Invitation to take a Shopping Sabbatical

Are YOU ready for a shopping sabbatical? It’s January and Christmas has come and gone for another year. If you spent up big you may be suffering from the usual buyer’s remorse. Why not take a break from a consumerist lifestyle for a month? Take a shopping sabbatical to send your credit card back into the black, de-clutter your home and, hopefully, rediscover something about yourself.
Introducing “The Shopping Sabbatical”. The rules are simple:
For one month, starting 1st February 2007 (or whatever date you specify):
1. Don't buy new products of any kind (other than essentials – food, toiletries and medicines) from stores, web sites, etc.
2. Borrow, barter, or buy used.
The philosophy is not just an environmental one; it aims to go beyond recycling to combat the social and economic impacts of a disposable consumer culture, to experience a perspective on what is truly important in your life…and in your cupboards and garages.
There is no financial goal for us as organizers – the money you save is all yours, but donating it to your preferred charity would be an excellent way of documenting how much you have saved during the month. We understand that your shopping sabbatical will be challenging, and that is why we have set up an email support group. Your can post your story, missed bargain or a purchase that you just couldn’t pass by, for us all to learn from and empathise at: http://www.nomorestuff.blogspot.com/.

A similar concept has been working well in San Francisco for over a year. Learn more at: http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/.

Please confirm your preference below, stick this somewhere prominent in your life and send to me at compactoz@hotmail.com:
o Yes, I’ll take a shopping sabbatical between _____ and ______
o Yes, shopping centres are for suckers, I can do ___ months!
o Nooo, I can’t do without my regular shopping fix (but I promise to think about how I can cut back anyway :)
During February will keep in email and newsletter contact to discuss the trials and tribulations of missed closing-down sales and broken zippers (I suggest you locate your sewing kit before we start).
See you at the Trash n’ Treasure,
Jacinta, Anne and Alana
The Shopping Sabbatical team