the big car only goes out when it really needs to, rather than when Dh needs it.

The way we've rationalized it is that permaculture and sustainability is about being real about what's neccessary, and making less 'work' (In the physics sense of the word). For example, Dh tried using public transport for a while, using two buses and a train. It was so unreliable, he was often having to use the car anyway because the bus didn't turn up, and it took so long he wasn't getting home until well after the children had gone to bed, and he was leaving before anyone had got up (which meant I had to get up really early too, because he often had to help me up).

It was creating so much extra 'work', for very little benefit - to us, or the environment, because he had to use the car anyway, and presumably the buses and train still ran at some point - just without him in them! So, we had some savings, we researched the options, and bought a little car just for him to use, and I think it's been a good decision. But I'm still lobbying for better public transport - in fact, it's pretty much my biggest electoral issue right now (any MPs reading, TAKE NOTE!)

Cor, listen to me, I'm all militant

motherhurdicure · 24/01/2008 12:26

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Astrophe · 24/01/2008 12:47

I haven't time to link now (off to the shops ...only Sainsbos though!), but Filly, World vision have a program where you can pay $35 per month (WV Australia, but I daresay the UK one do it too), and this plants 40 (?) trees, and training for people on how to care for them. It offsets carbon emissions for 2 cars per year, apparently. Maybe something like that is an option?

Got my 'Teach your own' and 'Not buying it' in the post today...all set to be super inspired.

Hi Suebaroo! You might be interested in 'Beyond Greed' - I linked to down below somewhere...

Astrophe · 24/01/2008 12:48

oh, and re the money from my DB, I think I might take the kids to Thomasland when it opens (although in a press release they openly stated that it was a merchandising opportunity ), and may buy the goody boxes for DH and I, if they are still in stock.

Minum · 24/01/2008 12:54

Its going really well for me in terms of simplifying my life - I cycle everywhere, and have completely stopped buying "bits". But in some ways I'm spending more money, as I'm buying better quality food, for all the obvious reasons.

And this weekend we're going to a posh fancy dress party, I've been looking in charity shops for days, and found nothing, so I've ended up buying a new fur bolero and pill box hat(heavily discounted in sales). I do go to fancy dress stuff quite a bit, so they will get used, but it did feel funny going shopping for the first time this year.

I'm making massive efforts to use up food in the backs of the freezer/cupboard, which is working.

BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 24/01/2008 13:23

I so want one of those peopletree boxes!

Minimum, at least you are spending more on quality stuff. what's your fancy dress outfit?

Minum · 24/01/2008 14:05

50s Hollywood is the theme, so I'm wearing a stapless cocktail dress, the white fur bolero, pillbox hat, seamed tights, and one of my many pairs of uncomfortable shoes . I think I ought to wear make-up, which I never do normally, so I'm scrabbling around looking for some - I definately don't want to buy any, and I'm not sure if its OK to share makeup?

motherhurdicure · 24/01/2008 14:42

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motherhurdicure · 24/01/2008 14:48

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Pruners · 24/01/2008 17:16

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sophy · 24/01/2008 17:55

Hmmm....

It seems to me there is quite a lot of shopping going on in this so-called non-shopping thread.

Staceym21AtLast · 24/01/2008 18:01

well i lost it last weekend, and brought clothes for my night out (although am returning the ones that dont suit which i wouldnt normally do! ) and on monday i brought a car.

although car is aa work in progress and was from an auction!

but im back with great resolve. and once i pass my driving test on saturday im going to give up smoking!! i am i am i am!!!

Pruners · 24/01/2008 18:24

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Staceym21AtLast · 24/01/2008 18:29

yes sorrym, been bad time recently, sent your book yesterday too sorry it took so long! having to put up with horrible exchanges between me h and my dad. not fun i can tell you!

BumperliciousIsOneHotMother · 24/01/2008 18:38

It's because we keep giving each other ideas Sophy instead of telling each other off! Right, time to get strict...

Seriously though, I guess for some of us it's not so much about no shopping, and more about thinking more carefully before shopping and making more considered purchases. It's hard to quantify what we haven't spent by doing this, but I am sure it is a lot.

FillyjonkisCALM · 24/01/2008 21:43

ok so I have failed miserably today

I have bought 2 things I do not need

A sling-I can KIND of justify that, though it was overpriced (it was one of the close baby slings-I dunno, I've wanted one for about 7 months and I do know my slings. But if someone could chuck some Water of Absolvtion my way that would be handy)

And

and here is the killer

on IMPULSE, pure impulse

I have just spend £20 on...

...buttons

And I CAN'T justify it, I just can't. It was an impulse buy. It wasn't even that MANY buttons...

I am massively looking forward to them arriving though

FillyjonkisCALM · 24/01/2008 21:47

oh and thanks all re the cars.

Still feels wrong though

I have never owned a car. my parents never had a car, but they do live in london, which has actual, useful, public transport...

motherhurdicure · 25/01/2008 11:11

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Pruners · 25/01/2008 16:46

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