Buy Nothing New Month

How often do you splurge on new clothes? Once a month? Once a week? Twice a week? Four times a week even? We’re all guilty of over indulging and over spending from time to time, but have you ever stopped and thought about how much you could save if you were to forgo that habit of purchasing an item of clothing once a week? Have you ever thought about the alternatives to purchasing new products, or where the product may end up when you have finished with it? 

During the month of October, the Buy Nothing New initiative encourages the reassessing of your spending habits. It’s about cutting out the unnecessary energy in your life, not going without things you need. It encourages you to source possessions from alternative places; begging, borrowing, thrifting, swapping, exchanging and recycling is ideal, just as long as you ensure you don’t purchase anything new. Of course you’re permitted to buy food, drink, medication and any essentials, but keep in mind you must shop for things you require, not what you desire!

Buy Nothing New Month was established to remind consumers to really think about and weigh up their wants versus their needs. It’s also about making a conscientious decision about the products we buy, where they come from, where they end up, and whether there are any alternatives, in order to challenge the issue of over consumption.

The whole concept may sound a little radical, but when you consider Australians spend tens of billions of dollars each year on unessential items, and 20 billion tonnes of waste ends up as landfill, you can see why we all desperately need to reevaluate our spending habits.

Not only will you save money buy pledging to Buy Nothing New this month, but you can also save loads of time by simply shopping for the items you need. It makes sense! So resist the temptation to shop til’ you drop, cancel your virtual shopping cart, and stay away from malls, and get amongst the non-spending movement by pledging your allegiance to Buy Nothing New Month.

October is almost over but it’s never too late to implement changes to your spending habits. Did I mention there are also loads of awesome prizes to be won including $5000 cash? Plus it's a great cause. Are you up to the challenge? 

Words: Christie Sinclair