Averting unnecessary consumerism

So I am a consumer. I love material things and am constantly begging my mother to buy things for me. There this group on yahoo where you never buy anything new and just shop at thrift stores and make things. I want to try it. I dont know how long I will last but it is worth a shot. The rules are:
You can buy food new
I AM buying new bras and undies though i may try to make some
SHopping at used clothes stores and places like goodwill are acceptable.
I think i will have to buy makeup but ill try to keep it simple
I am not sure about the rest of the rules but I am about to embark on my journey to help save the planet.

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14 replies since 30th June 2009 • Last reply 30th June 2009

Reply #1:

I'm trying something similar and have signed up to 6 months of the wardrobe refashion. I try to keep to similar rules to you though and try and make, borrow or buy second hand wherever possible. Its tough though as its such an ingrained part of me to buy. I actually feel quite sad (if thats the right word) if I go out and haven't seen something to buy - not big stuff just small things. Its like its an achievement to buy something. :/ Good luck though and I'd love to know how you get on Happy I keep a kind of log on my blog which I think is www.kitkatkatchat.blogspot.com Happy

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Reply #2:

well I am trying that, I a growing my own veggies, I make my own jewerly

I say it has to be hard, because of the society we live in

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Reply #3:

I'd love to try making my own toiletries (things like shampoo, soap, hand creams etc.), but I need to read up on it some more and find good recipies. I don't want to go and make something like that and have it irritate my skin!

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Reply #4:

yeah, I have very sensitve skin too

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Reply #5:

allergies have to us the same soap i buy used books cds and dvds to help save money and it works well

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Reply #6:

oh I do too, and you know what is a good idea, book exchanges!!! switch and trade books, films, music with friends

me and my bf do movie nights at home

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Reply #7:

I tend to buy like used books cuz its cheaper. Check the clearence stuff as well in shops, it's ridiculous how much stuff they would otherwise throw away.

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Reply #8:

Yeah, things like books and CDs I tend not to buy new, I just wait til I see them in a charity shop or get them from someone online.

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Reply #9:

I buy music from iTunes, and for books I buy from resale shops.

When I get home from my grandparent's house, I want to go check out our Goodwill just to see what they have...I'm broke but I might as well take a look.

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Reply #10:

We've got a few really good charity shops round here, and a few really terrible ones. The Oxfam near my college is amazing, I've had so many bargains from there. Like I recently got a Latin American Spanish phrasebook for Honduras... I paid 99p for a not quite up to date edition, and the brand new ones sell for £8.99. I got Disney Monopoly from there as well, and in my Maths class we spent the whole of our last ever lesson playing it, much to the disappointment of the teacher :p

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Reply #11:

If you work at a retail shop or have a friend clearance plus a employ discoutn can mean toms of things under 5 dollars brand new i always do that or with coupons it can mean nearly free it may not be avertin consumernism but its away to save especialy if you can sew

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Reply #12:

We have a goodwill and a salvation army and another thrift shop (Which is the one i've been too, its pretty good)

So I'll have to go check those out and see, hopefully theyre not too picked-over.

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Reply #13:

i love thrift stores. im obsessed with them lol i go into every one i see. but i dont think i could live without wal mart.

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Reply #14:

I like shopping at local stores

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