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Buy Nothing Day

Squirmelia

11:10 / 28.11.03

Is anyone participating in Buy Nothing Day?

I did not go to the pub this lunchtime, so there was no need to buy beer. I'm staying in tonight doing Nanowrimo, so won't need to buy anything then. So, it's more like I'm doing it just by default as opposed to actually making an effort not to buy anything.

Bomb The Past

11:22 / 28.11.03

I am not buying my lunch. In fact, I didn't buy my lunch yesterday either because I am fool and I got the dates mixed up. But apart from that it's not really all that difficult. From what I gather from adbusters, the rationale is that the 28th November is the busiest shopping day of the year in the US because of Thanksgiving falling the day before while being "close" to Christmas for present shopping. It seems to make it slightly easier for those of us not in the US and who don't go Christmas shopping in November.

Ariadne

11:24 / 28.11.03

Wow, I didn't know it was today. I've bought nothing bar five tangerines, but I did try to buy Christmas presents so I really don't deserve any kudos. I *did* bring lunch so I didn't have to buy that.

I'm ambivalent about buy nothing day. I like the idea, I like that it promotes a step back from being a consumer but, well, the lunch I brought was made from food I bought another day. And yes, I cycled and didn't buy a tube ticket, but that's because I spent lots on the bike. It's ... odd. I don't know what to think of it.

Squirmelia

11:30 / 28.11.03

I just read that it's supposed to be on the 29th November for the UK. Bother.

Ariadne

11:34 / 28.11.03

Oops. Well, I suppose it makes more sense to do it on a Saturday. But I'm afraid I'll be on Oxford Street with the best of them tomorrow, shopping like a madwoman. I'll buy lots of right-on stuff, I promise.

chilesl

11:47 / 28.11.03

It's a bit of a nonsense really and not practical on any level. I hate capitalism and I hate spending money, but that's primarily because I haven't got enough to spend. It should be a 'don't buy crap day' or something, or 'give to a charity as much as you spend day'. As much as I'm sure we'd all love, for a day, to stop, down tools, for everyone to sit down where they are for 24 hours and think for a bit, it just isn't humanly possible. Someone would fart, then someone would start giggling and throwing paper. Then before you know it we'd be back at selfridges getting some Clinique moisturiser.

Ganesh

11:57 / 28.11.03

Shit. I've failed, miserably.

YojimboUK

12:12 / 28.11.03

I was going to observe it, and then before I could remember my boss pointed out that Amazon.co.uk is doing the four-disc editions of the first two LotR movies for £40. Oh, and I'd already bought a Guardian. So I suck, and in order to suck a bit more I bought a big lunch.

I'll buy nothing on Sunday.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:28 / 28.11.03

If it's today, I've failed miserably, having shelled out for a breakfast, some laundry, some beer and a Guardian. Oh, and cigarettes. (Having said that, I was originally going to go comic shopping this afternoon, but decided I couldn't be arsed. I am a TRUE apatho-syndicalist.)

If it's tomorrow, the only way I'm NOT gonna fail miserably is if I stock up today (which would be cheating, I guess)- I'm having a party at my house, see, so the local offy's gonna HAVE to have some of my money.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:30 / 28.11.03

Oh bugger- I also bought a smoothie from the local health food shop. But mono works there and gave me a discount... does that count?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:31 / 28.11.03

Shit. And a New Statesman. And I got up at about 2 this morning to go and buy a double chocolate Magnum.

OK. I think that's everything. Even if not, I'll shut up now, craven consumerist running-dog that I am.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:33 / 28.11.03

CHRIST!!! How did I forget the anti-depressants (which I haven't bought yet, but will do once I pick up my scrip from the doctor...)

Definitely shutting up now.

ker-CHING!

suds

12:34 / 28.11.03

I fucked up today too. I bought a calculator and a GRE study book.

Baz Auckland

12:39 / 28.11.03

If you're not much, or anti-consumer for the rest of the year, you don't have to observe Buy Nothing Day really...

...or at least that's my justification for having to buy things today.

Saint Keggers

12:46 / 28.11.03

Its better when Buy Nothing Day is voluntary. Im just broke so everyday is Buy Nothing Day! Im waiting for the lotto and Buy Anything That Catches Your Eye day.

Squirmelia

13:48 / 28.11.03

I told someone it was the reason that I didn't go to the pub. The real reason? No-one told me they were going. Yey for Buy Nothing Day for disguising my unpopularity!

