How will you observe “Buy Nothing Day?”

Here are some eye-opening facts as we approach the busiest buying season of the year.

• The average American wastes 55-minutes per day (roughly 12 weeks per year) looking for misplaced belongings.
• 75% of Americans visit malls each week. On average, Americans shop six hours a week.
• Today, many new homes are built with three-car garages the size of an entire house in the 1950s.
• We receive as much mail in a week as our parents received in a month and as much mail in a month as our grandparents received in a lifetime.” (source: USPS)

 

The Day After Thanksgiving is BUY NOTHING DAY! How will you observe it?

 

This internationally-recognized holiday is an opportunity to challenge yourself, your family, and your friends to take a day off from shopping. Recent statistics reveal that Americans spend 6 hours per week shopping. Instead of hitting the malls, spend some time – rather than money – doing things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Here are a few tips to get you started:

 

FOCUS ENERGY ELSEWHERE
Does your “To Do” list have you constantly running, buying, doing, and getting? Try simplifying your life by slowing down to appreciate the good around you. When do you find yourself smiling or happy? Pursue those activities that energize and revitalize you. Starting today, make a few conscious choices to spend your time and energy differently.

 

AVOID TEMPTATION
Do you find yourself running to multiple stores each week to get all those great sale items? Make a decision to try a few weeks without reading the Sunday sale ads. Make a running list of the items that you absolutely cannot live without, pledge to purchase only items that are on that list. You’ll be amazed at the time and money you save!

BE AWARE OF CLUTTER’S CURSE
When you spend money, you’re bound to accumulate clutter. Clutter takes up time, space, energy, and/or money without providing any tangible benefit. Consider the time and effort it takes to care for your belongings. Could you think of better ways to spend your time?

LOOK DEEPER
Before you buy, think about what’s truly important to you. What brings you joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment? Try to look beyond the initial “thrill of the purchase” and see what provides deeper moments of meaning. 

 

Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.

~ Stephen R. Covey, Ph.D.

Originally posted 2008-11-25 05:14:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1. Identify Clutter With Three Easy Questions
2. Reduce Household Spending One Coupon at a Time
3. Break the “I’ll just put this here for now” clutter habit
4. Are you Guilty of Having ‘Food Clutter’?
5. Garage Sales 101 – Get the most out of selling your unwanted stuff