Not Buying It

sandralovescats

There was an article in today's Sunday Express about a new book published.

Called "Not Buying It" about a couple who decided, for one year, that they would not spend any money on anything other than absolute necessities.

You could always borrow it from your local library. You can also buy it from https://www.expressbookshop.co.uk with free p&p

It sounded like good reading to me and thought someone here might be interested too.

Details as follows -

Not Buying It — Judi Levine
9781416526834 Simon and Schuster

"Many of us have tried to call a halt to our spending at one time or another. But what if we decided not to buy anything for a whole year? Obviously, we would need necessities like food and soap, but how would be manage without new clothes, treats, entertainment? Funny, smart and self-deprecating, Not Buying It is a close look at our society's obsession with shopping and the cold turkey confession of a woman we can all identify with - someone who can't live without French roast coffee and expensive wool socks, but who has had enough of spending money for the sake of it. Without consumer goods and experiences, Levine and her partner Paul pursue their careers, nurture family relationships and try to keep their sanity and humour intact. Tracking their progress and lapses, she contemplates the meanings of need and desire, scarcity and security, consumerism and citizenship. She asks the big questions - can the economy survive without shopping? Are Q-tips a necessity? A thought-provoking account of the pleasures and perils of the purchase-driven life, Not Buying It will get readers talking about their reliance on the act of buying and the possibility of getting off the merry-go-round. "



£ 7.99

loneranger

How would you manage without new clothes and treats? easy just become a DFW you have no money left for new clothes or treats!

sandralovescats

This is so true!

mophead

I would find this book interesting, i have beome more interested in the politics of consumerism since getting into debt a friend once directed me to this website it would be interesting if everybody took part.

http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/

sandralovescats

mophead wrote:

I would find this book interesting, i have beome more interested in the polotics of consumerism since getting into debt a freind once directed me to this website it would be interesting if everybody took part.

http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/

Great site!

I may be the only person on the DFW board who can go for FIVE days and more and never spend one penny!

Frugal_Fox

Saw this book in the local Waterstones last week.... Did not buy it - I mean how can you buy a book about Not Buying things..... Its on order with the library! At first glance it looks quite fun... I may have a go myself at doing this!! Another good way to be DF!

Prudent

There was a link earlier this year on the forums about a couple (canadian I think) who set themselves a very small income and only bought absolute essentials for year. She was a journalist and did it with teh intention of writing a book. I think it might have been an old style thread.

sandralovescats

I think that this couple are American so probably a different book.

The two pages excerpt from the book that were published in The Sunday Express were very well-written and I am really looking forward to reading the whole book.

notanothergreyhair

I bought this book recently (with vouchers I had been given, so it did not cost me anything); it is a great read.

Reformed

It's £3.73 in Tesco's I think, I had a flick through and it was all a bit dull I felt - maybe I was missing something. I had my MSE moment of Do I need it? Do I want it? .... and it went back on the shelf - will check it out at the library though under your recommendations.

moxie_2

Prudent wrote:

There was a link earlier this year on the forums about a couple (canadian I think) who set themselves a very small income and only bought absolute essentials for year. She was a journalist and did it with teh intention of writing a book. I think it might have been an old style thread.

I think I remember reading an extract in The Guardian. It was good. Can't remember the name of the woman though, so don't know if the book was evr published.