Buying Fast Month I report

The first monthly report from the field is in. My friend's post is below.
Perhaps reducing one's purchases is rewarded with shopping karma! We should all be so lucky.

"July 2009 - Month I.

I made precisely two purchases this month -- my blue velvet swivel rocker from a garage sale and my staid and appropriate dress from a consignment store. Both were serendipitous.


The chair: A couple who is moving to Scottsdale at the end of July posted hand written notices on trees in the neighborhood that they were having a yard sale. They displayed 2 generations of accumulated stuff on their lawn - torn heavy duty trash bags served as a fragile flooring for all their things ff - a kodak instamatic was going for $5 - beanie babies 2 for a dollar - kids' books and games - The wife expalined that the kids were grown - one lived in California and the other in Arizona - We needed a file cabinet and found one there for $5. I needed another book case and there was a 3 shelf medium color wood one [no particle board here] for $7...our living room which up until yesterday had only a navy blue couch and display cabinet now also holds a wonderful, plushy navy blue velvet rocker/swivel in PERFECT condition for $30 .....[NS - young daughter] also has a stuffed manatee mom and her two beanies...So for $39 [the beanies and her mom were $2] we met lovely people and at the same time we were able to wish them well on their journey. As we were leaving,our new/soon to be old neighbor said how delighted she is that her things will have a nice home....


i needed a dress, what a mother would call appropriate and what i would call a secretary of state dress - a bit austere with a hint of glimmer for a family wedding where the overall color pallette of the female guests ranges from navy blue to black. A new consignment shop for women's clothing opened in my neighborhood - well lit, spacious with racks dedicated to grungy teen clothes, 'career' clothes [generally dreary pants suits] and dresses. I found a black coat dress with a white sating shawl collar, and white satin cuffs. The closure of the dress was a not too tacky star shaped rhinestone button with matching smaller stars on the cuffs. The dress came right to the knee. My mother would be proud and I could probably join the Secretary of State for dinner. After the wedding, which is on August 25. The dress was $14 -

Summer is not 'buying season' for me. What has changed for me though or what I have grown more conscious of in stores where I would make spontaneous purchases, [like 5 below --overstock heaven] is whether I need it or not. Not whether I can justify a purchase, even a small one -- since one can always justify something. But do I need it - and even if it is small, it is a worthwhile exercise because once one is in the habit of asking that question, the issue of consumerism and its implications environmentally and economically become a regular part of my consciousness. I don't feel particularly virtuous in asking that question and going through the mental process of assessing my response. Rather I feel content with what I have and realize that I really don't need anymore. Placing need over want also gives that which I purchase more value. Instead of being one of many it's one or two or one of three. Two or three is enough for one person."

My (NBC) report will follow shortly.