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December 29, 2006 Unshopping 
The Other Andrea had a recent post on unshopping (and MadHatter/One Plus Two Jen, I hope you're reading this because I think it would fit well in your Just Post for a Just World series) that I thought was not only a great idea, but also illustrated with a nifty graphic.
The other Andrea is good at nifty graphics. Anyway. I also know what would happen if I decided to commit to a month-long shopping fast. Week One: Hey, no sweat! I could do this all the time. Week Two: Goddammit I want that magazine. Ooooooh I want that magazine. And that book! I want that book! And look at the pretty new scrapping paper which is going to be sold out by next month. Waaaaah. Week Three: Less than two weeks to go. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. I DO NOT need a new lipstick. I don't even wear lipstick. Why do I want to buy lipstick, for crying out loud? Week Four: *whimpering* Week Four Plus One Day: Thank god, it's over. I have my list all handy. Let's shop! Oh, wow ... how did I spend that much money in seventy-two minutes? One of the many ways in which my brain does not work properly is in its reactions to any perceived restriction: as soon as I get into "I can't/I shouldn't/I won't" thinking--I do. It doesn't matter what the area is. I have to convince my brain that it wants to make whatever change I'm contemplating, that it's going to be fun and enjoyable and better for me and lead to an improved quality of life, that I'd do it anyway even if it weren't the right thing to do. I learned this ten years ago when recovering from a binge eating disorder, which followed a similar pattern: Day One: I am disgusting. That's it! Only 1200 calories tomorrow. And for the rest of the week. Day Two: I have never been so hungry in my entire life. Day Three: If I don't eat something containing chocolate and something else containing grease and salt right now, I will die. Day Four: I am dying. I am dead. Day Five: *eats and consumes an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies, half of it in dough form, then goes out to buy a bag of potato chips and eats that, too.* Day Six: I am disgusting. How did I get over this? I never, ever diet or attempt to restrict my calories or food choices in any way. As long as I know I can have a chocolate chip cookie whenever I feel like it, I don't crave them, and I don't binge on them. I also don't eat or bake them often anymore. When I want to make a dietary change, it has to be something I want to do, something I genuinely believe is adding to my life instead of taking away from it. (Which, come to think of it, might be one reason the Diet Coke thing has been such a tough nut to crack.) So I know a month-long unshopping fast would be a bad idea for me (though I want to point out that I think it's a fabulous idea for anyone whose brain doesn't work in these frustrating binaries) because at the end of the month, I'd end up buying everything I'd wanted in my "month off," plus. But the idea fits in so neatly with my anticonsumerist bias and my belief that our overconsumption here in the West is pretty well destroying life on earth as we know it that I want to figure out how I can participate. Fruitfully. Not that this is new. I've been committed to reducing my consumption patterns for a while now. Fiving is part of that (what I give away, I can't use to buy things for myself). So is not buying consumer magazines or watching a lot of television. People like to get all pissy about the idea that advertising might work and, you know, make you believe that you need things like a different shape of water bottle for each kind of workout. If it didn't work, of course, there wouldn't be an advertising industry. The existence of the industry and the tremendous amount of money poured into it is proof of its efficacy. But if you don't believe me, eliminate ads from your life for a month. Don't buy consumer magazines and don't watch television (that will eliminate most of them, though there are a lot outside of your control, like bus shelters and billboards). When I don't pay people to tell me what I should want, I don't want as much. I still find myself buying more than I want to, though. Which sounds odd, because if I don't want it, then why do I buy it? It always seems like a good idea at the time. It's only when I bring it home that I realize--goddammit, snookered again. I think what I'll do instead is this: I'll sit down and make a list of consumer purchases that make me feel good (like books--have you seen the new WorldChanging book?--or music online) and consumer purchases that make me feel like shit. I'll set up a savings goal that can't be achieved if I don't curtail and a target date, and I'll see how that works. I'll see if I can shortcircuit the part of my head that screams "starvation imminent! hoard! hoard!" whenever I try to take something away from myself by convincing it that I am actually adding to my life. Once I've figured out the mechanics of it, I'll post again. Posted by Andrea at December 29, 2006 11:21 PM under The World EMAIL this entry (comments fields are below this section) Comments i love this. and it's so true. 9 and .5 tenths of it is in my head. about the choice rather than what it is that i am choosing. about not feeling restricted in my restrictions. let me know when you have it figured out. and thanks for the nudge..especially with the Just Posts just around the corner. Posted by: jen at December 30, 2006 1:32 AM
I too am not into denying myself things just for the sake of it. I haven't tried it, but I've mulled over the idea of saving - either as cash or in a savings account - the amount of money I don't spend on whims or random crap. I'm not so much an unshopper as a nonshopper. I've bought things off T.V. ads perhaps three times (with nice results, no regrets or waste, as I recall). While I watch T.V., I don't usually watch or pay attention to the ads. It's easier for me to concentrate if I have something to ignore. Ads are white noise. A hardcore multitasker, I will watch another channel or a tape (and then I can FF the ads!), use the computer or, for my favorite shows, make sure I don't miss the action by reading during commercials. That last was a key to remaining a voracious reader through my teenage years. I miss being able to arrange the rest of my life around the books as opposed to the reverse, which is my current state. Posted by: ~Macarena~ at December 30, 2006 3:27 AM
A month seems a bit too long. I'll admit to having an addiction to eBay and Thai Crafts Warehouse. When I have a few spare bucks (rare these days.. LOL), that is where they go. The idea is a good one ~ to be more mindful of how we spend ~ but a full month is too long.
