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KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 10:08 AM Nov 2019

Buy Nothing Day

Received an email from one of my favorite herb and essential oil companies this morning inviting me to participate in Buy Nothing Day.

To avoid any suggestion of my advertising for that company, I'll just post the body text of the email which I feel is appropriate for those of us that are anti-consumerism and pro-earth:

In the spirit of living mindfully and avoiding over-consumption, we're inviting you to celebrate "Buy Nothing Day" with us. Here's how you can join in:

How To Participate In Buy Nothing Day

Don't buy anything. Plain and simple.


Volunteer and give back to your community! You can also search for a local food bank, animal shelter, retirement home, or library. Whatever your interest or skillset, there’s a group that needs your help.
https://www.volunteermatch.org/
https://www.indeed.com/
https://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
https://www.unitedwaylane.org/
https://www.redcross.org/
https://www.habitat.org/volunteer

Whatever you decide to do this Friday, we hope you are in the company of the people and plants you most cherish.
and..
Share your Buy Nothing Day activity with us! #BuyNothingDay

We could say it's an effort to turn Black Friday into Green Friday for planet earth.

I'm totally into that game today........
42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Buy Nothing Day (Original Post) KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 OP
What a fabulous idea. Ohiogal Nov 2019 #1
Rec! Ponietz Nov 2019 #2
Been doing this for years Maeve Nov 2019 #3
Here's the thing... Dennis Donovan Nov 2019 #4
Look at it this way, Dennis.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #5
We should address store employees issues with higher wages, no on call scheduling Merlot Nov 2019 #7
Nah, we're fine. Bradical79 Nov 2019 #25
Green consumerism will only delay the day of reckoning bucolic_frolic Nov 2019 #6
K&R for truth. I fear we're fighting a losing battle. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #10
I'm so frugal Ohiogal Nov 2019 #27
I have been practicing buy nothing day after thanksgiving for several years. lark Nov 2019 #8
Thanks for those positive vibes, Lark. Really needed them today. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #12
I get it, writing things out is very cathartic. I often do this. lark Nov 2019 #15
K n R ! Thanks for posting! JoeOtterbein Nov 2019 #9
K&R UTUSN Nov 2019 #11
Great idea. Or better yet if you do buy, buy from local, small, mom & pop stores. Pepsidog Nov 2019 #13
In our area, Saturday is "Buy Local Day" LakeArenal Nov 2019 #14
Can't help you out with this one. Aquaria Nov 2019 #16
Great idea. Now..can we have a day of respite from el pendejo in WH. No pics, no videos, no tweets RestoreAmerica2020 Nov 2019 #17
today is stay home day for me ! :) AllaN01Bear Nov 2019 #18
Reverend Billy, and the "Church of Stop Shopping." 3Hotdogs Nov 2019 #19
LOL, I remember that one from many years ago (W's years?). KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #31
I'm observing National Stop Shopping Day today KSNY Nov 2019 #20
Indeed is a job posting site. milestogo Nov 2019 #21
I can get get down with that. Lady Freedom Returns Nov 2019 #22
betcha can't stop with just 1 Buy Nothing Day Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2019 #23
Normally, I never buy anything on the Friday after Thanksgiving. MineralMan Nov 2019 #24
Hey, any day is OK to buy tools (says the unrepentant tool freak)... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #29
I'm out of cat food so I will have to buy *something* today. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2019 #26
Oh, so buy nothing eh? Are we supposed to shut off the water, electricity, gas too, so we won't ... SWBTATTReg Nov 2019 #28
I think the intent is good and well-founded with the basic concepts of.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #33
the perfect must ALWAYS be the enemy of the good!!!!! Nature Man Nov 2019 #42
Bought my mom a battery for her whistler162 Nov 2019 #30
I've never shopped Raftergirl Nov 2019 #32
I like your concepts. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #34
our whole extended family buys nothing central scrutinizer Nov 2019 #35
Very nice. Dark n Stormy Knight Nov 2019 #37
To Hell with that Brother Buzz Nov 2019 #36
You got my sleepy brain trying to envision a machine you use to wash your garden hoses.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #39
Those are the damned rubber ones Brother Buzz Nov 2019 #40
That massive space-age R&D program resulted in.... KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2019 #41
I suggest that you buy nothing...if you want to. Otherwise, buy what you want... brooklynite Nov 2019 #38

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
3. Been doing this for years
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 10:19 AM
Nov 2019

No interest in the extreme consumerism of Black Friday, so I tend to stay at home and relax after the bustle of Thanksgiving. If I go anywhere, it's to the grocery (or liquor store) for a few supplies we need to have with the leftovers.

Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
4. Here's the thing...
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 10:31 AM
Nov 2019

All of the stores you're not going to shop at has employees who are not rich. And they're the ones who will suffer, ultimately.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
5. Look at it this way, Dennis....
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 11:03 AM
Nov 2019

those employees will not be hurt one bit 'cause I'll still do my shopping on some other less stressful day. If anything, not shopping today will take a little stress off them.

