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Buy Nothing Day

buynothingday.co.uk

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Re: Buy Nothing Day

#51

Post by layer8 »

jrajav wrote: post #31
layer8 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A better trick is to do the same but not actually jot it down on the list. Then you’re more likely to completely do without it.

It is possible to have discipline, and _also_ still spend your hard earned money on hobby purchases that bring you joy and fulfillment. Complete abstinence has a philosophical purity but humans weren't meant to live like monks.

My point is that if you really need/want it, you’ll remember on Black Friday without the list. But you won’t be buying unnecessary stuff just because you put it on a list at some point. I certainly don’t advocate for complete abstinence.

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#53

Post by nicbou »

Freak_NL wrote: post #40

Black Friday is one of those imported things we could do without. Did you know shops in the Netherlands are now massively participating in Black Friday? We didn't even have this 'event' ten years ago. Because of our Sinterklaas gift giving event on 5 December people would have been out shopping for presents in any case (like Xmas presents, just earlier and with the OG Santa instead of the Coca Cola dude), so in terms…

In Japan too. Black Friday has become a meaningless global sales event.

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#54

Post by Spivak »

incrudible wrote: post #52

Consumption is good, actually.

Clearly it's going against the flow of the thread but this is right. All our salaries are paid not by wealthy patrons but by the flow of money through the economy from people buying things.

If people actually stopped purchasing goods and services we would find ourselves in a depression and tech jobs are far far from the last to cut. Seems people didn't pay attention to the v in their macroeconomics class.

If people don't spend it on things they actually want then the government has to step in and spend it on things they think people want and I assume folks intuitively grok that keeping the central-planning of the economy to a minimum is a good thing. Anti-consumerism can be a good thing for you as an individual or family but it's a virtue that is only afforded to you because most people don't join you.

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#56

Post by azaras »

Freak_NL wrote: post #40

Black Friday is one of those imported things we could do without. Did you know shops in the Netherlands are now massively participating in Black Friday? We didn't even have this 'event' ten years ago. Because of our Sinterklaas gift giving event on 5 December people would have been out shopping for presents in any case (like Xmas presents, just earlier and with the OG Santa instead of the Coca Cola dude), so in terms…

Spain too.

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#57

Post by alecco »

Freak_NL wrote: post #40

Black Friday is one of those imported things we could do without. Did you know shops in the Netherlands are now massively participating in Black Friday? We didn't even have this 'event' ten years ago. Because of our Sinterklaas gift giving event on 5 December people would have been out shopping for presents in any case (like Xmas presents, just earlier and with the OG Santa instead of the Coca Cola dude), so in terms…

In many countries the new tradition is slowly raising prices for a couple of months and then do the discount. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the stupid global corporate propaganda deception campaigns.

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#58

Post by brailsafe »

Kwpolska wrote: post #16
Scene_Cast2 wrote: post #9

I actually found Black Friday to help me be less focused on consumerism during the rest of the year. When I want to buy something, I typically jot it down on my "thoughts for BF" list. Then, when everyone is having sales, I can dedicate time and through the yearly purchases. Also helps prevent impulse purchases as well.

That assumes that Black Friday deals are actual deals and there was no sneaky price increase two days earlier.

or it's just garbage that was made for the sale

Re: Buy Nothing Day

#60

Post by doublepg23 »

With the advent of Amazon/online shopping. I find there’s a very short “I need X to fix Y problem -> order X on my phone -> Y will be solved Wednesday -> resume my current task”. I don’t feel like my being controlled by the Consumerism Phantom because I ordered some new towels and air fresheners.

I tend not to go to the store otherwise except for food shopping which is ideally ALDI and a company I actually enjoy patronizing.

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