Sixty days of not shopping
What's chic for 2008? Not shopping.
You can read the rest at BlogHer.
I gave up shopping for the entire month of October, primarily to make a point: you DO have what you need in your closet -- or maybe you don't, but until you know what is in there, you will never know what you need. I documented my outfits at Flickr, for the entire month. I wore the same things over and over, but I didn't really mind. It was actually a lot easier to get dressed, because I knew that this was it, these were my only choices.
What surprised me the most wasn't how easy it was to get dressed; it was the realization that I shop mostly out of stress or boredom or anxiety. The days that I most wanted to BUY SOMETHING, ANYTHING AT ALL, were the days when I was overwhelmed by some other catastrophe in my life -- a new job, for example, or a nonfunctioning refrigerator. I rationalized my desire to spend, saying that I had earned something new, just for showing up for work or dealing with a household problem. And honestly, I found that a little -- okay, a LOT -- horrifying.
You can read the rest at BlogHer.
4 Comments:
Hey haven’t commented for a while so Happy New Year!
Wow very insightful article, as kids we’ve always had to live a kinda of frugal way because money was tight and although we didn’t have all the things the other kids had we had a loving home, when I first started earning money for myself (13) I would buy those things that I wanted that my parents couldn’t afford to give me, needless to say this taught me the value of money and hard work! And as I got older I became quite a little consumer and now I find myself going back to the way we were when we were children because I was actually happier, the consumerism is just a quick fix, with a bad after taste, debt! Yes college fees, bad management on my part and my partners of our finances and a little bit of unemployment bad luck and I have had to take out quite a large unsecured loan over the next 6 years almost a 3rd of my wages (after tax) is going to pay off a loan! So gone is the cable TV, the magazines (all but 2) and the shopping in my lunch break! And we are actually happier we now spend more time doing the things we like doing, crafting, internet surfing, reading, talking, just spending time together, or watching our very large movie collection that was just sitting there gathering dust!
So it was interesting to read that other people have also decided not because of money but through life style choice to do what we are also doing, to the people out there who say what about the children they will be scared for life! No they won’t, they will get over it, they will get a job if money is that important to them, just like I did and learn what things cost, children all over the world have to deal with far more and they still manage, so have a little faith in your child!
Anyhoo sorry bad etiquette to have a comment longer than article but your article hit a nerve (your articles are always good but this one just got me more) keep on going 60 days and counting! Seeya hugya *G*
ps i did go read the whole thingcqhys
Great article. In 2006 I instituted a random series of one month shopping moratoriums, for all the many reasons of the people quoted in your article. It was mostly for financial reasons, the only way I could find to stop the mindless consumption that was keeping me from saving the money I needed to do something that was really important to me.
But an added benefit, one that I really hadn't anticipated, was all the time I freed up for other hobbies. Yes, shopping is definitely a hobby, and without those weekend runs to Target or the mall, I had all sorts of time to do things I hadn't gotten made enough of a priority. I visited museums, I read more, I spent more time with friends. It was fanatastic, and a number of my friends instituted moratoriums of their own.
I like this. I do this. Sort of. I seem to like the action of shopping but being scottish I hate spending money. Like, ever. I like going to Costco and Target and filling shopping baskets, but then I chicken out and leave them. I like following your links and will fill virtual baskets, but never follow through.
I rationalize my actions by thinking I'm thrifty, but it's probably control-freak anxiety-ridden behavior.
great. now I need to spend $$ on therapy.
--steph
I like this blog alot, although the 60 days of not Shopping comment scares me a bit! It would be very difficult for me to resist the temptation, especially running our own little Women's Shopping Mall , which is altogether too easy for me to buy beautiful clothes from. keep up the good work, fee x
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