After several weeks of anticipation, (and, I have to admit, a couple of last minute ‘get-in-while-I-can’ purchases), the year long experiment in ‘not buying stuff’ has begun. As Jacqueline says, there are no hard and fast rules, and the challenge will entail different things to each of us. For me it’s about considering the environmental impact of the stuff I buy and finding lower impact alternatives – a version of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ (reduce = do I really need it? reuse = can I borrow or rent, or buy 2nd hand? recycle = some kind of creative alternative) I’m planning to enjoy ‘not buying stuff’ -I don’t want it to be about privation!
The dilemmas for me will, I expect, be around family, especially our teenage sons. I think I can cope with the first challenge, though – the eldest needs a bike. Anyone know a good 2nd hand bike shop?