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!

oh how cool!

Am always a little about Freud, its tricky. I think he got some stuff right but did it via writing utter bllcks. But will try to find time to watch.

Am loving being addressed as CALM, it makes me lol.

Mmmmmm, can I have views on this one please?

Our dishwasher (and I realise that a DW is a luxury item, at least to many people, but it was a gift from my MIL and is very useful) is 10 years old. For about 2 years now the control knob has had a fault - it sticks at a certain point and therefore will not complete the cycle unles you manually "nudge" it on, so we set the oven timer to remind us to do this at the appropriate time. DH keeps asking me if I want a new one and I keep saying, "oh sometime, but no need for now". I do feel it's not a big problem and we can work round it, but recently other things keep going wrong such as the wheels coming off the bottom tray so it won't pull in and out along the runners until you've put them back on. Again, not a big problem, but we are thinking how many things need to go wrong before I give in? DH has also pointed out that now would be a good time to buy (sales).

I would like to know what people think, what they would do, if repair is thought viable at this great (as modern appliances go I think 10 years is a good age) age etc. If we do buy a new one we would get a decent brand with the view to keeping it for as long as possible.

Oh it's all about Freud's theories in their cultural context and how there was a societal change around that time. Lots about politics and post-war policy changes etc.
I love his documentaries and in fact secretly want to have his babies.

aargh, CALM, why did you have to tell us about the Brittany needles on sale??? Too much temptation! If you know about any other great knitting bargains, please keep them to yourself

at pruni

I want to watch it now actually but my kids are saying "please mummy, get off the internet, we want to brush our teeth and go out because there isn't any food". So probably need to go now, ar$e.

(please note that it is not QUITE that bad. They actually mean they want to go to Starbucks...)

Jammy, I think the questions I'd ask are

1. Why do you need a dishwasher?

1. What are the ecological costs of using your existing one?

1. Can you get it repaired? I think that IS the best option, as that reduces landfill etc.

Its tricky, tbh, atm I wouldn't buy another one. There's always another sale also. BUT you know how much it impacts your life. And there are some situations, eg new baby in the family, in which I might well buy a new one.

gogo, won't tell you about the speedy personal service and lovely wrapping either

neither will I link to a site selling lovely undyed cashmere and merino at very decent prices.

OHhhhhh no

milkyjammy, the following is quite a useful discussion of the eco-benefits of dishwashers vs hand washing:

cdn.gv.ca/2007/11/12/how-much-if-any-water-do-dishwashers-save/

If your dishwasher is 10 years old it probably could be replaced with a much more energy efficient model, which would justify buying a new one, but if you do decide to replace it at least put it on freecycle or donate it to a charity which refurbishes white goods for people who can't afford to buy them. Don't consign it to landfill, please.

So, today I read the paper online instead of buying it -- which took about 5 mins instead of 1/2 hour. The dss wanted to buy a xmas present for a schoolfriend who is coming for a sleepover tonight so I told them they had to use their pocket money and choose it themselves. I took them to the local (independent) toy shop and ds2 chose a water pistol and plastic scorpion, total cost 90p. Ds1 decided to go for sweets, big bag of Haribo, yuck. Toy shop had lots of birthday present type toys for 1/2 price and normally I would use this as an oportunity to stock up in anticipation, but I walked out empty-handed. So far so good.

We had a walk round town and looked in all bar one of the 7 charity shops. I bought 2 tshirts and a pretty party dress for DD, total cost £4.50.

I've been thinking about the DW, and am going to keep putting DH off for quite a while longer, then will get one as efficient as we can, and going for a decent make to last as long as possible. And yes, if it's still remotely usable, we will offer it on rather than send to landfill if at all possible.

oh one thing I AM giving up is charity shops! They are my downfall

here is basically why

I don't spave in general, but charity shops and any kind of thing where money goes to "good causes" just sucks me in, because somehow it doesn't seem to count

and well done on toy shop trip

can i join?

my motivation is both money (of which i have none) and reducing the amount of 'stuff' we have.

have a huge pile of kids stuff to go to charity shop, although some will be offered on freecycle first. think im trying to excuse myself of the fact im buying a car when i pass my test (6days and counting)!! and want to offset my carbon footprint a bit.

id love to reduce the airmiles etc that i use, and do buy fruit and veg locally etc but my monthly shop is done at tesco as i just dont have the money to get everything locally. my thinking is once im in a better financial position i will source locally but for now i just have to survive.

I will not buy anything bar, food essentials, and kids shoes.

they have enough next size up clothes, i have loads of cosmetics that need using up. i dont need clothes and barely by clothes anyway. the kids do not need toys etc they have enough to last them a lifetime. dd got enough craft stuff for xmas to last the year.

I think thats it covered.

will report back at progress. i do however know so far this year i have spent £0, until i buy my car then i will be £600 down!!

ooh I am a very bad spaver when it comes to books. If bookshop has a 3 for 2 offer on usually end up buying one or even two books don't "need" to get a freebie -- same with Amazon, I keep buying until I have got enough to qualify for free delivery, and often end up with books I don't really want or could easily borrow from library.

oh I am squirming at the realisation that I am a spaver....

Dh said once ''I can't afford for you to save me any more money'' after one sales splurge

ok how does it work with play dates and suchlike, in places that you have to pay for?

I am meant to meet up with a group of friend/kids for about 4-5 hours tommorrow at a soft play place.

I mean, I reckon I have to go. But what about food? I am not allowed to bring my own food in. It is freeeeeeezing cold. I COULD nip off to the toilets for a quick egg mayo sandwich but.... The kids are 2 and 4 and I am 8 months pg so we will need a refuel.

Thoughts?

Oh and a separate issue is, ffs, I am not feeding my kids the shite they serve their anyway. I only let my kids have sugary crap when someone else is going to be watching them for the next few hours...

Ooh, can I join? I have to take dcs to bed now though.

Is there a least bad option? Fruit?

(and knitters, I have another dilema

next week, my travels take me PAST GetKnitted. I mean, I don't even have to detour. They have a fabulous bargain bin.

And dp was looking at a hat on Ravelry and said "gosh-I'd like a hat like that". Please note that my entire stash does fit into a small wastepaper bin, with most of that being ebay Calmer which is earmarked for Eris

And then there are the KnitPick harmonies.

Bloody hell, I am going to spend this year not actually not buying stuff, but justifying buying stuff, in the pathetic belief that that makes it all ok, I can see .

There is possibly a wider point here. If I am not buying stuff, but buying the stuff I need to make stuff-how does that work?

no ticky it is utter, utter shite.

The chips are refried, IIRC. Its the kind of place where they should have a shower so you can wash on leaving.

Oh and they serve froot shoots and curl their lips at you if you ask for tap water. (though to be fair, we do tend to ask them to fill up our water bottles-but thats for the amusement value as much as anything ;-) )

There is one of those near here, although they have recently and miraculously started selling fruit. Expensive fruit, but fruit nonetheless.

Is GetKnitted the one in Bristol?

ohhhh yes

bristlington to be precise

Last time I went, it had, not so much a bargain bin, as a bargain set of shelving. Here you could buy tenpacks of nice wool (Rowan, Debbie Bliss) for about £10 each.

I am actually trying to stay off the big brands. I really want to start buying from small producers. But it is hard when they thrust upon me enough fancy yarn to make a sweater, at £1 a ball...

and I am bloody fed up with unraveling sweaters.

CALM, re soft play place, can you feed the kids before you go so they don't want or need to eat the crap food?

Or can they have jacket potato with beans or cheese -- that is always the least offensive option at our local soft play place.