On Being an Un-Consumer

[Speck Tater]

Here are some thoughts. Who has more ways to escape the consumerism trap? Contribute to the list, if you have some hints and tips.

Being an un-consumer

Corporations have mastered the art of taking our money from us without resorting to violence and then channeling that money to our enemies. We are constantly inundated by advertising meant to persuade us to buy whatever new and worthless trinket they have manufactured to catch our eye. But we can fight back. We can become un-consumers and disconnect ourselves from the corporate milking machine that sucks our bank accounts dry month after month.

Here are a few small things you can do. Next time you feel the urge to buy a new car buy a restored classic from someone in your own town. Face it, driving around town in a mint-condition 1965 Mustang convertible http://www.vintage-mustang.com/ or a cherry 1955 T-bird http://www.tbird.org/gallery/gallery/gallery.htm or a nifty 1954 Austin Healey convertible http://www.healey.org/index.shtml beats all heck out of driving in a 2005 me-to-Beamer. It's cheaper. It's classier. It's easier to repair without out all those stupid built-in computer chips to go haywire, and it recycles a perfectly good piece of transportation machinery.

Soft drinks: You're paying a fortune for carbonated sugar water that's lousy for your health. Why not buy locally produced fruit juice instead, make your body happy and keep the money in your community instead of lining the pockets of some corporate gluttons that already have more money than they can ever spend?

Beer: Buy local or regional micro-brews. If you send your money to Adolph Hitler Brewing Company Incorporated they'll just turn it over to the Republicans who will use your own money to defeat decent progressive candidates all over the country.

Avoid that latest fads. So you heard about some hot new diet on a radio talk show and you have to run right out and spend $29.95 for the book? How about this instead: Wait six months and check the used price on Amazon. There's a good chance you will be able to buy the book for 1 cent plus shipping. For example, look at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/006001203X There are 939 used copies from $0.01.

Buy last year's model. Need a new computer? Visit your local computer store (NOT chain store) and buy last year's models at bargain basement prices. They are dumping them really cheap because all the faddists want today's hot new model. Do you really need all that speed? How fast do you type? 1.5 billion words a minute? Take pride in always being a year behind and always spending less than half what everyone else spends computers. Or stay two years behind and spend one quarter of what your friends spend on computer hardware. (My home network runs off a server computer I bought at the Goodwill store for $95 complete. I could have spent ten times a much, but why?)

What do YOU do to avoid being a corporate cash cow?

[intheflow]

1. Turn off the tv, or at least use the mute button.

I hate listening to them push their products on me. I rarely watch tv any more, but when I do, the commercials are muted.

Also, better than buying that new book, cd, or dvd, take it out of the public library. They dont have it yet? Fill out a book request form, and if they end up buying it (which they very often do unless it's really obscure) you'll be the first person to check it out.

Finally, don't feel pressure to buy everyone you know presents for every occasion. Instead of a knick knack, bring your friend to lunch for their birthday, or out for a drink. They'd rather spend the time with you than dust knick knacks anyway.

[Flaxbee]

4. and if you do buy gifts, NO GIFT PAPER!

jeebus I hate to see the zillions of trees turned into tacky wrapping paper every year. Even those little gift bags are better b/c they're reusable.

My mother has this disease that makes her think we haven't had a nice holiday unless she's sent us all kinds of things, that I'll be sitting in the corner crying on Christmas if I haven't opened packages. It's just bizarre. I'd rather have one nice gift from my husband and a few cards or calls from my family than lots of stuff.
I hate stuff!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I hate stuff, too

I used to make patchwork bags out of scrap fabric to 'wrap' Christmas gifts for my brother's family, but they would never send them back--they liked the bags often more than the gifts! Now I send them things without a wrapper of any kind.

[LynzM]

5. Second that

Turn off the TV, you'll be amazed about how many things that not only do you not need, you've never heard of :)

Trade books around with family, likewise CDs and DVDs with friends. Buy used clothes, or clothes from eBay.

Find things to do besides wandering around places like malls, where it's easy to spend. Go to a park, go for a walk, invite friends over to play games at your house.

Simple stuff, but it helps.

[Flaxbee]

2. If/when possible, I buy food from our local co-op

and roadside stands. Better food, cheaper, locally grown so it supports small farmers.

Unless it's really cold outside, I keep the heat low and throw on a sweater and some socks. Easier to layer than to consume all that energy. I'll turn the heat on when we get home to warm it up a bit, then I do a "Mr. Rogers", pull out my cardigan, and settle in.

Turn off lights we're not using, turn off the coffeepot as soon as we're done instead of waiting for it to click off on its own four hours later. Small stuff like that. When spring comes, I'll probably also hang some of my clothes out to dry instead of churning them away in the dryer.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. dry clothes inside in the winter

on a wooden clothes rack-or hang a clothesline. Houses always get dry in the winter, and the moisture from the drying clothes helps boost the humidity.

[politicaholic]

3. I ONLY shop at small businesses.

It costs a little more, but you'd be surprised, it's only about a 7-10% increase. And that's worth it to retain the charm and integrity of my section of the city.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. shop locally

I haven't had a new vehicle since 1989, and I buy most of my clothing at a thrift store (usually the one where the proceeds go to help the local hospital buy supplies). My computer is a cobbled together machine with parts from various other machines, and does quite well, thank you.

I have to take prescription medicine, and I make sure I buy it from a local pharmacist who has spearheaded the revitalization and beautification of the town square in the town where I work. I make sure I buy office supplies from a local office company. The prices might be a little bit more, but I have better service and I know that the employees are treated right-and that the whole community benefits. That's also the reason I only shop local grocery stores and health food stores as well.

Since I live in a rural area, I can get eggs and sometimes meat from local farmers in exchange for my husband working on their vehicles. We're talking organic here, folks, and it tastes a whole lot different than factory eggs or meat.

Some of my neighbors are artists, others are craftsmen. They are who I go to if I need a special gift. When you shop locally, you KNOW the people-know how they make things, where they get their raw materials, and often what their political viewpoint is (Plug now for my neighbor Dave Spencer, who is a master toy maker and stained glass designer-and always out there for progressive causes-www.spencertoys.com).

Anyone in the NW Arkansas area who needs old Toyota parts or help fixing an older vehicle, pm me. My husband is an independent mechanic with a parts yard, and he will work for cash or swap for labor or products.

That's about all I can think of right now, though I'm sure there are other ways I get along in the world without shopping at Wal-Mart and other chain stores.

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. ILOVE stuff

I have found beautiful pewter and milk glass and such at GoodWill Stores


Wally can not hold a candle to GoodWill
and moving sale --- and garage sales

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. When the urge for junk food gets unbearable

I eat at hot dog stands that cost me 1/4th of the money for similarly-sized, healthier, locally-produced junk.

[hfojvt]

10. off the top of my head

this is a strange lounge thread.
Actually I drive around town on a $300 bike. I almost never eat out, and I never goto movies. I am still getting hand-me-down clothes from my little brother.