Celebrate Buy Nothing Day responsibly -- November 23

Posted Nov 12th 2007 5:45PM by Zac Bissonnette
Filed under: Personal Finance

I always complain that holidays are a rip-off being perpetrated by corporate America -- families that can't afford it run up credit card debt so that their kids can have the same video games other kids have. The cessation of holidays would do wonders for our collective wallet -- maybe the Jehovah's Witnesses are onto something.

But here's a holiday that would actually be good to celebrate: November 23 -- National Buy Nothing Day.

As the website points out, there are a lot of great reasons to celebrate: buying less is good for the environment, good for your house (less clutter), and great for your wallet. Plus, some research suggests that owning lots of consumer goods just makes you want more. They even recommend celebrating with a ritual called the "Whirl-Mart":

This activity has the advantage of being most likely to piss off security personnel. You and nine of your closest friends silently drive your shopping carts around in a long, inexplicable conga line without ever actually buying anything.

I can't wait for Buy Nothing Day, and I'm going to try to get everyone I know to participate.

Tags: shopping, Thanksgiving

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-12-2007 @ 9:59PM

Brockage said...

A conga line of non-shoppers, ah huh, -- the children have taken over the asylum from the inmates. I hope they schedule it since I go to Wal-Mart for real things that I really need and would rather not have to deal with morons making a gesture of some kind.

11-13-2007 @ 10:41AM

Jerry Jones said...

The Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly "on to something" when it comes to Xmas, holidays, and $$$$$.

The following website summarizes over 285 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers due to holidays etc.

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES

http://jwemployees.bravehost.com