~Chani Posted by: Thailand Gal at December 30, 2006 2:28 PM
I don't think I could go a month. I would be like you, all angsty and tempted to binge partway through. I will readily admit that I have a very conspicuous-consuming addiction to the crafting supplies. I seem to buy and buy and buy. Lately, though, I have been using almost all of whatever I buy. It's not like it has been sitting unused. I made a big project for my Secret Spoilee, and I made tons of holidays cards. I do, however, need to rethink seriously my attitude of gross overspending on the whole. I need to do more saving, and more giving to charity. Posted by: KLee at December 30, 2006 2:59 PM
Perhaps in lieu of committing to white-knuckle "not spending" for a month, you could commit to "observing" for a month -- which is what I plan to do. (Not unlike my participation in The Compact's challenge.) No changes in your spending habits required. Just for a month, anything you spend outside of what you deem to be "essentials" gets documented -- here or elsewhere. No need to beat one's self up. Just a need to be aware. My two cents, as it were. Posted by: Miche at December 30, 2006 3:07 PM
Oh YES! Just tell me I can't do something and like a flash, I'm the man. So to speak. This is my trouble with dieting. However, fortunately WW has this "you can choose to eat anything you like" sort of philosophy. So yeah, it's all about "I choose to do/not do" and then I'm golden. Once my brain wrapped itself around this idea for dieting, I suddenly got it for spending, too. Usually. ;) Oh, yeah, and becoming a listmaker. List out my menu, list out my shopping list and stick to it. Being a grown-up can be tough. ;) Anyway... I do love this idea of less consumption-more reuse-need v.want. I took that quiz and discovered I'm not as green as I thought I was. If everyone lived like me, it told me, we'd need one and a half planets. Talk about a kick in the pants. So there's my New Year's Resolution. Great post! Posted by: Ravin'PictureMaven at December 30, 2006 6:04 PM
So much of this sounds like my "How Capitalism Keeps On Winning" series. Consumerism always gets me despite my better self. Funnily enough, blogging (and having a poor sleeping toddler) has cut down my consumerism hugely b/c it has all-but removed me from the advertising realm. BTW, keep in mind that you will be able to nominate whoever you like for a Just Post button (I don't like to use the word award). We'll be writing up details in the next few days. Posted by: Mad Hatter at December 30, 2006 8:32 PM
Andrea - Were you channelling the way I act at Chapters? SCARY. I think we must both have book/paper/magazine addiction. I think you raise so many great points here -- especially about how total denial always backfires. Sadly, I suck at moderation. Posted by: Ann D at December 30, 2006 8:43 PM
Sounds like you're feeling better, Andrea! Here's hoping. I don't shop much so I should sign up for this one, I could do it! My primary weakness is groceries. Isn't that odd? I'm always thinking: strawberries in January, I bet they taste terrible and were shipped from the other side of the earth but oh, fresh strawberries in January! Or avocados or grapes or baby lettuce or whatever. Posted by: Jennifer at December 31, 2006 12:13 AM
A note from "the other Andrea" here. :) I hope more people try to take on this challenge, or as Miche suggests, at least tries to observe their spending habits for the month. Some easy things to do: Much like dieting, it requires a little thought and planning. And mind over matter! :) Posted by: andrea from the fishbowl at December 31, 2006 10:16 AM
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