A year without shopping. Could you? Would you?

No clothes? No shoes? No way!

I could go a few months but not a whole year.

What did they use for toilet paper?

I think I could go for a year without buying clothes - especially shoes. That wouldn't be hard for me at all. Books and music would be my downfall.

They didn't quit buying toilet paper, laudry soap, that kind of stuff, jpin!

Sounds like 3rd year university to me. Potatoes, onions, carrots - chicken hotdogs for Sunday dinner. Nothing was bought that we didn't NEED. We were thrilled when hamburger and mrs. hamburger came by with a slab of swiss cheese on a visit (friends remember that swiss cheese 25 years later - we were all broke).

i s'pose you'd call toilet paper consumable

Thats a great analogy, eBeth.

So many things I used to consider luxuries are now necessities.

i bet i could do it, boomerang. but yeah, books and music would be hard to give up. i'm a targetoholic...but i could do it.

Ohhh. Target.

I would definately have to steer clear of that place.

Another thing I considered...

I work as a photographer so I obviously couldn't give up photo purchases -- but what about for my personal stuff? I don't know if I could give that up.

As long as I'm allowed to replace stuff that breaks, I think I could, so long as I was well stocked to begin with.

Do I have to give up satellite HDTV?

To clarify, that would be just me. I doubt it would work for kids since they outgrow stuff and need new things to keep them occupied. If we could barter...well....a big maybe.

Boomerang
What a great topic.

The basic dilemma is that we are all starting from different possession ownership quantities. At age 75, I have most everything that I need so I could problably do pretty well in such a challenge. But someone just starting out making their nest would find it much more difficult.

What would the ten top things you would find it hardest not to buy?

BBB

No, you don't have to give anything up - but you can't stockpile anything either.

I was thinking of that stuff that breaks too - like my car. What if I needed new tires? That would be hard to do without.

What if your fridge broke?

BBB---lemme think a minute...

Hi BumbleBeeBoogie and thanks!

The family in the article had, I believe, a couple of kids - I remember it mentions a 9 year old.

I think it might have been easier for me when I was just starting out - and used to doing without - like in eBeth's example.

On the top 10 things, I'll have to think. I know the first three would be books and music and photo lab services, but I'm sure I can come up with 7 more!

1.) Toys for the pamlets
2.) books for hubby
3.) dvd's
4.) gifts for others...we have a gigantic family...I
guess we'd have to "make" gifts, huh? might be nicer! but more time consuming...
5.) vacations--trips to beach, etc.
6.) fast food
7.) "fun" items at Target. I love the crap they sell, and I always buy it. You know, the red, plaid dog bed that your dog does not need...the lip gloss with a free eyeliner from maybelline...the giant red ball with spongebob on it...the tin of tangerine altoids that melt in the car anyhow...etc.
8.) hair thingys...ponytailers and headbands
9.) I think I'm done, actually! no number10!
10.)

Okay - I can add my number four: pens and pencils. I know I currently have enough to last me the rest of my life but there is just something about the smell of Beryl turquoise leads and black warrior pencils and Rapidograph ink and pens that makes them irrestistable to me.

I don't think vacations or fast food would be off the list PamO. A vacation is not an object and fast food is certainly consumable (but really, you shouldn't).

I usually make gifts but that includes photo lab services so I really don't know what I'd do.

"Fun" items would be hard. Do you have "Big Lots" stores in Houston? We also have a place here called "City Liquidators". I can't walk in there without wanting to buy a bunch of stuff I don't need.

I can't do it while my diabetic cat is alive.

I need new undies, and fresh towels, and makeup. Every few months, I just have to buy this stuff. Its like a cyclical purging thing. I want all undies and towels and makeup GONE, and I want all new.

I'd probably have to go into therapy if I couldn't do this.

And, Boomerang's pencils remind me-- pens and notebooks. I am forever writing lists, notes, working on stories, journalling, Bible study, thoughts. Right now, I am collecting gel pens (red, green, blue and black) and fat notebooks.

Couldn't do without these. I always have to be writing something.

Besides that, I think I'd be OK. Not to needy in the shoe/clothes area. But, I have to have my hair done.

Otherwise, I'd be happy browsing.