This is my first trip away since the non-shopping began (well except for having been in NO when I did begin). The airport on Thursday was hard--I adore airport shopping. Things not bought include a pashmina, a Globe and Mail and a little purse for carrying reading glasses. Ok, I might not have bought the pashimina, but the glasses case, yes. On Friday though I had to sublimate the shopping impulse with a sweater off the dollar rack at the thrift store (actually needed as I didn't bring warm enough clothes) and a belt (not needed). Being in a new city with a whole crop of cool stores really does set off my shopping impulse. I figure that acquisition is a very human activity but (rather like our desire for fats) only became a problem in the modern world when mass production has made aquisition so easy.
My nephew's 2nd birthday is coming up so I set out to see what I could find for him and came up with a yellow plastic dachshund that wags its tail and barks when you pull it. Pretty cool and lord knows the world does not need anything more spent on kids toys for kids who already have more than enough. He probably would have been equally happy had I sent him a cardboard box and a stick.
Almost had to buy a new toothbrush as I left mine at a friend's on Thursday night but my brother's partner has a large collection of dentist toothbrushes, so she gave me one. Not used, but at still likely something that might not have been used otherwise. I did, though, buy some hair volumizer and while it does appear to fit in the category of consumables--one can't exactly reuse product--I find it kind of hard to claim that more volume in my hair is really something that I need (though I am sure some would disagree with me about that).
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
the first month
It's been a month today since I first began the non-shopping, or rather the non-new shopping as I did have that lovely Value Village binge.
I was talking with some friends last night about responsible buying and I realized that buying from VV (instead of, say Women in Need) doesn't keep the money as much in the local economy. Also, I don't know whether they sell things largely where they receive them or whether they ship between stores. I have emailed them to ask.
So my non-food/drink/tobacco purchases in month one consist of 1 newspaper, 1 book (sort of second hand because someone else had already bought it), a set of watercolour crayons with sketch pad and brush for a child's present, a 12 pack roll of toilet paper and 2 pen refills. Not bad. Less than I would have done without the commitment. I plan to keep a list of all the non-used non-edibles (drinkables, smokables) that I buy this year and so I can see just how much it adds up to. (in dollars it amounts to about $70 and that plus the $120 I spent on second hand shopping a couple of weeks ago and my guess is it is somewhat less than I would normally spend. Since I figure this project will save me money I plan to put more money into making sure more of my food purchases are local.
I was walking by my local she store the other day and, as I always do when I pass it, I stopped to look in the window and dream about what shoes I might buy. This time what caught my eye was a pair of polka dot flats. But some of the joy has gone. Even though I rarely buy shoes there (seriously expensive) there has always before been an open-ended possibility but this time I quickly recalled that I couldn't buy anyway and moved on.
The thing I most want to buy is straws. I haven't bought any for a couple of years for obvious reasons but now that I can't buy them, any time my smoothie is too think I find myself longing for one. I wonder if anyone makes a resuable straw--one without bisphenol A. I have 11 months to research it.
I was talking with some friends last night about responsible buying and I realized that buying from VV (instead of, say Women in Need) doesn't keep the money as much in the local economy. Also, I don't know whether they sell things largely where they receive them or whether they ship between stores. I have emailed them to ask.
So my non-food/drink/tobacco purchases in month one consist of 1 newspaper, 1 book (sort of second hand because someone else had already bought it), a set of watercolour crayons with sketch pad and brush for a child's present, a 12 pack roll of toilet paper and 2 pen refills. Not bad. Less than I would have done without the commitment. I plan to keep a list of all the non-used non-edibles (drinkables, smokables) that I buy this year and so I can see just how much it adds up to. (in dollars it amounts to about $70 and that plus the $120 I spent on second hand shopping a couple of weeks ago and my guess is it is somewhat less than I would normally spend. Since I figure this project will save me money I plan to put more money into making sure more of my food purchases are local.
I was walking by my local she store the other day and, as I always do when I pass it, I stopped to look in the window and dream about what shoes I might buy. This time what caught my eye was a pair of polka dot flats. But some of the joy has gone. Even though I rarely buy shoes there (seriously expensive) there has always before been an open-ended possibility but this time I quickly recalled that I couldn't buy anyway and moved on.
