Thanks wardrobe refashion!

A quick google is making me really feel a part of something bigger. here is the pledge from wardobe refashion, that i think fits well with my intentions.

The Pledge
I _Erin Elisabeth_____ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 12 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed__Erin Elisabeth ________________.

I think this says it!

Today is the the last day. went for indian food and will be going out for a drink after work.

I have come across this explanation of why not to buy things. It is from the really really free market. http://reallyreallyfree.org/

Because there is enough for everyone
Because sharing is more fufilling than owning
Because corporations would rather see landfills overflow than anyone get anything for free
Because scarcity is a myth constructed to keep us at the mercy of the economy
Because a sunny day outside is better than anything money can buy
Because "free trade" is a contradiction of terms
Because no one should have to do without food, shelter, entertainment, and community
Because life should be a picnic, but it only will be if we make it happen

strange reactions

people all have very different reactions to my buy nothing year. some think its great and have done similar things themselves. some are surprised but they seem to see where i am coming from. some look at me like i have grown an extra head and that i must have stopped taking my meds.
But some people have reacted as though i am doing something deviant and WRONG. like i have said that i will kick small dogs for a year or won't call my mother for a year.
I admit that what i am doing is not the norm. it is not even close to the norm, but it does trouble me the trouble some people have with the idea.

There are many common questions that people ask. some i can answer some i can't yet.

1. why? ( see last 2 blog entries)
2. can you buy underwear? -if i were to truely need it, but i own alot of underoos.
3. what will you eat? - food. i can still buy food, just not restaurant or premade processed stuff.
4. what will you do with the money? not sure yet... mortgage and vacation?

There are others but that is the general theme...

TOnight i did some stock up shopping of a frivilous nature. I bought make up and ate sushi. I did make sure i bought make-up that was not animal tested. the sushi was very good.

I will not miss the mall! and i realised that i will not have to set foot in oneo ver christmas! Weeeeeeeeeee!

3 more days of shop....

I am actually getting excited about the next year of restraint, improvisation and do it yourself.
I am a bit concerned that i have booked my tickets to halifax and london, and that i will be dining out while there, though hopefully not too much. I think in order to counter ballence this i will extend my year to oct 1 2008. but i will wait and see how successful i am during my travels.

I have been trying to avoid "stocking up" syndrome. I have bought a few extra boxes of my favourite tea and i did buy the fabric to finish my bedroom reno-s while in Edm. I also bought a pattern to sew a dress for the weddings i am attending this winter. I think i will go and buy a few chocolate bars for the freezer, and a couple of bottles of wine for the cupboard.

I know that as the process evolves there will be items that may fall in the grey zone, so i think i will send them out to a vote for friends and followers of the blog.

Also i have a few more items to add to my list of "okay to buy":

1. I had my ener-guide inspection done on my home today. It has given me a list of things that i can do to improve the efficency of my home. Purchases that are on this list are acceptable. When possible i will attempt to complete work on my own, but some jobs do require training so if i have to hire someone in that instance it is okay.
2. I can buy new fabric if it is for a particular project and only if there is not a previous unfinished sewing project in the works. in other words no trolling for fabric.
3. I can buy used stuff for home improvement/yard work. But i can only buy for specific projects. no trolling for lumber, fixit gadgets, or weird lamps.

Is the list of can buys getting too long?

I am trying to decide what foods are concidered okay and what aren't...

Is baby corn in a can okay?

Is Frank's red hot okay?

Is curry paste okay? ( as opposed to whole or individual spices)

Is flavoured yogurt okay? Plain is. I think i need to add my own fruit. Is that excessive?

Hmmm. I am excited for my reverse excess of excessive non-shopping.

Hmmm.

10 days Before the start...

I am making a new years ( sept always feels like the real new years thanks to 20yrs of school) resolution that for 1 calendar Year Starting Sept 1st I will buy Nothing for one whole year. This decision has sprouted from a number of stimulii...
1) A CBC program that interviewed a woman in New York who was part-way into this jourey along with her huspband and 4 children.
2) A creaping depression about the consumer impact on the planet.
3) A realization that i waste most of my decent income and still have credit card debt.
4) I need to relearn the difference between Need and Want.

I have been developing a set of rules after reading blogs etc from others who have taken this path and i shall lay them out here for you (and for me)

1. I can buy food. But not processed/premade foods. I will continue to buy bread products, Raw ingredients for making other foods. No premade cookies, bars etc.
2. I will buy as much locally produced produce, bread, meat etc as possible, recognizing that i live in Saskatchewan so unless i wish to eat only dry lentils and frozen produce all winter this will be somewhat limited.
3. I will buy organic food whenever possible
4. I will buy toilet paper
5. I will not eat out in restaurants- with one exeption. I am single. I wish to date. In a new relationship or potential relationship i can go for fairtrade coffee or tea. I will bring my own cup. If a date turns into a boyfriend then back home for a game of scrabble or to the library with a thermos of cocoa.
6. I will restrict my use of my car. I will be taking it off the road for the winter, possibly selling it in the spring depending. I will take public transit, car pool, bike and walk.
7. I will not buy clothing. I have tonnes of clothes. I can sew new clothes from old clothes ( a la preloved) or from fabric that i already have.
8. I can buy sewing notions, i.e. zippers, thread etc to make clothes or gifts. I will try and use what i have before i buy anything new, and will try and buy used if possible.
9. I will make gifts, not buy them.
10. I will not buy alcohol... hense i am about to start a batch of cider, and will start in on the mead.
11. If appliances brake i will try and live without them, or fix them, or barring this as a possibility replace them. ie if the fridge dies, i will get a new one, if the micro goes... to bad.
12. I can choose 1 culural event per month to pay to attend. ie music, play, library film etc. I wish to reduce my consumption not stop supporting local arts etc.
13. I can get a YMCA membership. excercise in not consumption.

I have 2 exceptions for when i will be breaking my rules. I am going to hawaii for a wedding in Feb, and while there i can eat out with friends, as it seems rediculous to go all that way and not socialise. Though I will pack lunches etc for my hikes and solo travels. The same stands for the trip i have planned to see babies and friends in london and Halifax... though i will keep it to a minimum. When traveling to these fabulous places i can choose a souvenir. Perferably art, but can't just buy random junk. I should come home with lots of pictures and a lighter bag.

I have been slowly weaning myself off the shop for the past month... I am excited rather that worried. I am asking friends to be supportive. This does not mean buying me things. It means understanding when i suggest we get a movie from the library and hangout at my place. Lets be creative about not paying someone else to allow us to see each other.