Could you live without buying anything new for a year?

United States
January 8, 2007 12:55pm CST
Yesterday there was a couple being interviewed on a television show. They vowed not to buy anything new. I cannot recall how long they said they would do this. They are reusing items, recycling, and using freecycle programs to find the items that they need. Could you live for a year without buying anything new (clothes, household items, etc)? What methods would you use to get the items you would need to run your household?
17 people like this
113 responses
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
8 Jan 07
If you had a garden, you could grow some of your own food, and if you had a freezer, you could stock up on meat for a very long time. I could get by without buying new clothes and such, but how in the world would you get by without toilet paper and stuff like that?
• United States
8 Jan 07
That is a really good point - you can't buy used toilet paper!!
• United States
8 Jan 07
ahh but you can use fabric toilet paper :)
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jan 07
Of course you could always use the Sears catalog!
2 people like this
@bjone6 (348)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Even if they don't make it for a year, it still in an impressive goal. I would definetly use the freecycle programs. It's done awesome for our family. I believe that I would have to start using a barter method though after a while. Trade in a lot of DVD's for a new one, trade in a lot of clothes for new ones. There are tons of websites that do this type of barter system.
4 people like this
• United States
8 Jan 07
Yeah - I use craigslist.org - it is a great site to get ride of stuff you don't need and get things that you do need!!
3 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
8 Jan 07
church rummage sale - lots of good items can be found at the church rummage sales.
We normally live pretty much without much new. You don't count groceries do you? We buy things at Church Rummage Sales and have a free clothing bank in town. We freecycle also. We garden so that helps us with food. We are well aware anytime any new things gets into our house.
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jan 07
I personally try to buy everything I can used. I wouldn't buy used underwear though, but I bet if I needed to then I could sew my own.
3 people like this
• United States
9 Jan 07
Used undies, hahahah. I wear such thin thongs, my hubby calls them floss. Can you imagine using used floss? :)
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jan 07
I would have to draw the line on used undies too.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Jan 07
I think using actual floss would be painful after awhile exspecially if you didn't realize that you bought the flavored floss..lol
3 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
8 Jan 07
At first, when I saw the title of your post, I was trying to figure out how anyone could survive without buying _anything_ for a year *laugh* Then, of course, I realized that you meant only brand new items could not be purchased. As long as you aren't counting food, yes, I do believe that it's entirely possible to go without biying anything new for a year. I'd never considered doing it, but I _love_ the idea! I also should look more into Freecycle, who you mentioned in your post, as I have heard of it before and it sounds like an amazing organization! ^_^ I wish that I had seen the television program that you were talking about.. I would love to hear more about this couple and what they are planning to do! ^_^
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Yes, I could as long as there was money to pay the mortgage and car payment. We live in the country and have a ready supply of coal for heat and cooking. I have food stored. I think I have enough for a year. We have our garden seeds and always raise a garden. We preserve by dehydrateing and canning meats, veggies and fruits. I am a county cook so yes we could. I only worry about the bills that we have. We only have 3 55 gallon drums of water stored. That would only last a couple months. Our lifestyle would change some but I firmly believe we could make it as long as we did not loose our home. Our mortgage is over 600 a month. I have plenty of baking soda to brush our teeth and clean with. I have plenty of vinegar for sanitizing ....I had probably check on the vinegar..I may have to restock my supply. I use alot of it in my laundry and I also use it to clean windows. Could you do it?
3 people like this
• United States
8 Jan 07
No honestly, I doubt that. I am sure I would need shoes or clothes, and want it new. The car may need repairs, or the house may need something important. So, I cannot go a year without getting anything new, nor would I know what to do.
3 people like this
@gifana (4833)
• Portugal
11 Jan 07
Yes and No. I could live forever without buying anything new and not think anything of it. Ooops, forgot about my computer. If I had to buy anything new it would be only for my computer which would allow me to stay in myLot without missing a beat. The only new clothes I have are gifts for Christmas and my birthday which my close friends give me. My clothes don't wear out nor, to me, go out of style. So there you have it.
1 person likes this
• Canada
8 Jan 07
I couldn't do it because I don't trust strangers enough to use already used stuff. I got a lot of bum deals from yardsales. I can't even trust my own father to give me something used!! When someone in his family has something defective they want to throw away, they give it to ME because I should be greatful!! AARRGGHH!!!! I think there's a REASON why they wnat to get rid of it, and because there is a reason, I don't want to have to bother with it!!
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jan 07
My family once did the same with me. They would give me everything. I was the poor single mom raising 4 kids. What a collection of junk I had to toss out when we moved.
• United States
9 Jan 07
There is a really cool online blog about a study group who has made a compact to do this. They're on their second year of it. Here is the link for it: http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/ Personally, I don't know if I could do it. I have two special needs kids and just getting to the grocery store can be hard, much less having time to dig through thrift shops for what we need. I shop a whole lot online.
• Pakistan
11 Jan 07
no way! i always need more clothes...shoes and accessories for every season.....
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Great discussion.. That would really be awesome to try. I am sure I would end up buying some items. But if you really stuck to it I believe it can be done. I think I could do it. I live with my mother however and she would never go to it. I am still trying to train her in the ways of recycling and reusing...lol I got a lovely water cooler, with hot and cold water from a local freecycler and she wouldn't use it because it came from someone elses house. No matter how much I told her that I cleaned it myself...etc. No she would have no part of it. So anything like that or that my mother won't accept so while it wouldn't work here. I think I could do it if I lived somewhere else. I do try to find things used before buing it new whenever possible though. Here is a link to FreeCycle though if someone is interested. It's been very helpful for me. You just have to look for a group near you or if you want you can start your own group in your area... Good luck everyone. http://www.freecycle.org
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
11 Jan 07
For me it is highly impossible to live without buying anything and especially clothes and i like purchasing a new things for the house hold and keep house clean and neat.
• United States
8 Jan 07
I don't know if I could do it or not - I could try, but I my backyard isn't big enough to grow food, so that would be a problem. I like the idea of buying used as much as you can - but some things you have to buy new (underwear, toilet paper). Good for them that they are giving it a shot!!
3 people like this
@mystikel (577)
• Australia
9 Jan 07
it would be hard to do. I use the freecycle site and have received a lot of great stuff as well as recycle some of the items I no longer need. I love going to op shops and finding bargains there. But nothing new for a whole year hmmm dont think I could do it, not with kids anyway
1 person likes this
@riskey58 (248)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I know I could go without buying clothes for a year. Because I have already done that. But as far as household items and personal items I really do not that I could go that long.
1 person likes this
@hazeter (670)
• Philippines
9 Jan 07
i dont think that a person can live without buying anything. For me as a person we have our daily needs and ofcourse if u dont buy anything for a year, wow its impossible for me i think but i respect others opinion as well.
1 person likes this
• India
9 Jan 07
It is difficult ... But it is not impossible....
1 person likes this
@xcmatx (173)
• United States
9 Jan 07
That seems extremely hard for anyone to do, i know i wouldnt be able to do that. I guess one method of getting around that would be to borrow items or rent, if that counts.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Jan 07
it is not compulsion but ye i like to buy some memorable thing .
1 person likes this