Buy Nothing Day
Olga on Nov 22nd 2007
Happy Thanksgiving Day, American counterparts! As a Canadian, I’ve already celebrated my turkey day a month and a half ago (and probably still wearing the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce on my hips), but it’s always nice to wish everyone a day of good food, family gathering, and awkward pauses in conversation when Grandpa Joe farts obnoxiously!
As for myself, I’ve opted to celebrate Buy Nothing Day tomorrow. If you don’t know what BND is, here’s the official two second explanation from the Adbusters website:
“Driving hybrid cars and limiting industrial emissions is great‚ but they are band-aid solutions if we don’t address the core problem: we have to consume less. This is the message of Buy Nothing Day.” - Kalle Lasn, founder of Adbusters.
Source: Adbusters.org
My reasons for participating are thus: I think Black Friday is crazy. Last night, while make Christmas cards, I had the television playing in the background. I was horrified as one commercial boasted that stores would be opening at four in the morning for early bird specials. Four in the morning?! The sad part is, I could already picture the line-up of people waiting since three to get in the doors for their holiday shopping bonanza.
It’s just lunacy - Christmas shouldn’t be about buying mom that ugly sweater from Tabi at bargain basement prices (although, if I were forced to, I would only buy that sweater from Tabi at bargain basement prices). It should be about spending time together.
Yes, I buy Christmas gifts. Yes, I probably spend more than I should. I’m not saying that I’m above consumerism. I’m saying that this type of excessive consumerism is ridiculous, though. I’m not pointing my finger at YOU, I’m pointing my finger at US. We’re all guilty of spending way too much money on crap that we don’t need or can find secondhand. Couple that with the fact that most Americans and Canadians have a heavy debt load there’s just no reason for us to be battling each other for the last Tickle Me Elmo, especially if it means enough credit card debt to last until next Christmas.
I love Christmas. A lot. A couple of years ago, I did exactly what I’m against doing now. I maxed out my credit card on expensive gifts for my family. I did it out of love for my family but I’m sure they would have been just fine with getting something cheaper or nothing at all from me. My family has a history of debt and poor financial decisions and I’m sure that if I made it clear that I didn’t want to go down that path for the sake of a few new trinkets for everyone, they would have been overjoyed to hear it, my mom especially. Instead, I did what a lot of other people did - closed my eyes and put off opening my credit card bill until well after the holiday. I was still paying off that debt this summer!
I hate the fact that Christmas gifts are now mandatory and I feel as though I need to buy more than one gift per person in order to validate my feelings for them. If I see one more commercial where an iPod makes a better gift than a handwritten love song I’m going to cancel Christmas.
Of course, I can’t really cancel Christmas. I’m only one person. In Canada, no less. This type of thing can’t be changed by one person. However, if you participate in BND you can actually make a difference! The more people that spend less money on BND, the better. After all, they can’t call it Black Friday if no one shows up to the shops, right?
It’s not a easy battle, but BND is a small gesture in the right direction. People need to start thinking about more than just consumption because there are bigger things at stake. Especially when they can’t afford it. Live within your means, people. I’m just starting to figure that out now and it’s not an easy task.
Anyway, that’s just my $0.02! I’d be interested to know your thoughts - are you shopping tomorrow? Do you intend on showing up to any early bird specials? What are your reasons for shopping tomorrow? Are the sales really that good?
On a completely different note entirely, I have just signed up for Technorati. We’ll see how well this goes!
Filed in Consumerism | 6 responses so far
Destiny Nov 23rd 2007 at 12:43 pm 1
Ah, Buy Nothing Day sounds more fair than Black Friday. Even though I can’t really buy anything, I still want to buy something!!! Lol
Lol… I can never imagine to cancel Christmas… that commercial is definitely annoying though, where he tries to sing. Who even thought of that commercial??? They should be on trial!!
Kya Nov 23rd 2007 at 08:44 pm 2
I have to confess I am a crazy shopper. If I have money I always feel like I have to spend it, and I want things so badly sometimes I convince myself it will be okay this one time, then buy more then I should. It’s an ugly habit. But sometimes I can be really good and surprise myself, but those moments are rare.
I love to buy presents for people but what I love more then anything is having people in my life that matter and that I care about so deeply that just seeing or hearing from them makes me smile, and knowing that they think of me the same way and no matter what they would love and support me. The love of friendship and family just brightens everything. If it wasn’t for that, I probably wouldn’t have it. I am not religious in that way, so it’s only the celebration of people that I am doing it for.
If I was able to, I would love to buy gifts for people that made them truly happy. But sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is the simplest and the free. A Christmas card with kind and beautiful words, a phone call wishing all the best or even a hug and a kiss. I love making special gifts like poems and stories for people, I know they appreciate that.
I am getting slightly off the mark here. People need to contain themselves and realize that that the place they are in is a reality. (I should probably be taking notice of myself here) Many people do go crazily overboard and end up in a bad situation. No body wants that, and I can imagine I would feel terribly guilty if someone that brought me a lovely gift ended up In financial trouble.
People can be kind and generous and sometimes too much so, especially if they are confronted with a good deal at the perfect price. Lets not be buying the love, get down and be makin’ da luuuve.
I am finished.
Kathy Nov 24th 2007 at 12:11 am 3
I failed at BND - I bought the Joy of Cooking for you know who.
Jamie Nov 24th 2007 at 06:38 pm 4
I did not buy anything on Black Friday as I, too, think the whole idea is ridiculous and quite stupid! I love buying gifts for people but I have a limit that I spend on each person and stick to it as much as possible. I’d rather make people stuff, which is why I am learning to knit, because I think it’d be much more meaningful if I could make scarves, sweaters, blankets, etc.
Hannah Nov 25th 2007 at 10:48 am 5
I have honestly never heard of Black Friday. An American/Canadian thing? If so, my being English, can I be excused for not knowing of it?
I hate the fact that Christmas has turned into a time for recieving, and not as it always was, a time for giving. I think that everyone should be happy to recieve even one present - think of all those who don’t.
Carolynne Nov 26th 2007 at 01:04 am 6
Well I only found out about BND right now from reading your blog…but I didn’t go shopping on Friday, so I feel good. I agree that Christmas is getting ridiculous when it comes to giving gifts. Christmas is about family and that is the way it should stay. I hate that it turns into a battle of who get the best presents. *sigh* I can’t believe there is actually a Black Friday…it’s quite sad really that people would get out of bed at 3 am to line up at a store to buy gifts. What is the world coming to. :\