the network for radical unschooling families

Have you heard of the Buy Nothing New compact?

I just read about a cool thing that a group of San Franciscans did a few years back. The initiated a Compact with each other. The agreed to basically not buy anything new (with exceptions of course) for 12 months. Check out the guidelines at the link below. Care to try it with me? I am really liking the idea. Of course, I do have a list of things I am searching for used already and it really frustrated my dear son. Not sure what to do about that ...

http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/2006/01/new-years-resolution.html

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Permalink Reply by angela on April 23, 2009 at 6:28am: i'm in! let's chat!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zoa Conner on April 23, 2009 at 6:46am: great! I think we should come up with our own guidelines based on what will work for us. DId you read the "rules" that the folks in San Fran came up with? If not, check out the link I put in the original post.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by angela on April 30, 2009 at 11:34am: sorry i didn't see this sooner! i will check out the link again.
<3- ang; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by angela on April 30, 2009 at 11:55am: hey zoa!
so i just saw that you commented back, sorry for taking a while. i guess i didnt follow the updates, oops!

anyway, i went to the link and read up on the 'details' of the buy nothing new, and i am happy to say honestly, for the most part, i am already doing this and have been for a while!

being a tightwad and a pseudo-gypsy for the past year put us in a situation where when we moved to dallas last october, we had no furniture, and had sold or given a way a very large majority of our belongings. so, when we got here, we craigslisted it to find beds and a couch and a desk and lamps and a couple fun things for the kids.

there are very occasional purchases that i make 'new', usually clothes for the kids, but most of my kids clothes come from thrift stores, goodwill, or resale shops anyway.

that reminds me, my husband buys new stuff, likes new clothes, sunglasses, shoes- we don't include our husbands in this do we? (although i have introduced him to the wonders of plato's closet, which has been able to satisfy his trendy clothing styles)

other stuff- i have taken the handmade pledge, and last christmas made or bought off craigslist 90% of our christmas gifts. so, that will be a smooth transition too.
BUT- we are in the market for a new car. although we bought our current vehicle in 'used' condition, it only had a couple thousand miles on it, we are looking at some hybrid options,
so i am wondering how all that would classify?

i'm excited to take this to the next level, and looking forward to doing it together!

xoxo,
ang; ▶ Reply to This