Selfsufficientish.com

http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/

Saturday November 25th 2006 is Buy Nothing Day (UK), It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!

This year our message is simple, shop less - live more! The challenge is to try simple living for a day, spend time with family and friends, rather than spend money on them.

Buy Nothing Day also exposes the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries - only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth.

Listen to the Buy Nothing Song

Please be aware that this link takes you straight through to an mp3 download.

I remember this from last year. I think could go one stage further and have a buy nothing Tuesday and never spend money on a Tuesday - unless it was essential i.e. bus fare etc.

Most days are a buy nothing day for me! Easy peasy!

Initially, I thought a bit like M3 - most days I buy nothing. But wait on, though. Would that include not switching on the lights, or the TV, computer, radio, etc? Not using the cooker, turning off the fridge and the central heating?

I suppose just because we are not paying for it at the time we use it doesn't mean we are not buying it.

that's an intersting way of looking at it, would make it alot harder but I could easily buy nothing from shops etc for day as that's normal for me

It would have to be summer I think, no light, no heat, could do it quite easily camping. Home grown and foraged food only - no cigarettes though, still not managed to quit successfully so this spending zero day might have to wait for me.

I wouldn't find it hard as I don't go out shopping on a Saturday anyway. Too busy! I think most of the folks here on SSF wouldn't find it a challenge next Saturday. I shall however stay in, cook and spend a little money on gas.

I go shopping once or twice a week for food. I may trawl the charity shops at the moment for Chrissy pressies, whilst I am out.

Saturday is the only time we can get to the farmer supplies shop. So, if we want to continiue fencing our field, we shall be going, or the job gets left another whole week.

in fact, for alot of people who work full time, Saturday is the only chance. So the only way they could get by, is to buy twice as much groceries the week before. which is pointless.

Think about the farmers markets that go on on that day, what if no customers arrived, that will be it for that town for a month (or thats how it works around here). I understand the whole point about commercialism etc, I'm not convinced this is the right approach. I like 'only buy what you need' day.

just my opinion.

I won't be shouting about this one! Saturday the 25th is my arts group first xmas art and craft fair! I'm hoping folks will be out in force supporting local craftspeople (like myself!) buying their xmas presents from us (spinners, weavers, upholsterers, potters, woodworkers, bakers, jewellers-me- and batik artists) and generally having an excellent time with us marvelling at the spinning demonstration and eating cakes from out tea shop! All entrance fees are going to the local hospice so we are hopefully doing some good for the locals too.

kind thoughts
Deb

If any of you southwestern ishers are around wellington pop in, make yourself known and I'll give you a discount! how about a don't-spend-as-much day?

A don't buy from the big boys day might be a good one.... as has been mentioned on here and other sites, farmers markets could come a cropper etc.

Yeah - I hope not too many people count fetes and bazaars in this. I've got 2 to do on the 25th .
My son's school winter fayre is first, (I'm organising the Christmas Puddings, the juggling balls, the thai turkey curry and the roll-a-2p and we'll be setting up from 7am) and then it's off to St Alban's Church fete to do the face painting (and to say hello Andy & Dave's Mum and Dad!).

Then I'm going home to collapse in a corner and have a glass of plonk

Still - I'll be so busy I don't think I'll be spending much

Anna x