Currently Listening to: The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
As the title implies, no, I did not know Buy Nothing Day existed. But as a university student dishing out $15000 [97% of which is being paid for by my parental units], I fully intend on participating in this personally new-found glorious holiday.
Buy Nothing Day sets out to create awareness regarding over consumption. Knowing my generation as well as I think I do, I would say everybody over consumes to an extent. For me, it's all about DVD's and CD's. My personal CD collection has well over 200 CD's in it. My DVD collection, around 100. Say the average price of a CD is $15, and the average price of a DVD is $20; I've wasted approximately $5000 in plastic discs. Give or take, of course. Yeah, I've over consumed my fair share of entertainment supplicants. Don't judge me.
For others, it could be clothing, or makeup, or entertainment devices. Really, one can over consume anything. The point is, though, that everybody over consumes to an extent, and it's really difficult to just say 'No!' to that new Ellen Page DVD, whose sale price is $24.99.
That's why a day like Buy Nothing Day is magical - it really forces you to recognize your spending habits, and many of the things we buy are mere luxuries. No, I didn't need that shirt from Bluenotes last week. Yes, Ani DiFranco sounds great, but do I really need her new CD? I think what Buy Nothing Day sets out to do is make the general public realize that as long as we have life's necessities, we're good to go.
I will most definitely be taking part in Buy Nothing Day. I won't buy my meals with my meal card or money; I'm making my meals, sir! I won't be going to the mall. I won't be using my Student Card for bus fare, because really, it's like paying. I'm gonna do it hardcore, baby. I accept the challenge freely, and I know I can not buy anything for one day.
I mean hey, it's not like rejecting the internet for a whole day. Plus, I love seeing positive integers in my bank account.
No comments:
Post a Comment