mousme: A view of a woman's legs from behind, wearing knee-high rainbow socks. The rest of the picture is black and white. (Recycle!)
mousme ([personal profile] mousme) wrote2007-02-04 11:02 pm
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A nifty quote

"A big transformation for me was from consumer to citizen. Once you take out the consumer role in your life, you start to have a lot more time and passion and money to contribute as a citizen."
~Judith Levine

Yes. That.

Taken from this article. It's a tempting idea. I don't know if I could go for a year without buying books, though. I might be able to go an entire year without going to the movies. Lord knows, I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the movies I went out to see.

It makes me wonder if I could do it...
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[identity profile] elanya.livejournal.com 2007-02-05 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Lets try that again, only coherent this time :p

Things to consider here - this woman is starting from a background of having a stable two person household and income. Now, on one hand, this means that she is probably giving up more by stopping her consumption at a certain level.

But those of us who are mostly trying to keep our heads above water financially as it is are not genrally engaging in that muich frivolous conmption. How much money do you really think you will save, and how much time? Because you know, you have so much spare time and money that you're dumping into consumption now... I'm just not convinced you would really get a lot of return for your emotional investment. When was the last time you impulse bought something? Why did you do it?

[identity profile] mellybean71.livejournal.com 2007-02-05 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
I think I read something similar but the people were Canadian. I know they got aroung the book thing by using libraries. You could probably borrow from friends too.

Speaking of saving money-- I picked up a neat tip. You can buy pine pellets from the hardware store (they're used in woodstoves) in place of cat litter. It's much cheaper, you can flush the solid stuff and the other used stuff is biodegradable and can be dumped in your yard as mulch. It should run you about 5-$10/month.

[identity profile] bodhifox.livejournal.com 2007-02-05 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
What she did is what we do already. I was expecting a real stab at it. We don't shop. We have clothes for the kids, most of which are passed on or gifts from my wife's mother, and utilities, food basics and mortgage payments. That is about it. So why haven't we written a book? We weren't over the top consumers to begin with. I'm willing to bet you're a lot closer to average consumption. These people have two residences and two incomes.

I will say though, good for them for cutting back. I actually know the town in Vermont. It isn't a glamorous town. But still, two residences! I'd be very interested to see how someone went off the grid, raised all their own food, cut their own wood or whatever and bartered for what they needed.

well with children...

[identity profile] kayakman.livejournal.com 2007-02-05 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I don;t think I CAN...

but as I get older I may try and become more self sufficient.

the key is living in an Intentional Community, and having some support infrastructure and land...

but NOBODY can live away from civilization too long...

not mentally healthy....

the Zendiks USED to live here in Austin when Wulf was alive...

but eventually moved to NC and then to WV

http://www.zendik.org
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