According to a retail trade group survey released on Thursday, as many as 138 million U.S. shoppers may be heading out for Black Friday events. That’s a lot of shoppers to weave in and out of. Why not try Buy Nothing Day this year instead?
Buy Nothing Day is a push to combat the overwhelming consumer issues we face here, and all over the world. It’s a push to make people recognize that stuff like family time, advocating for nature, daydreaming, questioning the status quo and more is more important than scoring deals. Of course, it’s also a push to buy less stuff; to really think about those purchases before you make them. This is healthy for you, your wallet and the planet.
Now, if you always participate in Black Friday, you may not have ideas about what to do instead. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do besides hit the sales. Such as…
- There are Buy Nothing Day Meetups happening in almost 200 cities. Find one.
- Join Buy Nothing Day 2010 on Facebook to gather ideas and support from the Facebook community.
- Do the obvious – hang with the family! Thanksgiving just happened, do you really need to go shop? Take everyone on a hike, have a cookie baking day, eat leftovers and watch movies together, play board games, plant a tree, play dress-up, sing, make some crafts or go for a walk and just chill together. It’s a great day to find a family activity.
- Get friends and family together for a homemade gift making day.
- Weatherize your home. If you can’t afford to weatherize your home read this.
- Get out a local map. Find a park or wilderness area you’ve never been to. Pack everyone up and go there. Take pictures!
- Clear out all your unwanted stuff. Clean it all and get some boxes together to donate to a local thrift store or charity.
- Stuff some shoeboxes – of course pick up the goods before Friday.
- Teach your kids to make homemade bread. Bake some extra for a neighbor.
- Organize a neighborhood clothing, toy or book swap.
- Build a recycled kite – go fly it.
- Start making plans to simplify the rest of the holiday season.
Don’t forget the real meaning behind Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day isn’t about changing your lifestyle for just one day. You should focus on creating a lasting family ideal surrounded around having less, buying less and spending more time together.
I’m sure you can think of other cool things to do that don’t involve shopping. What other fun activities can you think of?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jennifer,
I just found your website when googling “How To Bake Homemade Organic Bread”. My son was recently diagnosed with “ADD” and I am researching ways to help him without drugs. My first goal as a mother is to totally overhaul our eating and cooking habits to eliminate dyes and preservatives from our food; hence me googling homemade organic bread. None of this comes naturally to me, so I am going to forgive myself when I am not perfect, and I am going to let myself learn slowly, so that I really get it instead of getting overwhelmed.
So, the reason I am posting on this particular blog is because I love this idea of “buy nothing day”. I’ve never been one to shop on Black Friday, I don’t like dealing with crazy people. But this year we are going to be taking it one step further in that we will be with my Aunt in MA and we will just be spending time together as a family, doing crafts, talking, and enjoying the beautiful East Coast. I’m really looking forward to it.
I do have to tell you that the ad right after your blog is for an “Early Bird Black Friday Sale” for QuiBids.
My husband and I started a tradition of having a big bonfire on the day after Thanksgiving. This year was our second year but we plan on continuing the tradition for many years to come. I always thought the day after Thanksgiving was a great day to relax and just be with family and friends.