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.