Happy Buy Nothing Day!!!

[tavalon]

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Hope everyone who celebrates this holiday enjoys the calm, quiet sanity of home.

[Uben]

1. I'm not leaving the house

I've been buying Christmas online now for several years. Delivered to my doorstep!

[onehandle]

2. 'I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff.'

'Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.'

- Steve Martin from stand up days.

[nashville_brook]

11. that's one of my favorite steve martin bits!!

[Scruffy1]

3. It's easy for me

I'm broke and sick, but never liked shopping anyhow.

[tavalon]

5. I'm sorry about that

but even if you weren't broke and sick, today is a consumer driven hellday.

[MadHound]

4. I understand the sentiment behind the thought,

But while we are insulting and ripping on those folks who got up this morning in order to be the first in line at a 3 am store opening, remember, not all these people are mindless consumers as so many people like to portray them.

Many of them are in a family where unemployment or some other economic hardship reigns supreme. They want to provide a modicum of Christmas this year, have at least one day where the family can be together, be happy, and forget the wolf at the door, if only for a little while.

So they get their ass out of bed in order to get some savings, savings that they desperately need. So they can bring some Christmas to their kids, their spouse. They can't afford to buy online and pay those shipping charges. They can't afford to pay full price for anything. So they shop as smartly, and thriftily as they can.

So don't lump all these folks into the category of mindless consumers who are simply pleasure shopping. Many are people who are simply, plainly economically distressed people, trying to make a bit of Christmas for their families while also making their buck stretch as far as possible.

[tavalon]

7. I don't diss anyone for going out there

I was wishing those of us who decide not to, a happy "holiday" and giving advertising to a less than well known event. I'm sorry if it came off as condescending. It wasn't my intent. Crowds scare me so I wouldn't shop on this day even if there wasn't an established protest.

[Love Bug]

14. Thanks, MadHound. That's where I'm at.

Sure, mindless consumerism is bad for the soul and environment but unfortunately, that's what supports our economy. I don't like it, either, but the solution is much more complicated than just "stay home on Black Friday." But no one should let that stop them from looking down their noses at shoppers desperate to save a few bucks.

I don't get up at 3 a.m. and stand in line at Best Buy because the weather is too damn cold and I don't like crowds. I'm also broke and will have to sell something in order to be able to give my grandsons gifts this Christmas.

No one is forcing anyone to shop today. If you don't like it, find something else to do!

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Does beer count?

There's a new microbrewery near my relatives' house, so we're going to go sample their wares.

[tavalon]

8. I think you get to have such rules

If my son needed medicine, you can damn well bet I would brave the crowds. I have Celiac, so beer would never be on my buy list anyway.

[SOS]

9. We stopped participating in this annual nonsense years ago.

No shopping whatsoever.
Mute (or fast forward) the barrage of TV commercials.
Just ignore the whole thing.

Saves money and the stress level drops to near zero.

[nashville_brook]

10. i'm right there with 'ya!!

you won't find me near anything with a cash register today!!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. The joy of living miles from big stores.

No gas used , no tramping about, no crowds.

Local friends get home baked goodies for Christmas.
Mr. d makes a killer Orange Meringue pie, especially for the holidays.

This year I am sending folks Kiva gift cards. Did not even know Kiva had such a thing until someone sent me one recently. Very heartwarming.

Having said all that, I will be curious to see what the Black Friday report has to say.

[33Greeper]

13. I'm broke and unemployed

[Celtic Raven]

15. Alot of us are

:pals:

[niyad]

25. welcome to DU

[amborin]

16. K&R

[RoccoR5955]

17. Been doing it for years.

I'm a socialist. It's the least that I can do against blatant capitalism.

[tavalon]

19. Are there many of us here on the boards?

Not Buy Nothingers but socialists? I only realized a scant year ago or so that my beliefs ally more closely with socialism than with the Democratic party, though I call myself a Democratic Socialist.

[RoccoR5955]

28. Perhaps it's time to revive the Socialist Party?

What do you say?

[old mark]

18. Haven't been out of my sweats all day, see no need to do so. nt

[sarcasmo]

20. Nothing bought by this family today.

[laughingliberal]

21. K & R nt

[bigtree]

22. I hope folks go out and buy something. I got an opportunity to work on Thanksgiving

. . . and I appreciate each and every customer whose business made those precious hours (at time-and-a-half) possible. I'm sure workers and store owners feel the same today.

[Texasgal]

23. I don't get this angst

about black friday.

Yes I shopped, as a matter of fact I bought a new refrigerator today for almost two hundred off the regular price. I also bought some shoes and a blanket for my ailing Mother at an astounding price.

Really, what IS the issue with black friday? I saved a BOATLOAD of money today!

[niyad]

26. the issue with black friday is the sheer, unbridled consumerism of the day. it is a madison avenue

wet dream, pure and simple. glad you saved money, but there are sales of various kinds all year long.

[Irishonly]

24. Happy Buy Nothing Day

I have happily stayed home for years.

[niyad]

27. actually, I am a happy member of the buy nothing new movement, and have been for years.

except for food, of course. everything else can be found at thrift stores, consignment stores, etc.

these palaces of consumerism could be giving away the entire contents, and I still wouldn't go on this day.