I’ve been reading about the Not One Damn Dime protest on inauguration day. The idea, in case you missed it, was to spend nothing on January 20th to oppose the state of things in Iraq. It’s sort of like Buy Nothing day only with less consumer, more political underpinnings.
I think I support Buy Nothing day. There’s a crazy consumer frenzy in the build up to Christmas and Buy Nothing day is a pretty good reminder that you don’t need spend a giant pile of money to have a good holiday. At least that’s my interpretation of it. But in general these one day spending freeze protests get up my nose. I think they’re too simplistic.
There are days, like, oh, New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving, when i’s kind of hard to buy stuff. Pretty much everything is closed, save the 7-11. Here in the snowglobe, you can’t buy a thing on Sunday. I’m pretty sure these days don’t bring down The Man. Why should days like the Not One Damn Dime day, the Gas Boycott, and October 19th be that different?
Okay, if you’re a shopping addict, maybe these pseudo events are good for you. You become aware of your consumer habits and you make a concerted effort to not spend any money. It’s good practice. Also, you become educated about ties between consumers, corporations, and the government. But hey, you could also just be a procrastinator. I need to put gas in the car, but I guess it can wait until tomorrow. And the action as a procrastinator is exactly the same as that of an activist observing the “event.”
We need a broader annual approach to restricting shopping as a means of protest. We need a ‘Buy Less Crap’ year. We need “Don’ Spend Money on Shit You’re Not Going to Use†decade. We need a “Do I Really Need This?†adjustment to the zeitgeist. This approach is a lot more difficult than just staying out of the mall for 24 hours. It requires thoughtful consumption. It requires lifestyle changes. But the end result is that you’re really voting with your wallet.
In the interest of full disclaimer, I should state that I have certain consumer weaknesses. I like quality computer hardware. I have a flash new digital camera and I really enjoy my MP3 player. I also have an embarrassing amount of snow gear. I’m not, in principal, an anti-consumer fascist. That said, I try to avoid buying new just to have new or buying silly because I’m amused by an object for 23 minutes.
What’s a shopper to do if they want to make an impact but don’t want to live like an ascetic? A couple of simple things, really.
Don’t buy crap, buy quality. That way, you’re not spending money on something you’re just going to throw away when it breaks. This might mean spending a little more money up front. But it’s worth it. Think about good shoes, for example. They last a long time. Crappy shoes fit poorly and wear out fast. You either don’t wear them because they’re uncomfortable or you have to buy new ones in no time.
Give thoughtful gifts. You don’t have to be a total Scrooge. Tickets to shows are good presents. Passes to the zoo or for spa days or a weekend away at some little destination you love make great giveaways. Original art and books are great presents. One of my favorite birthday gifts ever was the golden jar of high quality local honey that my sweetheart left on the kitchen table for me to find when I got up that morning.
Don’t shop without a list. And stick to the list. If you think about what you’re going to buy before you step foot in the store, you’ll spend less money. Sticking to the list, yeah, it’s hard. I can’t always do it. But it’s worth trying.
Ask yourself if you really need/want that thing. Really. Some things you just want. For me, it was my digital camera. I really wanted a good one. Was I going to starve without one? No, it’s totally unessential. But I do use it all the time. Rationalization? Totally. I think using the thing you buy, or really enjoying it, can be enough to make it a sensible purchase. You have to decide for yourself on this.
The bottom line is this: use common sense. You can go all crazy and research where your pants are made or find out who the company that makes your cereal backed in the election, but also, you could just buy less stuff. You could use the stuff you have, give away the stuff you don’t use or need, and be a little bit more thoughtful about what you’re spending your money on. The single day no-shopping protests are for lazy thinkers. Yes, they can be a wake-up call. Yes, the media they generate is good. And yes, if they could get critical mass participation, they might actually send a message. But if you really want to effect change with your wallet, it’s going to take a lot more than 24 hours.