Skip to main content

Buy Nothing Month

I had mentioned this briefly before that my family, more specifically, my wife and I are going to practice a month of buying only essential items--food, toiletries, petroleum for our oil addiction, etc. The object is to curb our consumption.

Now, I should say that we are probably well below the average American when it comes to consumer spending. But, even so, we could still squirrel away money. Do I really need that book from Amazon? I have a stack of at least eleven that I need to read, not counting the three listed over on the left there.

The idea is to practice restraint and self-discipline (isn't that redundant?) with regard to the wallet. How successful will we be? When exactly are we starting? Questions that will be answered soon, cricket. I did try a spending fast during a Lent two or three years ago; I found my thoughts frequently fixated on things to buy during those 40 days. Maybe it'll be easier with a spouse. Or maybe it'll turn me into a liar--will I be hiding purchases, denying that I made any? I hope I'm made of sterner mettle than that.

Have you tried Buy Nothing Month? Just Google it. (I can't believe I'm using a noun as a verb.) When is "What Would Jesus Buy?" coming to Detroit?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I really like this idea. Jen and I heard a story on NPR a few months back about this family who made a pact with other families to not buy anything new for a whole year.

I tell you, it was very inspriring. It encouraged us to make some significant changes in how we operate, and even challenged Jen and I with our spending.

Our first [baby] step in this direction is to initially only buy things made in the USA - - not as easy as you might think... but my hope is that it will mold us into the direction that your family is now taking.

God's blessing on your family for doing this~

Popular posts from this blog

Good reads of 2009

I haven't made a list like this in a while, and I believe I discussed most of these on the blog as I finished them, but I thought I'd make a handy short-hand list for you and me. These are only in the order I read them and do not indicate any preference. The Open Door * Frederica Mathewes-Green The Children of Hurin * J.R.R. Tolkien The Omnivore's Dilemma * Michael Pollan Agrarianism and the Good Society: Land, Culture, Conflict, and Hope * Eric T. Freyfogle Wonderful Fool * Shusaku Endo Up the Rouge: Paddling Detroit's Hidden River * Joel Thurtell and Patricia Beck Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation * Rodney Clapp (I started the following in December, but I haven't finished them--so far they are excellent: Love and Hate in Jamestown * David A. Price and The Picture of Dorian Gray * Oscar Wilde) Try one of these--let me know.

Worth Quoting

There are but three social arrangements which can replace Capitalism: Slavery, Socialism, and Property.                                                                                                 --Hilaire Belloc                                                   ...

The Completely Unsexy Adventures of Constructing a Driveway

Yesterday marked the third phase in our attempt to create a homestead at the Martin Hollow.  We now have a gravel driveway.  Does this mean wild bacchanalia there?  In a word: no.  It simply saves me about 400 feet in walking when I'm carrying various tools designed to destroy decontextualized organisms, e.g. autumn olive and garlic mustard.  It is also the beginning of our footprint on the land and it helps us to visualize where the house and garage will eventually be placed.  The above are two views of the approach from our road which ends in a cul-de-sac (and a large pond just beyond that) to my right (north).  Here's a closer view after the gravel has been added (above).  This view is from the road facing south.  Notice the culvert next the shovel?  I told you this wouldn't be sexy.   Just below is another view from the road looking northwest.  You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance.  This (to the left)...