Widing

14:04 / 28.11.03

We've made some hardcore adbusting some nights ago, turning the backside of subway ads to the front, several stations was totally free from advertising. Then we put up some BND-posters. We've also organized a public discussion at a youth hangout on consumerism. Stamping lot's of money with warning texts (http://www.interactingarts.org/moneystamping/) and so on...

With activist greetings from Stockholm...

Cheap. Easy. Cruel.

15:08 / 28.11.03

I have not bought a pack of cigs today. I am shortly going out to buy a large axe to kill anyone who gets anywhere near me. Or a pack of cigs.

Off to the hate and anger thread!

gingerbop

17:36 / 28.11.03

I bought a cheese baguette, a can or coke and a bus ticket.

I didnt buy the 6 tops, 3 jumpers, 2 skirts and a dress Im going to try on on monday when I get back to work, nor my docs with manga-girl on the side from ebay because the auction ends on sunday. I was sooo happy to find them there though; brand new and the right size. Aaahh, happiness. Cant.Stop.Myself. So I bought nearly nothing today.

w1rebaby

17:47 / 28.11.03

I bought a very pretty cappucino and a croissant, some miso, a Killer Roll (involves eel) and a bottle of Sapporo. But I did pick up a free paper to read while I was having lunch.

Some American correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect Buy Nothing Day in the US is targeted for today because the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally a massive shopping spree. Not many people on the high street here, though, probably because it's raining, and shopping here actually requires you to get out of your car and walk maybe a whole half mile.

There's a shop down the road that's selling porcelain penguins in three different sizes, and I didn't buy any.

Photine

20:03 / 28.11.03

I meant to do it but forgot, - today I paid for my son's French classes, filled the car up, bought two packets of bagels, two scented candles, tea bags and some choux buns. I tried to eat one of the choux buns for breakfast and it almost made me sick. Serve me right.

Olulabelle

20:12 / 28.11.03

Oh, arse. I didn't know. I spent all afternoon buying heaps of things. *Looks ashamed.*

My sin list is:

A Nolita top, A book on orchids, a book on how to massage your cat, two make your own kalidescope kits, an original 50's light, a pair of slippers, lots of bath bombs from Lush, wrapping paper, two crystal glasses, Benefit make-up, two chocolate puddings, some milk, six postcards and a book of twelve christmas stamps.

And a partridge in a pear tree.

I have failed dismally.

Olulabelle

20:13 / 28.11.03

Oh, and a hanging star light.

Olulabelle

20:16 / 28.11.03

And some petrol.

Oh dear. I'm very nearly rivalling Stoatie.

w1rebaby

20:34 / 28.11.03

Well, I just bought some more beer.

Baz Auckland

21:59 / 28.11.03

Um... I went to Starbux today for the first time in over two years... and on BUY NOTHING DAY!!! Oh the shame... I'm doubly evil now... I just needed a coffee...

eye landed

22:07 / 28.11.03

You know, you aren't actually supposed to abstain from buying things. You're just supposed to feel guilty about it today to give you a taste of how guilty you should feel about wilfully participating in the consumer economy the rest of the year.

I scolded someone for buying potato chips/crisps.

I was going to violate buy-nothing day by buying illegal drugs, but the rainy weather makes me not want to go out.

BioDynamo

22:08 / 28.11.03

Fuck Buy Nothing day.

Make every day Steal Something Day!

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

23:00 / 28.11.03

Oh dear. I'm very nearly rivalling Stoatie

I forgot to mention that I bought matches too. They make the cigarettes work, you see. And I did buy the medication, too.

And I've since bought more beer. Although now, what with it being past midnight, the fact that at some point in my near future there lurks a pitta full of chips and houmous from the place downstairs is neither here nor there... unless of course buy nothing day is now TODAY!!! Oh fuck...

Peter Quantum

06:03 / 29.11.03

I managed to remain faithful. Hard as it was!

We're The Great Old Ones Now

07:46 / 29.11.03

This always drives me completely insane, because it's close enough to my birthday (falling, at the moment, between my birthday and the weekend) that people use it as a reason why they've brought me an old sock and half a bucket instead of a new car or a diamond studded golfbag.

Having said that, for once I have found out that it's happening in sufficiently good time that I have the option to participate.

_pin

09:00 / 29.11.03

After a Buy Nothing week, I relented yesterday and brought: a hot dog, three green Boost bars, a Screaming Seagulls Kiss Her Kiss Her comp., the Todd ep, a bitching chocolate cake and some whiskey, and in a minute I'm going to go buy some pizza, chips, a Guardian, some juice and some Wheetos and then hole myself up in my room all weekend and work really really hard, oh yes.

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