Comments on: Buy Nothing but Necessities for a Month

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:13:22 +0000

We are already in a recession. Mostly due to the fact that we have lost sight of investing in things that really matter – People, our environment, Sustainable energy and Agriculture for some examples. Not cheap crap from China and gamt always bling of housing markets.

The USA hasn’t always beEconomy hasn’t always been so consumer-based, and most peole were happer then.

Check out http://www.thestoryofsuff.com or go to You tube and look for “The Story of Stuff”.

By: Richard Millington

Richard Millington — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:04:50 +0000

Hi Mindy,

Brilliant points, I really do think this is a fascinating debate. I do disagree with your presumptions though. Namely: “imagine how much good would come from more people finding financial stability… so the multinationals wouldn’t make so much off of mindless purchases.”

I think that’s the opposite of what will happen. If we all stop spending money, we will all have less. It becomes a recession. I don’t know about where you’re from, so I wont speculate, but here in the UK it’s the multinationals which might be least affected. The multinationals produce the necessities i.e. tooth brushes, milk, cereal, eletricity. The things we can’t live without. It’s the smaller businesses that produce the luxuries. And these are the ones I suspect might suffer most.

We wont achieve financial stability if we all spend less, we’ll lose it. Millions would lose their jobs. The government would be forced to help them out at higher taxes to those who do work. And in times of recession it’s charity donations which get struck off the list first.

By: Leslie @ the oko box

Leslie @ the oko box — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:03:10 +0000

This is actually how I live my daily life- I went through some change in my life a few years ago, that lead me to never want to collect junk. Moving around alot also makes one reconsider what they want to “carry” with them. I rarely spend money on anything but food, rent, bills- and my hobbies are things like riding my bike, making upcycled crafts, cooking at home, reading and feeding stray animals alla round my house. It’s a simple and fun way to live…

By: Mindy Butler

Mindy Butler — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:59:37 +0000

this is a challenge that is bigger in scope than most people would feel comfortable with- but that said a few years ago while i was in grad school and living off a salary of $25,000 a year in NYC (yes, its possible ;’ )…I didn’t go so far as only buying bar neccesities but I challenged myself to cut out the mindless spending- and transfer whatever i was going to spend into a designated savings account. i didn’t check the balance for 3 months. so whenever i wanted a pair of shoes, or a book, or even snacks that i didn’t need, etc, i would transfer what i would have paid into the savings account. Even on a small salary and no drastic cutbacks i was able to save over $1,000 in 3 months and not really even notice. I was shocked – did not expect it to be so much! It made it so clear to me how much money we literally throw away on things we don’t need and how careless we can be with our resources…
and as for the comment above “I would prefer to believe the answer isnt’ in spending or buying less, but in spendin and buying smarter.” i agree- but instead of wondering that something bad would happen to the economy if people stopped spending so carelessly, imagine how much good would come from more people finding financial stability… so the multinationals wouldn’t make so much off of mindless purchases. perhaps more people would invest their money or even donate to mindful causes- imagine how that may effect the economy!

By: Richard Millington

Richard Millington — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:16:23 +0000

It’s a really great idea. I do wonder what might happen if everyone does do this. The economy suffers doesn’t it?

That means a lot of people out of jobs, a lot of companies filing for bankruptcy. I would prefer to believe the answer isnt’ in spending or buying less, but in spendin and buying smarter.