Most Americans will still consume about the same, regardless. On-line retailers are those folk's greatest enemy by far.

I think the main point here is the need to stop impulse consumerism, the result of which will be a good reduction in waste of natural resources and reduction of the massive volumes of trash we create every day - very little of which is truly recycled.

America's addiction to cheap Asian throw-away goods is slowly destroying our livelihoods, our communities and our environment.

KY...........

Merlot

(9,696 posts)
7. We should address store employees issues with higher wages, no on call scheduling
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 11:59 AM
Nov 2019

Supporting the issues faced by retail workers would be more helpful than simply shopping at a store and increasing the stores bottom line.

 

Bradical79

(4,490 posts)
25. Nah, we're fine.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 01:40 PM
Nov 2019

Not like "Buy Nothing Day" will make a real dent in our profits. We've been steadily cutting full time jobs for years, slashing bonus money, capping pay, etc. One person helping someone directly does more good than buying a few more trinkets helps us retail workers.

bucolic_frolic

(42,676 posts)
6. Green consumerism will only delay the day of reckoning
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 11:56 AM
Nov 2019

my consumption is very low, and I recycle by selling castoffs and used goods. The Earth needs to rest. I doubt 5% know what that means.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
10. K&R for truth. I fear we're fighting a losing battle.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:24 PM
Nov 2019

Corporations, the markets, and right-wing politicians do everything in their power to hide the harsh realities of rampant wasteful consumerism from the public, especially regarding the effects on climate and our food and water supplies....and by default on our long-term collective health, and that of plants, insects and animals. It's somewhat surreal that massive loss of insect species could bring the human race to an end in the coming centuries.

It would be virtually impossible to convince a parent buying cheap imported Christmas toys at Walmart or someone buying a package of inexpensive shrimp at Kroger that those purchases are slowly destroying our very existence long-term.

Sounds like we're somewhat alike in that I simply cannot throw hardly anything away that might be of use. I got that from parents that went through the Great Depression in the hardest of ways. But, I think I'm the last of that breed.

The Earth does indeed need a few thousand years of rest from humanity. Even then, the scars we've left would still be here.

KY..............

Ohiogal

(31,664 posts)
27. I'm so frugal
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 01:50 PM
Nov 2019

I keep hardly used Ziploc bags and sheets of aluminum foil so I can use them again.

My family fills up a huge bin for recycling every 2 weeks. Just imagine if we threw it all into a landfill. The landfills are big enough!

lark

(23,003 posts)
8. I have been practicing buy nothing day after thanksgiving for several years.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:11 PM
Nov 2019

Coming back from taking care of Zelda the grandcat, I was thinking of stopping for lunch as I usually do on these days. Then I remembered all the food I had at home and that today was such a day of over-consumption and frenzied buying and decided to drive on.

Today I start on Christmas, it's red Santa day, then tomorrow my husband will put up our tree and I will start decorating that, then on to the rest of the house.

i never really thought of using this day to give back, and intend to start that next year when I'm hopefully a lot stronger. That's a really great idea.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
12. Thanks for those positive vibes, Lark. Really needed them today.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:37 PM
Nov 2019

I'll refer you to this post I put up for Thanksgiving that reflects most of my feelings during the holidays - mostly contrary to that of our society.

See: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181287850

I only got two replies but it helped me just to write it out for emotional relief. I have so many simple things of life to be grateful for, and need to get off my butt and help a neighbor.

Enjoy your decorating and be safe out in the hustle-and-bustle of these holidays.......

lark

(23,003 posts)
15. I get it, writing things out is very cathartic. I often do this.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:47 PM
Nov 2019

When the doyen of our house, the sweetest prettiest little Calico, died last Sat. I didn't want to post the news because our daughter is out of the country and I didn't want to ruin her trip with this sad news. So I wrote about our love for little Zoey and how her leaving had changed the dynamics for all the animals in our house. I then deleted it, feeling better because my grief didn't drip over to Amanda and she got to enjoy her holiday unburdened with sadness.

Glad you have things/people in your life that cause you to rejoice, makes life so much easier and more bearable, especially in these dark times.

LakeArenal

(28,729 posts)
14. In our area, Saturday is "Buy Local Day"
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:40 PM
Nov 2019

If you live in a small town, shop at local business. It can make all the difference to your small community.

 

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)
16. Can't help you out with this one.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:53 PM
Nov 2019

I need TP today, after my cat decided that the brand new supply I had in the pantry was a scratching post. Or a wolverine that needed annihilating, from how she massacred the stuff. And I have maybe a foot left on the roll on the spoke that survived her wrath.

I am not doing without TP to save the earth. Ain’t happening.

Besides, my husband works at a grocery store. He’s leaving early today, because business is dead. The morning of Black Friday is the perfect time to shop in peace and quiet. You’ll all but have the store to yourself. My kind of grocery shopping day!

