Writer moved from consumer to citizen in a year of no shopping

**Sara Noel** · 04-01-2007, 11:32 AM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&type=politics

Remind me to find a smiley that gags, but doesn't actually vomit.

**Libby** · 04-01-2007, 12:45 PM

I agree....is that what you call a 'fluff' piece?

**Marie78** · 04-01-2007, 12:51 PM

It's an interesting article. I am surprised that she didn't feel like having less made her life simpler. I know I feel like that for myself and I have gone from little growing up, to excess as a young adult, back to realizing less was simpler for me and made my life less stressful. She said she is a born shopper though, and I must confess I am not! I like new things too, but I don't really enjoy clothes shopping. I also get buyers remorse big time now for purchases I know were out of my price range or unnecessary.

I have almost gone one whole year myself without buying any new clothes, it's been 10 months and in 2 more months I will hit my 1 year mark. I wasn't even trying to not buy clothes, it just happened that I haven't in almost a year. No one seems to notice in my family and I have enough work clothes that if I enter back into an office environment for work this month I should be able to make it 2 more months at least, with the clothes I already own.

**acidcookie** · 04-01-2007, 12:53 PM

Ugh, my favorite parts:

The haircuts were only $55

I bought a pair of green jacquard pants for $138, on sale for 30 percent off

I think excess is good ... I don't like this parsimonious, moralistic thing that the "simple living" (advocates) and environmentalists talk about. Some are Luddites -- they think we shouldn't want the new ... I don't think de-cluttering your life has any intrinsic spiritual reward.

**justpeachy92** · 04-01-2007, 02:14 PM

I agree quite a piece of fluff.

**Darlene** · 04-01-2007, 03:45 PM

How about this one?

**McD** · 04-01-2007, 04:26 PM

We all could show her up.

**slv_squared** · 04-01-2007, 04:59 PM

The book that the article was about came up in my library under a search for "frugal living". I read it. It was a huge waste of my time - I kept saying...we don't do this NOW, she's writing about the way we live NOW...my husband found my reaction quite comical.

The part that got me abou the book was that groceries didn't count as spending, and she bought OUTLANDISH groceries

**wanderinggrandma** · 04-01-2007, 05:29 PM

Acidcookie--I so agree with you---bunch of *rap. In my humble, outspoken opinion.

**Dancing Lotus** · 04-01-2007, 08:54 PM

what a bore that woman must be.

**Cricket1** · 04-01-2007, 09:43 PM

I tried to read this book when it first came out (thank God I borrowed it from the library), but I couldn't get through it. It seemed her lifestyle and mine were very different and I couldn't relate at all.

**Marie78** · 04-02-2007, 12:35 AM

I thought she had written a book, I was thinking of taking it out at the library too. I don't think she could give me new insight or teach me very many frugal habits though. $55 haircuts so she can look professional?(grrrrr....) I spend $15 with tip every few months and I don't think my hair looks bad (I would love to make friends with someone who can cut hair, but I haven't yet LOL).

**acidcookie** · 04-02-2007, 01:40 AM

I spend about $17 on haircuts now and even that's hard for me to deal with. My mom owned a salon growing up so until I moved out on my own I never paid for a haircut. My sister and I both still ask for haircuts sometimes when we visit her.