The thing I most want to buy is straws. I haven't bought any for a couple of years for obvious reasons but now that I can't buy them, any time my smoothie is too think I find myself longing for one. I wonder if anyone makes a resuable straw--one without bisphenol A. I have 11 months to research it.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
In which I hit the second hand stores
I realize now I misnamed the blog--it should be my year without shopping for new stuff, since second hand is still fair game. Had some great second scores on the weekend. On sunday we hit a garage sale and got a cooler and a phone. Inspired by that Bill and I headed to Value Village where I got myself a summer wardrobe and Chris jeans and t-shirts--badly needed in his case as his work jeans have not much more room for patches. On monday I found an ironing board in the alley, which is perfect as some of my new summer wardrobe needs ironing. Then we headed back to the thrift stores where I got some flower pots and a pair of shoes that I can wear on the rare occasions that I need to look quasi dressed-up. I have been looking for the perfect pair of shoes for two years now with no luck, but for $7, good enough can sub in for perfect. Then, two more great found items-- flower pots sitting by the road in a pile of free stuff (so much for the yoghurt containers) and three large bobby pins that Bill spotted on the ground. And today as I was checking out some clothes beside the dumpster I fished out someone's reclycables and scored a trashy magazine--not something I would buy normally but it did for my magazine fix.
I was checking out Michelle's blog on the weekend and she asks why so many people have blogs about stuff they buy or stuff they have that they want to get rid of. Interesting question. I don't know the answer but it did get me thinking about the role of trade and the fact that human civilization is based on making stuff and trading it. Civilization got started when humans began to produce more stuff than they needed to stay alive and then started hoarding and/or trading it. Philosophy, literature, music and pretty much everything we take for granted came from making and trading stuff. Its hard to think about anything I do outside of taking a walk along the river that isn't based somehow on trade in material goods. It blows me away to think about it. A lot of it's bad but it also sustains much of what I think is great about human beings. Even though I am trying a year without buying anything new, I'm not anti-consumption, I just think we need to learn more sustainable consumption--part of that for me involves not throwing away perfectly good things and buying second-hand where feasible.
I have a theory about the wanting to get rid of stuff. As indicated above, I think that trading and acquistion are pretty natural human activities. But, I figure that until fairly recently (say post WW I) most people owned very little. The rich had lots of stuff, but the rest of just had pretty minimal possessions. That worked out pretty well because the rich also had servants to take care of their stuff. But with the rise of mass production stuff became cheap enough that all of us could buy as much stuff as the rich used to have but we had to look after it ourselves. Our age and place is unique in being able to afford lots of stuff without also having servants to tidy and dust it. Hence we feel overwhelmed.
I was checking out Michelle's blog on the weekend and she asks why so many people have blogs about stuff they buy or stuff they have that they want to get rid of. Interesting question. I don't know the answer but it did get me thinking about the role of trade and the fact that human civilization is based on making stuff and trading it. Civilization got started when humans began to produce more stuff than they needed to stay alive and then started hoarding and/or trading it. Philosophy, literature, music and pretty much everything we take for granted came from making and trading stuff. Its hard to think about anything I do outside of taking a walk along the river that isn't based somehow on trade in material goods. It blows me away to think about it. A lot of it's bad but it also sustains much of what I think is great about human beings. Even though I am trying a year without buying anything new, I'm not anti-consumption, I just think we need to learn more sustainable consumption--part of that for me involves not throwing away perfectly good things and buying second-hand where feasible.
I have a theory about the wanting to get rid of stuff. As indicated above, I think that trading and acquistion are pretty natural human activities. But, I figure that until fairly recently (say post WW I) most people owned very little. The rich had lots of stuff, but the rest of just had pretty minimal possessions. That worked out pretty well because the rich also had servants to take care of their stuff. But with the rise of mass production stuff became cheap enough that all of us could buy as much stuff as the rich used to have but we had to look after it ourselves. Our age and place is unique in being able to afford lots of stuff without also having servants to tidy and dust it. Hence we feel overwhelmed.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
May 15, 2008
So far a good week. I wrestled with tempation in the form of a pink reading glasses with little fake diamonds and won. Reading glasses, bags and shoes are my weak spots which is why I own enough of each to never buy any again.
The best part of the week so far is solving the newspaper problem in the form of a friend who will pass on his Saturday globe to me. This is huge because although, as Ellen and Michelle note, newspapers can be read on line, one of life's great pleasures is to curl up on my couch with the Saturday globe and, the saturday crytpic, another of life's great pleasures, is not on line. I have also discovered that my community association has a small library with magazines.
