There's a group in and out of the blogosphere called the "the compact" whose members agree not to buy anything new other than food or absolute essentials for a year.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/
They call it "mindful consumerism" and don't think of it as deprivation.
Well of course they don't.
Apparently all these people did in the past was shop. Apparently by signing up with the compact they're experiencing more time in their lives! Apparently, all those trips to big box stores like Costco and the mall are now spent in a garden or school or (and this is where it gets interesting) eating out with friends or treating themselves to a special bottle of wine.
So a nice bottle of wine and eating out constitute "absolute essentials" and food, right? Where do I sign up?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/24/business/24instincts.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
I'm probably just jealous that I didn't apply the non-deprivation rule when I began this hiatus. Although earlier this year I did explore whether the purchase of ski gear would constitute clothes or equipment, unlike my compact brethren, I stuck with the plan and sewed up those glove liners for another season. Rules are rules, and if deprivation comes about because of the rules, then bring it on, right? Right?
Well who's the monkey now?
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