Buying nothing new for a year --The Compact -- could you do it?

**imagine** · 05-05-2010, 04:31 PM

The Compact is a group of people that vowed ( tried) not to buy anything new ( except food, hygiene and medicine and personal exception -like underwear or shoes) for a year.

One lady blogged about her experience at "My Year Without Spending " My Year Without Spending: Less than a week until I take the Oath...

Her blog also links to the yahoo group that started the Compact

Could you do it?

When I first heard about the Compact a several years ago. I heard nothing new and thought that meant buy nothing. I was already buying some things second hand and thought of those things new, as they were new to me.

Now I realize that they were counting second hand as not new. Well that makes it way easier in my eyes. And there are more places I can buy second hand now. Don't know if they actually increased or if I just know about more. KWIM?

So could you buy nothing new for a year?
What are your thoughts on the compact.

**hollyhill** · 05-05-2010, 04:50 PM

Don't know if I could but it would be fun to try... perhaps a new challenge? See how long we can go without buying new and trying not too?

I remember reading about the original group and some of the problems which arose... and how they creatively solved it. They did alot of borrowing of items too if I remember correctly.

**monkeywrangler71** · 05-05-2010, 04:55 PM

I did this for about 6 months several years ago, I bought food and soap/toothpaste/etc. but I think that was about it. Turns out I really don't buy much besides that anyway, so I stopped keeping track.

It might be difficult to go a whole year because eventually something would probably come up that you couldn't find used. But, for someone who doesn't shop recreationally or care much about trends and such, it's really not hard to go months at a time without anything new.

**spot** · 05-05-2010, 05:05 PM

It would seem rather difficult to travel around while honoring that sort of agreement. I take the occasional bus or train though it's a long time since I drove a car or a motorbike.

**shoiji** · 05-05-2010, 06:13 PM

UUMMMMM, have done this on and off for many years. Why, when working I never really made a lot of money. Most of the furniture I have is second hand.

**frugalfranny** · 05-05-2010, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

But, for someone who doesn't shop recreationally or care much about trends and such, it's really not hard to go months at a time without anything new.

Yes, I agree with the above. I could do it quite easily. The only thing I would have to quit buying 'new' is hobby stuff anyway. And with some prior planning I could even do it and have a garden and most everything I have now. (garden would be tough, as I do buy new plants...but only tough 'mentally')

The 'kicker' might be if something broke down INSIDE the house.....little hard to find a good 'useable hot water tank'....and that is right up there as necessity for me. Same goes for a furnace. I could go w/o my dishwasher but I WOULDN'T go w/o my microwave.

This is 'material' things I am guessing.......not groc.

**Neeley** · 05-05-2010, 07:06 PM

Could I do it?
Yes, I could.

Would I do it?
No, I wouldn't. I think it is a great thing, but it is just not for me. There are too many things that come up involving my kids that I would not even attempt this. For me, it would be a complete failure within the first month.

**lisaflex** · 05-05-2010, 07:10 PM

honestly no way could i do it! being honest here.....no way no how....

**daughter of pearl** · 05-05-2010, 10:30 PM

Sure! Just about everything I won is second-hand, and for a year, it would be a nice challenge to have to source out second hand stuff.

I'm going to try this.

**frugalfranny** · 05-06-2010, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by Neeley

Could I do it?
Yes, I could.

Would I do it?
No, I wouldn't. I think it is a great thing, but it is just not for me. There are too many things that come up involving my kids that I would not even attempt this. For me, it would be a complete failure within the first month.

Gees neeley....I am not sure it could even be done if you have kids. They are always coming home from school and needing something by yesterday!!! It would be darn tough!! And the older the kids, the worse it gets IMO!

**spot** · 05-06-2010, 12:59 AM

I'm still puzzled how any of you plan to get more than five miles from your front porch, I didn't realize pushbikes were that popular or that pre-owned gas was so readily available.

**dcompton** · 05-06-2010, 01:07 AM

Could I? Probably, if I absolutely had to.

Would I voluntarily? No. For one thing, with increasing physical limitations, shopping around and hunting used stuff is just too difficult. For another, though I look for sales, I do have hobbies that add a great deal to quality of life. And though I could perhaps go a year without buying anything for them and do some total destashing, I would not want to unless it were direst necessity.

Just my opinion, but I think extremes can be self-defeating. It's hard to imagine that a huge sense of deprivation would not set in sooner or later. There's a big difference in "rarely" and "never."

**imagine** · 05-06-2010, 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by spot

I'm still puzzled how any of you plan to get more than five miles from your front porch, I didn't realize pushbikes were that popular or that pre-owned gas was so readily available.

I think the Compact didn't include gas and utilities in their buying. I haven't heard of anyone mentioning driving difficulties or heating home difficulties in their blogs about doing it. Also didn't hear of any difficulties accessing the net in blogs about it either

That said:

I could live without having to go more than five miles from my porch.

Everything I would need to daily is within five miles

Would it be easy no. Getting Buddy to school would be hardest. He could ride the school bus but we would have to figure out a way for his cello to get there and walking with it would be hard (so I would prefer to drive that plus it is the farthest place form us)

I would also have to change where I shopped unless I wanted to take the bus (bus goes to Aldi's and Wal-mart) the Goodwill would be a long walk but the the bus might go there too. I would have to check into that. Salvation Army is a short walk though.

It would also be hard to visit out of town family. But we generally do that only twice a year or so and she is only a hour drive from here. she generally comes here for most things.

When the kids school was closer I could get in the car only when going shopping for groceries but could get those closer to home if need be.

Hubby can go weeks without having to get into the car. In fact we have often left him carless for a week or so at a time (when we go visit Grandma) He has done fine and hasn't complained one bit.

**Nada.Leona** · 05-06-2010, 04:47 AM

I could, I think, provided I am still allowed to buy things like bras, underwear, socks and bathroom related products. Otherwise, there's not much I can think of that I wouldn't buy used. Pillows, too, but how often do you buy pillows?

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-06-2010, 07:13 AM

We stuck at buying 75% of our things used. That includes car,clothes,household,and sometimes makeup,things to run the household,etc. Obviously, auto parts,food,some hygiene,medical care,petcare/vetting, and the like cannot be done this way.

I am currently reading Zero Cost Living (exploring extreme frugality) by J.R.Delcamp. He is local to my area. It discusses things like foraging for food and supplies,survival shelters,solar farms and such. It's a weird but interesting read. 0costliving.com - exploring extreme frugality. Jury is definately out on some of the ideas.