And we are back to the tampon issue since thanks to Margaret I have just learned about sponges. I think I could rationalize buying those unless menopause hits before I use up my existing tampon supply. Part of the point of this exercise for me is to see what I can do without and I don't want to get too pedantic about the definitions and buy disposables when I could buy a reusable instead.
The best part of the week so far is solving the newspaper problem in the form of a friend who will pass on his Saturday globe to me. This is huge because although, as Ellen and Michelle note, newspapers can be read on line, one of life's great pleasures is to curl up on my couch with the Saturday globe and, the saturday crytpic, another of life's great pleasures, is not on line. I have also discovered that my community association has a small library with magazines.
And we are back to the tampon issue since thanks to Margaret I have just learned about sponges. I think I could rationalize buying those unless menopause hits before I use up my existing tampon supply. Part of the point of this exercise for me is to see what I can do without and I don't want to get too pedantic about the definitions and buy disposables when I could buy a reusable instead.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
May 11 2008
The second week has gone much better than the first. The only thing I have bought in the last 6 days that I can't eat, drink or smoke, is toilet paper.
I think I have come up with a principle on how I will count things as consumable (I can buy) versus non-consumable (I can't). For something to be consumable at least two things need to be true of it: it can't be used by someone else when one is done with it (newspapers can be, toilet paper can't); and there are not resuable alternatives (diapers and paper towels have reusable alternatives, toilet paper, at least for me, does not). I think this definition works for me because it means I should be able to borrow or acquire second hand anything that counts as a non-consumable on it, which was my original plan. I can see, though, that tampons are destined to be my fail point since they don't count as consumable (there are alternatives) yet the alternatives for me are either painful (the keeper) or unpalatable (the rags).
What I like about this project is how aware it is making me of our (my) tendency to buy what we fancy instead of making do. And, I look forward to the yoghurt flower pots.
I think I have come up with a principle on how I will count things as consumable (I can buy) versus non-consumable (I can't). For something to be consumable at least two things need to be true of it: it can't be used by someone else when one is done with it (newspapers can be, toilet paper can't); and there are not resuable alternatives (diapers and paper towels have reusable alternatives, toilet paper, at least for me, does not). I think this definition works for me because it means I should be able to borrow or acquire second hand anything that counts as a non-consumable on it, which was my original plan. I can see, though, that tampons are destined to be my fail point since they don't count as consumable (there are alternatives) yet the alternatives for me are either painful (the keeper) or unpalatable (the rags).
What I like about this project is how aware it is making me of our (my) tendency to buy what we fancy instead of making do. And, I look forward to the yoghurt flower pots.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
May 7
I bought a book on Monday that I had agreed a couple of weeks ago to buy. It sort of counts as used--I bought it from a women who had a spare copy so in buying it I added no new material items to the world. I'm not doing very well in my first week, though--beads, books and a birthday present. Oh, and the newspaper.
But there are all sorts of things I didn't buy. Today I didn't buy an umbrella. It was raining when I came out of my meeting and I thought of going across to the corner store to buy one. A week ago I likely would have, which is why I never carry an umbrella yet still own several. I also dodged the "killing time at Safeway waiting for a prescription" shopping trap, instead amusing myself with reading magazines and taking my blood pressure several times.
I'm still trying to decide what is consumable. My brother says newspapers are definitely not consumables. His analogy--disposable diapers. It made sense when he said it. Then I thought of tampons! And what about toilet paper? If "consumable" means things that are literally used up, then crayons are and toilet paper isn't. I will keep buying toilet paper and tampons--I can't imagine the subsitutes (or more accurately am not willing to use them) but no more paper towels or sandwich bags.
But there are all sorts of things I didn't buy. Today I didn't buy an umbrella. It was raining when I came out of my meeting and I thought of going across to the corner store to buy one. A week ago I likely would have, which is why I never carry an umbrella yet still own several. I also dodged the "killing time at Safeway waiting for a prescription" shopping trap, instead amusing myself with reading magazines and taking my blood pressure several times.
I'm still trying to decide what is consumable. My brother says newspapers are definitely not consumables. His analogy--disposable diapers. It made sense when he said it. Then I thought of tampons! And what about toilet paper? If "consumable" means things that are literally used up, then crayons are and toilet paper isn't. I will keep buying toilet paper and tampons--I can't imagine the subsitutes (or more accurately am not willing to use them) but no more paper towels or sandwich bags.