RestoreAmerica2020

(3,433 posts)
17. Great idea. Now..can we have a day of respite from el pendejo in WH. No pics, no videos, no tweets
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 12:55 PM
Nov 2019

Not one damn thing, nada! Anyone with me ?

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
31. LOL, I remember that one from many years ago (W's years?).
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 02:38 PM
Nov 2019

Looks as if he may still be around but a bit less active.

A good one from the past:

Reverend Billy attempting to exorcise bad loans and toxic assets from the Bank of America ATM in Union Square, New York City, 2009

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Billy_and_the_Church_of_Stop_Shopping

KY.....

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
24. Normally, I never buy anything on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 01:33 PM
Nov 2019

However, my snow shovel broke on Wednesday, after 15 years of good service. It's going to snow tonight, Friday. So, I went to Home Depot and spent $20 on a nice new one. Why Home Depot? Because the snow shovels at most other retail outlets are pretty worthless, and I want one that will last another 15 years.

Other than that, I won't be buying anything today, but I did have to buy a snow shovel today.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
29. Hey, any day is OK to buy tools (says the unrepentant tool freak)...
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 02:19 PM
Nov 2019

I'm checking out cordless drills today on-line (for a son-in-law gift)........

but buying in-store on Monday.......

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
26. I'm out of cat food so I will have to buy *something* today.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 01:47 PM
Nov 2019

But there's no way in Hell that I'm going to participate in the Black Friday melee.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
28. Oh, so buy nothing eh? Are we supposed to shut off the water, electricity, gas too, so we won't ...
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 02:11 PM
Nov 2019

buy nothing? Kind of simplistic to 'not buy anything day', and perhaps there are better ways to support the meaning and intent of 'not buy anything day'.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
33. I think the intent is good and well-founded with the basic concepts of....
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 02:56 PM
Nov 2019

* encouraging people to stop impulsive buying,
* encouraging people to stop making impulsive trips to stores and instead keep shopping lists and plan ahead,
* refute the concepts of race-to-the-bottom pricing which encourages importers to abuse human rights in manufacturing, and
* to revisit the original intended principles of the holidays of humility and sharing, lending a helping hand to the needy and being grateful for our basic needs being met and for just being alive.

The concept is aimed toward obsessive/compulsive merchandise purchases.

No one has suggested shutting ourselves off from our basic needs.......

Raftergirl

(1,276 posts)
32. I've never shopped
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 02:41 PM
Nov 2019

on Black Friday. I can’t think of anything I’d rather not do.

I’ll spend a few hours one afternoon in December online ordering Hanukkah gifts for the little ones in my extended family (I don’t spend more than $25-$30 per kid,) and one gift for the Yankee swap the adults do. $75 is the amount for that gift decided by those who choose to participate.

My kid gets renewal of AAA every year and I’ll give him a nice check.

Husband and I don’t exchange gifts. We just say something we are doing or somewhere we are going is our gift. This year it’s the laundry room/pantry remodel.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
34. I like your concepts.
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 03:13 PM
Nov 2019

Gifts that are sustainable and last a while are best. I enjoy giving magazine subscriptions for ones I know they will enjoy, although that seems to come with an unspoken expectation of a renewal next year.....

Also like to keep notes throughout the year of things I notice my family needing. That saves me some stress when birthdays and Christmas come around.

And, I'm old enough now to tell my folks to not buy me anything. I have enough clothes and other stuff to last the rest of my life.......

.........well, maybe except for chocolates and cashews.......

central scrutinizer

(11,617 posts)
35. our whole extended family buys nothing
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 03:50 PM
Nov 2019

No gifts for anybody. Everyone puts some money in one hat (sliding scale, suggested amount is $25) and the name of a nonprofit in a second hat. A name is drawn, the money is bundled and sent off.

Brother Buzz

(36,216 posts)
36. To Hell with that
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 04:08 PM
Nov 2019

I really, really needed a garden hose washer so I rode my bike to the hardware store and got one.

They only sell them in a 10-pack, so I guess I got my stocking stuffers shopping done. WooHoo!

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
39. You got my sleepy brain trying to envision a machine you use to wash your garden hoses....
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 01:50 AM
Nov 2019

(a garden hose washer). And, they come in TEN packs?

The truth finally struck me after a bit more coffee.....




KY.......... ........

Brother Buzz

(36,216 posts)
40. Those are the damned rubber ones
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:18 PM
Nov 2019

I've got nine of those left over from a decade ago when I had to buy ten to replace one washer. I tried using one of them but they aged poorly and turned to stone.

I went with vinyl this time.

I have one word for you, son, plastics.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
41. That massive space-age R&D program resulted in....
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 03:18 PM
Nov 2019

three little ears to keep them from falling out......

Yep, I got some old red ones that dry-rotted too. New plastic ones are pretty green!.....

brooklynite

(93,871 posts)
38. I suggest that you buy nothing...if you want to. Otherwise, buy what you want...
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 12:16 AM
Nov 2019

"I don't XXX and neither should you" posts are never appealing.

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