Lesley Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I have just borrowed this from INEBG forum - I started reading it with horrified fascination The link to the whole article is here ........but this is how it starts........... Could you do it? How much preparation would you need? Or could you start right now? How would you work out what your 'essential exceptions' were? Interesting blog here: http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/ "About 50 teachers, engineers, executives and other professionals in the Bay Area (San Francisco, California) have made a vow to not buy anything new in 2006 -- except food, health and safety items and underwear. "We're people for whom recycling is no longer enough," said one of the members of the fledgling movement, John Perry, who works in marketing at a high-tech company. "We're trying to get off the first-market consumerism grid, because consumer culture is destroying the world." http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/13/BAGH3H7DH71.DTL The Idea Behind It To go a bit further than just Reduce Reuse Recycle; to help prove you are able to resist the relentless tide of corporate advertising and promotions that are engineered to make you part with your money; to make you examine in close detail what you actually spend your disposable income on in the first place; to further support local shops, food producers and small businesses. What CAN I buy then? You can buy anything you like, provided it is second-hand. Better still, borrow it or find it somewhere like Freecycle or a skip! Are there any exceptions? There are ALWAYS exceptions. * Food and drink (unless you'd like to have a go at embracing Freeganism - if so, please tell us how you get on!) * Utility clothing * Medicines and other medical supplies (we'd be lost without Calpol in this household) - but not stuff like Botox treatments or Viagra unless proscribed by a doctor * Stuff for cleaning (but do try making your own) * School supplies for children (although I have to say that my children's school has plans to start up a regular second-hand uniform sale which I will be frequenting) * Certain essential services like vets, plumbers, mechanics etc * Things that are essential for your work * Renewing subscriptions (no new ones) * Giving money to charity * Emergency birthday presents??? http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1800829.ece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 But they havent included chickens in the essentials lists it would never work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Do toiletries come under the health category? I couldn't do without my shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothbrush etc.....not even for a day, nevermind a whole year. Some things are part and parcel of our daily life anyway. We do our very best to be as green as is possible in our daily life. I'm all for second hand clothes and I do think the uniform thing is a good idea. Children grow so fast that clothes hardy get worn out at all - unless in our house you only have a few things and wear them all the time until they need replacing! Second hand is generally fine but not always practical all the time. I do draw the line at second-hand socks and undies In theroy it's a great idea, but in practise not always possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 There was an article on this in the paper a few months ago - they tested it on one of their columnists, who is a shopaholic and she actually got to like it after the inital shock. Whether or not it has changed her buying habits in the long-term is another matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHen Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 I don't think I'd be too bad at this - particularly as our local freecycle group is so active (picked up a chrome radiator / towel warmer last night). There are clothes frequently on there and other stuff that would do as presents too... I would have the same question as Gina though re the cosmetics - although I do use simple ones that are better for the environment than normal ones... but still bought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 But they havent included chickens in the essentials lists it would never work You'd have to breed your own Mel!!! That would get in some new ones. Mind you, I think I'll regret saying that!!! I've probably put some ideas into her head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Me??? Ideas???? Plans???? Plans so cunning..................you could put a tail on them and call them a weasle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Very interesting! I only buy what I need rather than what I actually want, but that is different to what is being proposed, and I am not sure if I would be happy with a second hand old fridge if my 11 year old one broke down I have got a second hand house though, and car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 I have trouble not buying anything new for 12 hours,let alone 12 months Interesting idea,though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 I have trouble not buying anything new for 12 hours,let alone 12 months Interesting idea,though Same here - it's that Ebay I blame! Actually, using Ebay is one way to start, as long as you are buying something someone has used as opposed to a new 'Buy it Now!' option. Freecycle is very good and I now a few people on here use that. After reading the whole thread, it has made me question some of the things I was going to buy so that's good. Today's shopping list consists only of birthday presents and some Lush shower gel. I need some time to think about it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 At the risk of sounding a bit thick...don't we live in a market led economy and so if everyone stopped buying, then the market would disintegrate, jobs would disappear and we would all be well and truly stuffed. Sorry, whilst I applaud the anti consumerism and ecological thinking behind it, I can't help feeling that it is all a bit unrealistic. In any case...I am powerless to resist a new handbag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Fair point but quite alot of the products purchased in the UK are now manufactured somewhere else Quite alot of the 'allowed' purchases are UK made though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Hmm would be interesting to see how far I could take that. Or at least if I must by new trying to by fair trade, organic etc. If it only makes me think abit more about buying stuff it's worth a go. Thanks for that Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 i am hoping to wear to the Edinburgh get together a complete organic outfit - trainers, jeans top etc. Have seen some great things in the Organic Life magazine so that has appealed to me. I think I would find it terribly hard to not buy things for a whole year but I always choose things wisely - even if I see something like a top I really like but the care of the fabric is a bit too involved then I won't buy it. It's not often that I get drawn in by the marketeers speel as although I appear to just shell out lots of cash I actually am a bit tight! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I have been following that thread on the inebg forum for a while. And I have been doing it on a week by week basis (try to buy nothing new for a week). seems to be working really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Hmm would be interesting to see how far I could take that. Trish - you could buy some 2nd hand knitwear, unravel it and knit something new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 you read my mind Gina. I bought some of these recently http://www.wool-n-boat.co.uk/wnbshop.html scroll down to the large needles, they are large, about 5 foot long. I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet so you'll have to wait for the sight of me knitting with them. Any way back to the thread, I am in the process of knitting a bed spread but I'm using at least 4 balls of yarn at once and one ball lasts about four rows. Charity shop unpicked garments are definatley needed I think, as my odd ball stash looked huge till I started on this but is dwindling fast. On a similar subject, old wool jumpers felted in the washing machine make great cushion covers or bags. [/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Wow - you can see just how big they are by that foot that's just poking into the picture in the top right. You'll need extra thick chunky quadruple knit wool for those whoppers Trish! Have you really bought them? A fab idea to knit a bed spread from old wool offcasts though. I remember knitting squares with my Nan when I was little and she sewn them all together to make me a blanket. I was much, much smaller then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I bought them at the knit and stitch show in Harrogate last month, they were very reasonable. I'm using on strand of chunky with three other strands of what ever takes my fancy. It's fun I don't so it for too long as I have to knit stood up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