Monday, May 5, 2008
the first week of not shopping
After many times of threatening to do so I have decided to go a year without buying anything new except consumables. Maybe I can recapture my 20s when I couldn't solve problems by throwing money at them. It is almost 20 years since I got my first credit card. I also hope this will force me to find something creative to do with all those yoghurt containers.
April 28th, day one of my year without shopping, doesn't go well. In Mardi Gras World (New Orleans) I spot a string of pink beads with flamingos--perfect for my bathroom. After I whinge for awhile about how much I regret having chosen today to begin, my friend buys me the beads.
April 29th, day 2, I manage to resist the perfect orange purse--sleek and beautiful. Although it is not something I would be likely to use, at 50 bucks I probably would have bought it except for the no-shopping vow. This forces me to reflect on my penchant for shopping. I own a dozen or more bags and use my 10 dollar Korean backpack pretty much every day.
April 30th, back home to Calgary. Airports are my serious weakness so its lucky that my stopover in Denver is only long enough to buy a cup of coffee.
May 1st I tell my sister that I am going to go a year without buying anything new except consumables. She asks me what a consumable is and I realise that I don't know. She suggests that books are consumable because I can read them and pass them on--but I rarely do pass them on. I will probably make an exception for books for work.
But this all raises lots of other questions--what about bobby pins and elastic bands? I lose them so fast they may as well be consumable. Getting a haircut just to avoid buying bobby pins seems ridiculous. Maybe Value Village sells hairclips.
I also realize that I have to buy my 6 year old niece a birthday present. I'm sure one can buy kids second hand presents but as I this will need to be learned I cheat and buy her something new. I persuade myself that as it is art supplies it is still consumable but worry that at this rate I can end up defining everything that wears out as a consumable.
May 3rd I buy a newspaper. I can't decide if that is a consumable or not. If my aim is to avoid bringing new material objects into the world newspapers are probably out. Magazines maybe I can justify by passing on, but it is clearly time to renew my library card.
Having bought the paper I find myself reading the future shop ads in the back "no payment, no interest for one year" and thinking that if I got something under that plan it would really count as buying next year.
I find myself obsessing about things--worrying that the blender will break, noticing that the cordless phone is nearing the end of its life, remembering that I never bought the new cell phone that I wanted.
April 28th, day one of my year without shopping, doesn't go well. In Mardi Gras World (New Orleans) I spot a string of pink beads with flamingos--perfect for my bathroom. After I whinge for awhile about how much I regret having chosen today to begin, my friend buys me the beads.
April 29th, day 2, I manage to resist the perfect orange purse--sleek and beautiful. Although it is not something I would be likely to use, at 50 bucks I probably would have bought it except for the no-shopping vow. This forces me to reflect on my penchant for shopping. I own a dozen or more bags and use my 10 dollar Korean backpack pretty much every day.
April 30th, back home to Calgary. Airports are my serious weakness so its lucky that my stopover in Denver is only long enough to buy a cup of coffee.
May 1st I tell my sister that I am going to go a year without buying anything new except consumables. She asks me what a consumable is and I realise that I don't know. She suggests that books are consumable because I can read them and pass them on--but I rarely do pass them on. I will probably make an exception for books for work.
But this all raises lots of other questions--what about bobby pins and elastic bands? I lose them so fast they may as well be consumable. Getting a haircut just to avoid buying bobby pins seems ridiculous. Maybe Value Village sells hairclips.
I also realize that I have to buy my 6 year old niece a birthday present. I'm sure one can buy kids second hand presents but as I this will need to be learned I cheat and buy her something new. I persuade myself that as it is art supplies it is still consumable but worry that at this rate I can end up defining everything that wears out as a consumable.
May 3rd I buy a newspaper. I can't decide if that is a consumable or not. If my aim is to avoid bringing new material objects into the world newspapers are probably out. Magazines maybe I can justify by passing on, but it is clearly time to renew my library card.
Having bought the paper I find myself reading the future shop ads in the back "no payment, no interest for one year" and thinking that if I got something under that plan it would really count as buying next year.
I find myself obsessing about things--worrying that the blender will break, noticing that the cordless phone is nearing the end of its life, remembering that I never bought the new cell phone that I wanted.
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