I was interested when a friend of mine Gauri started a blog on how she would cease from shopping for non-essentials for a year. We all know that shopping and buying things we don’t need are big problems when it comes to reducing our environmental footprint. She kindly consented to an interview for Green Renters.

1. Why have you decided to not spend any money in 2010?

I’m a full-time student and part-time credit card abuser with a dysfunctional relationship to shopping. I’ve really bought into the whole ‘retail therapy’ paradigm and I’ve regularly used shopping as a way to suppress loneliness, depression and boredom. As you can imagine, this has landed me in a fair bit of debt. I’ve also accumulated a lot of ‘stuff’ that I neither need nor love. It’s incredibly wasteful, and compulsive shopping carries environmental implications which I’m ashamed to say I’ve willingly overlooked in favour of having new ‘stuff’. I’m hoping that by going cold turkey and not spending any money this year I’ll sever that connection between emotions and shopping. I’m also hoping to create a less wasteful, cluttered life for myself, and to get out of debt!

I was inspired to do this while researching down-shifting and the real cost of consumerism, online. I came across the blog ‘My Year Without Spending’ which documents the journey of an American woman who took this challenge in 2009. She found it to be an immensely positive and enriching experience. I discovered there are many other people who have successfully completed the no spending challenge (the challenge is known as The Compact), so I thought why not me!

2. What are the exceptions?

My exceptions list is very long, which I feel quite guilty about, because my perfectionist self feels that I’m not doing the challenge ‘right’. But I figure that as long as I attempt the challenge to the best of my ability, I’m doing the right thing. Some exceptions are food, public transport, underwear and socks, mobile phone credit, the occasional haircut, and clothes, shoes and textbooks that are absolutely necessary and impossible to find second hand. Birthday dinners are exceptions, too. My full list of exceptions is viewable at my blog. Basically if it’s not on that list, I’m not buying it in 2010.

4.What has been the response from other people?

I’ve encountered mostly surprise, followed closely by support. My boyfriend is a little concerned since most of our dates have been centred around restaurant meals and movies (rented or at the cinema). But he’s willing to give it a go. When I told my best friend (who confessed that she believes I shop ten times more than she does!), she was supportive but implied that it’ll be very hard for me (she’s right). My dad said it was a good idea, and my mum said, ‘well, a year is a very long time!’. No-one has used the words ‘can’t’ or ‘crazy’, though, so I consider myself lucky!

5.Are other people allowed to buy things for you? (for example if someone wanted to go to see a movie and wanted you to join them) . What impact does this have on your interactions?

Well, a few well-meaning friends have offered to buy me things, which is very sweet, but I think it defeats the purpose. If I allowed them to buy things for me, I would be using them to enable my shopping addiction. In addition, if someone else bought unnecessary items for me, that would carry the same environmental cost as if I bought the item myself. In the case of entertainment, I would quite like to break out of the mindset that to have fun you must spend money. So I won’t be accepting movie or other tickets from friends this year. I haven’t noticed any negative effects on my interactions with friends and family so far. Boyfriend and I have been playing computer games and sharing dinner at home together, and my interactions with friends remain unchanged. My favourite shopping partner has decided not to buy any clothes or jewellery this year, so there is no temptation from that quarter!

6.How much money do you think you’ll save and what will you do with it?

Probably not much. I have quite a hefty debt, and my monthly expenses are not much less than my income. My main financial goal in all of this is to pay off my credit card and close the account. Anything achieved on top of that is a bonus! If I do end up with some savings, I’d like to invest part of the money, and give a portion to charity. I used to give a percentage of my income away, but I stopped that a couple of years ago so I could shop more. Sad, but true.

7.How is life different with less consumption and ‘stuff’ in it?

I’m only one month in, but so far it’s been a relief. By not shopping, I’ve realised the whole shopping process is incredibly stressful. There is the guilt of charging something to my credit card, the aching feet, the disoriented feeling from wandering through a shopping centre without really knowing what time it is, the loud music, the slight dehydration, having to hunt for a bargain; it’s really quite a draining process. I’ve also noticed that, instead of feeling oppressed or hounded by advertisements while I’m out and about, I just laugh at them. It’s like I’m flying below the radar and I’m no longer anyone’s target market. It’s oddly freeing. I’m also happy not to be accumulating more stuff; I have reached the point where I have almost too many things to keep track of. I’ll be giving a lot of my stuff away this year, too.

Anything else you want to contribute?

If anyone is reading this and thinking they’d like to try it, but is afraid, don’t be! Many different people with many different lifestyles have managed it, you can too!

What will be your next challenge?

No idea! At the beginning of last year I had no idea that in 2010 I’d stop spending. In fact, I was trying to rearrange my finances to accommodate more shopping. So anything could happen!

Related Blogs and web sites

Style on a String

The Great American Apparel Diet

Non Consumer Girl

Everday Minimalist