November 2008 Green Challenge: Buy Nothing Day
November 1, 2008 by Jennifer
You may remember the popular BYOB Challenge – the bring your own reusable bag challenge and the Paper Towel Challenge. In any case, we haven’t had a green challenge in a while here at Tree Hugging Family, but this month, it’s on.
Your green challenge, for November 2008, should you choose to accept it, is…
To buy nothing on Buy Nothing Day 2008.
Steps to take:
- Buy Nothing Day happens on November 28, 2008 for North America and on November 29, 2008 internationally.
- This small action step challenge consists of you buying nothing on the big day.
- Another action step you can take would be to spread the word, tell your friends and family. Convince at least one other person to ban shopping on Buy Nothing Day.
Difficulties with this challenge:
For some of us, Buy Nothing Day will be a snap. However Black Friday is seductive to many. Some people are going to have to use massive will power to avoid the sales. To help you avoid caving in, I’ll be writing posts during the month that discuss Buy Nothing Day, ideas for simplifying, how to avoid shopping temptations, and how to be a good green shopper when you do shop.
The end result:
Of course this challenge is about avoiding Black Friday; but there’s more to the end result than simply that. Part of being an earth-friendly individual is lowering your overall consumption, and buying ethically when you do shop. While Buy Nothing Day is a good first step, it merely kicks off a specific sort of mind-set. It’s not about NEVER buying items, it’s more, in my mind, thinking before you purchase. What the eventual end result should be is a change in your overall thinking; a knowledge that there’s a difference between needs and want, and that living simply can be a worthwhile endeavor, both for you and the planet.
To get started:
- Soon I’ll be posting about Buy Nothing Day – it’s history, the basic gist, and so fourth. Watch for that post.
- Start thinking about what challenges you may face on Black Friday – what might make you head to the stores. Let me know so I can provide you with helpful ideas.
- Start telling your pals. If you participate in Buy Nothing Day, that’s swell, but if you can convince someone else, well, that’s a double accomplishment.
Now, are you going to try and participate in the Buy Nothing Challenge this month? Let me know in the comments. I’ll have update posts all month, including a wrap-up post to see how everyone did.
November current events at Tree Hugging Family – themes, reviews, news, and more…
[image via Buy Nothing Day]
Before I even read this post, My goal is to buy Nothing for the whole month of November. Just to be more aware of my needs and more aware of how I can use things I already have. Come December, I will make only the purchases that I still want to make after taking a month to think about it.
Normally, I agree with you on so many things… but I just don’t get this buy nothing day. We live are lives being careful not to be consumers, everyday. So Black Friday is the day when the sales are the best for the pre-christmas shopping. I think carefully about what I plan to buy for gifts, I keep it within budget and don’t buy things just because it’s a good deal. But since I can get the best deals possible on Nov. 29, I plan to shop (online, of course). I’m going to buy these things anyway, their my planned gifts. It’s only financially responsible to do it on the day when I can get the best deal.
@Jessica, do you mean you’re not buying ANYTHING – food, etc, or just gifts? That idea about waiting a month to buy something is a good one.
@Lisa excellent points on why someone would shop on Black Friday, possibly the only good argument I’ve heard. I agree that we should take advantage of sales if you were going to buy something anyhow – Buy Nothing Day, more so than being a day to just not shop, is about making a statement, which is why I like to promote it. It’s one way to get people thinking about consumer issues, and frankly, there aren’t enough days or events like this. On the flip side, if you’re living as a consumer in moderation each and every day, it’s another story. This event, I think, helps people who are not living simply to consider it as an option. Hope that all made sense. Great comment BTW.
I’ll join in.
Which, as I posted earlier, won’t be hard as I don’t like going out on this day.
Oh man, this is going to be a small challenge. That’s ok though. As long as people are thinking. Thanks Jodi for joining in.
Check Out the latest Buy Nothing Day 2008 video from youtube. It is a full flash video… pretty cool.
I agree with Lisa- and it’s great to go shopping and get deals when you have a PLAN. But I suppose, it’s those that don’t have a plan and are just buying to “get a deal” that is why some participate in Buy Nothing Day.
I know a lot of people get up early the day after Thanksgiving, itchy to get back into stores because they had one whole day without the option to go shopping.
I remember as a teenager, the day after thanksgiving I was dying to go to the mall, only due to the fact that I hadn’t had the option to do so the day of Thanksgiving, but also because I was bored out of my mind.
For many people, this could serve as a good way to prepare for Christmas by giving to others, or to catch up on life. To put the Christmas decorations up, write cards, do some reorganizing or bake something tasty.
No matter what, it’s good to have a plan!
I’m participating in Buy Nothing Day. In fact I may start the Won’t Even Leave The House Day. No traffic, no lines no bother.
Lisa Dear,
If you don’t understand the reasoning behind Buy Nothing Day, I suggest you try a Google search for information and history on the subject. By not shopping the day after Thanksgiving you are sending a message; you are in essence an Activist. You may pay more for an item the next day, but that isn’t the point. Sometimes paying more money to make a statement is more important than saving it.
@Kamber – I like your thinking
@KMac I don’t think Lisa is too off base in her opinion. Yes it is about making a statement, however, as Lisa pointed out, she tries to live this way all the time. Frankly, I’d rather have someone not participate in BND, and live this way all the time, then participate and be a shop crazy fiend the rest of the year. I’m glad BND is around, and that plenty of folks participate, but in this case, I’m thinking Lisa is still on our side; you know?