You know what feels right this month? Let’s do a Buy Nothing challenge. It’s a short month so that’s a great time for first timers to join on this journey.
How does it work? Well. Just don’t buy things. That’s kinda it. Obviously – buy food and medicine and the things you need to be alive.
Never scrimp on those things!!
But all the other stuff – Engage in your consumption as a *thought process* not a mindless task you are being forced to do.
Here are some social posts and PDF copies for your sharing / printing needs if you so desire:
Some of the benefits of a no buy month (or week or day or whatever you do)
– You might find yourself with a tidy little pile of extra pennies!
– You might use the opportunity to shift to a different product than you normally buy, or not buy it at all.
– You might identify the little trinkets and treasures that mean the most to you. The things that even after reflecting you thought…oh yea. I def need it!
– You might simply enjoy thinking about it. Mental energy is precious and powerful and this is a simple exercise that gives back more than what you put in it.
So grab a friend or a journal or a note on your phone. Whatever works there are no rules everyone is so tired of rules!
Just get yourself situated somehow to engage in this empowering and sustainable exercise.
Some related posts that might help you this month:
My Buy Nothing Log:
Saturday Feb 1:
Day one was an epic flop because I forgot to tell Ean we’re doing this so he left some shopping to do for our normal shopping day – Saturday.
That’s okay though! We only bought two things, and both from local shops. We got a birthday card and some dish soap at Exist Green and a gift card for a friend at The Next Chapter bookstore.
Sunday Feb 2:
We did it! We spent most of the day at home. We also knocked some doors for Jasmine Harris who is running for mayor here in Omaha! Zero pennies spent. Go team!
Monday Feb 3:
I bought coffee today from Zen and that was it. And I don’t consider that a “purchase” as much as a routine budget item to support a local space that has been so essential to my activism and that of other progressive movements.
Tuesday Feb 4:
Uhhhh do tattoos count as a purchase? I do a lot of political work which is admittedly.. a lot right now. But I feel like supporting a local tattoo artist is not a bad investment in my happiness right?
Wednesday Feb 5:
Thursday Feb 6:
Friday Feb 7:
Saturday Feb 8:
Sunday Feb 9:
Monday Feb 10:
Tuesday Feb 11:
Wednesday Feb 12:
Thursday Feb 13:
Friday Feb 14:
Saturday Feb 15:
Sunday Feb 16:
Monday Feb 17:
Tuesday Feb 18:
Wednesday Feb 19:
Thursday Feb 20:
Friday Feb 21:
Saturday Feb 22:
Sunday Feb 23:
Monday Feb 24:
Tuesday Feb 25:
Wednesday Feb 26:
Thursday Feb 27:
Friday Feb 28: