Catherine's mention of Skymall Magazine and our uber-consumerist culture reminded me of a movement that's been growing among a varied group of people around the country -- the anti-consumerists -- those who are swearing off shopping, except for bare necessities, for a given period of time -- a week, 12 days, a month, a year, forever.

Author Judith Levine did it and writes about it in her book Not Buying It: A Year Without Shopping.

A number of blog sites, including Intent, Causabon's Book, or Melene Ryzik on Salon.com also describe their experiences of intentionally committing to buy nothing but necessities and the effect the experience had on their psyche, their relationships and their pocketbook.

I've actually tried this for a week at a time on occasion (I know -- my friends and family are falling out of their chairs at the idea that I could refrain from shopping even one day!) and it's been an interesting experience. Someday, maybe I'll tell you about it!

Suffice it to say, I've learned that much of what I think I need I just want, and even that I don't really want once I've tossed the catalog or left the store. Gourmet coffee is more of a treat when you limit yourself to just buying on weekends and not every day. Leisurely eating at home with good friends is more fun than eating out at a crowded, noisy restaurant. And you can get a lot of good reading done when you aren't driving all over kingdom come to find the perfect little outfit that you'll permanently accessorize with a splotch of Diet Coke the first time you wear it!

So -- come on!!! Toss that Skymall Magazine and join the anti-consumer revolution! Or, at least, try to readjust your thinking so that you consider a remote controlled shark to chase your rubber duck a want and not a need.

Comments

[Ramsey Wilson]

Martha, thanks for the post. I and my family would benefit from observing "30 Days of Nothing." I think we'll do so during the next Lenten season -- if not before.