Buy Nothing Day - This Friday USA

My daughter reminded me about Buy Nothing Day and made a commitment to forget the shopping on Friday. This protest has been building for years in fact since 1992.

I thought it’s a good time to take stock of my consumerism, before the family all get too wrapped up in that gift giving season. Many I’m sure would prefer a hug and some company. So as we go into the season, I’m beginning to ask myself what can I consume less of? That includes even Starbucks on Friday in the US!

So let’s all take a day without spending! Then contemplate what and why we enjoy Thanksgiving so much (friends, family, meal, chatter, talk, gathering, social, etc.) and why Christmas and other festivals that have been captured by commercialism are failing to win our hearts as they bleed our pockets.

Adbusters extends this naturally to a buy nothing Christmas. That’s going further than I want to go. Still I’m going to use it to think about what I can do to reduce consumerism, think more about the environment and what can be done for others over the period.

Buy Nothing Day on Nov. 23 | BlogHer

And if you’re in San Francisco, continue not shopping on Sat., Nov. 24 to attend the “Really Really Free Market” — described as “a giant potluck, made up of ideas, food, music, books, skills, games and many other resources” where everything’s absolutely free!

Happy Thanksgiving Tomorrow!