Posted on April 16th, 2009 by Shannon
Originally posted at http://blog.calgarypubliclibrary.com/blogs/eco_action/archive/2009/04/16/abstinence-revisited.aspx
A month ago I wrote that I was going to buy only the necessities (defined as food, medicine and toilet paper) for one month to ease the strain on my bank account and my demands on the Earth. I thought it would be a neat experiment that would save me money while giving me a glimpse into the part of my psyche that wants to buy, buy, buy.
For the first two weeks I stuck to my plan, spending money only on basic necessities and avoiding stores and malls like the plague. Then one day I was walking innocently down 17th Avenue and I came face to face with my Achilles heel. A bookstore. As soon as I laid eyes on Fair’s Fair I started to justify. I have a credit there, I thought. Using my credit doesn’t count, right? So I went in and chose a book that was only five dollars. But I couldn’t use the credit to pay for the GST so I had to fork over 25 cents.
Looking back, I know it was that moment when I fell like Alice in Wonderland into the dark hole of justifying my consuming habit. It was the beginning of the end.
My next fall off the wagon occurred at REAP’s Responsible Shopping event. It’s ecologically responsible shopping, right? How bad can that be? I’m actually doing a service by buying these things right? You may hear the desperation in my voice. The fact that Janice, our newest Eco-Blogger, was there urging me on didn’t help either.
I justified buying the following:
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Two tops by Broken Ghost and by InPieces reconstructed from other garments.
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A REAP passport containing coupons to use around town at earth-friendly companies and stores (including a free Swizzlesticks haircut)
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A reusable shopping bag by Envirosax
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A copy of the The Better World Shopping Guide by Dr. Ellis Jones
The following weekend I actually forgot that I was still trying to abstain, purchasing pre-loved clothes at Value Village before my memory – and conscience – kicked in. It was at this point that I gave up and admitted I had a problem. And when I say gave up – I mean I bought more things. I bought some more used clothing at Divine and then bought my way through Himals’ 50% off closing sale. I wasn’t even trying to justify anymore.
All the while my “I Want/Need That” list was growing longer and longer at home with everything from hair clips to couches. I have about 40 to 50 things on that list, but right now I can only recall wanting… hairclips and a couch. Hmmm….
A Cochrane couple, Tom and Malora Mulhern, put me to shame and vowed not to shop for one year. They managed to obliterate $9,000 in student loans and put over $7,000 in the bank while living on Tom’s $48,000 salary. Despite my best efforts this month I hardly saved any money, but at least most of my purchases were second-hand or somehow green. There I go again, still justifying.
