I didn't. But I just wanted the world to know that I COULD. IF I WANTED TO. People, it's January 2, 2009 and I'm hereby reclaiming my purchasing power!
So, you ask, what divine wisdom have I gathered from my year of Not New? What magnificent personal transformation have I achieved with this protracted act of restraint? Well, I think I've learned a thing or two about stuff.
WARNING: if you are allergic to other people moralizing on your ass, skip the next six paragraphs and resume reading at "OOPS!".
First and most importantly, we have to stop expecting stuff to make us happy. It won't. Happiness doesn't take up closet space.
Second, stuff is not who you are. If you're anything like I was, you buy a whole bunch of stuff that you believe defines you but in actuality adds zero value and even makes your life more cumbersome. For instance, I used to covet books. Giving up my amazon.com addiction in favor of ordering my must-reads from the library is one of the best switches I've ever made. What I lost in bookshelf cred I gained in renewed sense of community, that awesome old book smell, eco smugness and ten fewer back-breaking boxes the next time I move.
That said, Not Buying is not the whole answer. We all have to function in the world as it exists. We need ergonomic chairs and classy rain coats and computers that heart web streaming. And even when we only buy good stuff, we occasionally need to replace it. The key is to THINK before you buy. It's not always easy, but it's crucial to try.
We need to ask questions about our stuff. How long will it last? Where did it come from? What and who did it touch on its way here? Can I responsibly repurpose, donate or dispose of it when its life cycle is complete? If shopping is our national pastime, then it's high time we started taking it seriously. Our purchasing power is just that - power. We can push trends, swing industries, demand quality, support ethical trade, encourage good design - all with the dollars in our pockets. We can no longer afford to be flippant about this role. It's the key to transitioning to a sustainable way of life.
At the end of the day, that means we all need to SLOW DOWN. Look honestly at the buying impulse - every time you feel it. Separate 'want' from 'need'. When there is a need, engage your creativity in meeting it. Prioritize quality over price. (And don't for one second try to pull the economic recession card here. Buying something good once is a helluva lot cheaper than buying the crappy version four times.) Inject the Golden Rule into your purchasing decisions. Practice curiosity: gather information, talk to friends. Google. Read eco blogs. (I'll help!) Send emails to manufacturers. I myself plan to become a one-woman nightmare for customer service representatives everywhere.
If we can all just slow down a bit, we're likely to make much better decisions. Yes life is short and fraught and incredibly busy and sometimes you just want to get 'er done. Resist that impulse. Life is also precious. Not just for you, but for the family in China who made your new duvet cover and the 220,000 people who died in 2008 from natural disasters that were likely intensified by global warming. You can afford a few minutes of research, an extra day to shop, a week to wait for a delivery.
In fact, it's the least we can do for each other.
And now that I'm done preachin' I'd like a drum roll, please...
OOPS!
JANUARY
one package glow-in-the-dark penis straws
one lingerie bag
assorted magazines and office paper products
FEBRUARY
nada
MARCH
Roxy apparel - not purchased, per se, but still new
APRIL
one pair cheap tawdry sunglasses
MAY
nada
JUNE
nada
JULY
nada
AUGUST
nada
SEPTEMBER
wedding gift for close friends - 355 days after the event
OCTOBER
H&M birthday contribution for HCB's sister
NOVEMBER
This is a new one I found in my notes from last month: I bought a Kathleen Edwards CD at the John Doe concert on November 14th. She was his concert cohort and her performance really touched me. So much so, it seems, that I temporarily let my buying guard down. Crap!
DECEMBER
Christmas presents for HCB nieces and nephews. I neither selected them nor ordered them nor shipped them, but I did pay for half of them. So it counts.
All told, not bad, methinks.
NECESSITIES
Not New thinking has translated into several improvements in this category as well: better trash awareness, sustainable skincare practices, much more Buying Local and buying in bulk, trying to get my veggie on, eco travel experimentation. To top it all off, next week I plan to fill my trusty TDI with biodiesel for the first time. Stay tuned.
CREATIVE CONSUMPTION (i.e. USED ARTICLES)
It's been wonderful to rediscover my love of vintage. The stuff I have purchased this year is distinctive and special to me - and it also happens to be much better quality. I plan to continue to live off the crumbs of rich ladies' closets as a stylie complement to the perfectly tailored new articles I'll be seeking out.
UP FOR DISCUSSION
I have declined the renewal of all of my magazine subscriptions except for Martha and the New York Times on Sundays. Once I get my high-powered new MacBook and can actually load Martha's site correctly, I may just give her the ax as well. The NYT is tough - I LOVE the ritual of reading the paper in the kitchen over a steaming cup of tea. But again, it all comes down to the laptop. I believe I can learn to love clicking to the next page. At least I'll try.
ABSTENTIONS
I'd like to thank a few people for their support over this year, as their contributions have allowed me to continue to abstain over and over again.
First, to my beloved HCB. Honey, thank you for endless inspiration - and for enduring irrational withdrawal symptoms, uncomfortable retail altercations, maniacal bloggery, and the manipulation of your persona for comedic effect. In so many ways, someonemightcare.com is my love letter to you.
Aunt Diane and Pat: you two have provided me with many unexpected material gifts throughout the year, without which I would have been much more prone to fall into a compromised retail position. Diane, you know I'll take your TJ Maxx/GoodWill/AngelView/back-of-the-closet castoffs any day! And Pat, the here-and-there Oakley swag always seemed to show up when I needed it most.
Jenn and her former associates of BCSF: thanks, ever so, for the pants.
And most of all, a big fat juicy loving THANK YOU to Rene, Jenn, Tom, Kate, Liza, Dave, JD, Matt, Kendra, Tracey, Fru, Sara, Craig, Shazzer, Jean, Gabriella, Laura and all the rest of you readers for your unwavering moral support, creative suggestions, and desire to read my daily drivel. I only hope that something I said or lived through was actually useful.
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