Will You Take Part in International Buy Nothing Day?

...Hi Louc74, The "Buy Nothing Day" is probably a good idea during times of prosperity, but with the recession not quite over in a lot of areas, and people not spending money as they have been in the past, it would be a better idea to have a "Buy More Day" at this time. We need to improve on the economic conditions, not add to the demise. So better in my humble opinion to go out and buy, buy, buy. Not a good time to buy nothing. Take care.

I never heard of this day before either. I try to be a responsible spender with my money and I do agree that people today are very materialistic. I also didn't know that this week was Green week either. lol. So I will try to help the environment too by not buying stuff.

Not on this day... is this right after Thanksgiving? I have already gone thru at least a day where I didn't buy anything but I had no reason to. I will be taking advantage of some of the sales likely over the next weekend.

Wow! That would be extremely hard. I mean, I'm always thinking of something I need on a daily basis. I'm not saying that I go shopping every day but I do almost everyday. I'm not sure if I would be able to do it or not. Good luck on your buy nothing day!

Hi Lou, I have plenty of days when I buy nothing anyway so I don't need an international day for it and think if everyone did it at the same time it would be a bit silly as all the shops would be paying for idle staff who would be really bored. I'm rather at the stage anyway of only buying things I really need and when I think I might be tempted in town I deliberatly set off to do the supermarket shop (essential of course) to arrive in siesta time when the other tempting shops are closed. Only the supermarkets stay open after 1.30 here and the other shops shut then and don't reopen until the evenings. Also there's less queues as more people are at home sleeping. Town shuts completely on Sundays, our local supermarket opens illegally and now and again the owner gets carted off by the police but he still manages to open 365 days a year.

it's a good idea in a way as it draws people's attention to the amount of tat they buy without thinking - on the other hand it is impractical if you actually need to buy something that day, and businesses will hate it of course. i think if it encourages people to have their own buy nothing days each week, or stop buying unnecessary rubbish altogether, then it'd be a success. like no-smoking day it brings attention to something people don't often think about.

This is also the very first idea that I ever heard about. To Buy nothing on a certain specified day. Anyway, I think I would like to give a go to check on how will I end up if I could make it or not. If the result is something that I can not get a hold on the string of my purse then there is really something wrong about my spending habits. And when I passed without spending anything from the rest of the day then that means that I have a good spending attitude.

I just heard the day today from your topic. i thin it's a good idea. I definitely will take part in it. also i would let my husband knowing it. I'm sure he would like to support the day and stay at home to watch his foodball games instead of going out with me for shopping. i also try to change my lifestyle,however sometimes shopping can bring happiness for me, although it can't last long.

I've never heard of this either, but I do have a friend who is a Mormon. She doesn't buy anything on Sundays, as Sunday is a family day, and the reasoning is that if nobody went shopping, the shop workers could also spend the day with their families. These days, this is unworkable, as so many people see shopping as a leisure activity rather than a necessity. I like the idea of a Buy Nothing Day, and I certainly have at least one day a week when I don't go out, so effectively I buy nothing, unless I may do some online shopping. It should be given more prominence, as it is a good way to teach us the difference between what we need and what we want. If you don't shop on a day when you usually hit the mall, you won't starve overnight, so the shopping trip would have been to buy things you wanted, rather than things you needed.

This is very good for shopaholics for me I just stay at home and watch TV. Its a very good idea.

I do but I have a lot of "Buy Nothing" days and even weeks. I think it is a good idea because it helps people focus on what they are buying and why. A lot of people shop for habit rather than something specific. I think in one survey they found that 30 per cent of people at the Mall had just gone there out of habit rather than to get something in particular. That's a bit scarey, there's plenty of stuff people can do without spending money let alone money on impulse buys that they don't really need or want. I also wish there were a few more days per year when the stores were closed. My sister in law always goes to the Boxing Day sales (I'd say THAT was her religious activity at Christmas!) dumping the kids on grandma and disappearing all day. At the same time she throws a fit if her employer asks her to come to work during Christmas week complaining it is "family time". The irony of this escapes her totally even when it has been pointed out to her.

Well, this is actually the first I've heard of this. I'm from HK, that's why. Interesting. I think I can do it if I'm home and if I wasn't working so then I would have to spend for transportation or lunch.

On a weekly basis, I have at least 5 buy nothing days, so I don't see the reason to celebrate just one, but it's a good initiative by itself, let alone, I wish it produces some results other than 'being nice'.