Out of control spending seems to come to a peak around the holiday season. But I’ve realized that it isn’t even the need to purchase gifts that spurs this spree. It’s the sales. The opportunity to get a good deal on something drives hoards of people to the stores and to on-line shopping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales. How often do we ask ourselves if we really need this shiny new thing even if it is 50% off?
A Simple Idea*
There’s a movement that I’ve just become aware of called Buy Nothing Day, which encourages people to stop buying into these shopping holidays (pun intended). On Black Friday, buy nothing. (You’ll save 100%.) On Cyber Monday, encourage others to avoid online shopping. On Boxing Day, steer clear of the stores. Buy Nothing means to not be lured in by these sales, but I think it also means to buy no more than you need every day. If you have enough, stop.
The Benefits
The benefits of buying less are easy to see on your credit card bill and in the clutter that accumulates around your home. It also has an huge impact on the clutter that piles up in our environment. So little of what we buy can be composted or recycled. Most of it ends up in a landfill when we are finished with it.
Some Alternatives
The buy no more movement advocates for alternatives to purchasing things when you want to give a gift or when you think that you really NEED an item in your life:
- Borrow something, rather than buying your own. A neighbour might have a ladder that you can use.
- Share extra with others, if you have more than you need (especially if it’s cookies).
- Make gifts that will be used up such as food, soaps and candles.
- Trade things such as the books you’ve finished reading.
- Check out your local library for books, movies, 3-D printing, sewing machines, musical instruments and more!
- Make friends with your neighbourhood used book store and thrift shop.
- Fix things instead of replacing them. It’s amazing how many parts are available online (We recently replaced a broken knob on a glass sauce pan).
Just because we might have the ability to buy something when it’s a good deal, doesn’t mean that we are compelled to purchase it. Consider whether it’s time for you to buy nothing.
What are some things that you do to reduce the amount of stuff that you buy? Comment below.
*https://nationaltoday.com/buy-nothing-day/
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