Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is observed around the world each November. In honor of the holiday, take
an entire day off from purchasing anything. The purpose of this holiday is to make people aware of
how much they consume (and waste) on a daily basis. We, especially those of us who live in
wealthy areas of North America, Europe, and Australia, are constantly buying, consuming, and
throwing away. This not only wastes money, it also wastes natural resources.

1. Make a list of all of the things you buy in a normal week. If you don’t normally make
many purchases on your own, list all of the things your family buys as a whole.
Remember to include snacks, soda, candy, video games, and magazines.

2. Celebrate Buy Nothing Day and abstain from purchasing anything. If you are not buying
your lunch, movie ticket, holiday gifts, or just shopping for fun, what could you do
instead? Brainstorm a list of things you can do with your time when you don’t spend any
money.

3. Why do you think people are constantly buying new things? Think about how many
advertisements you see or hear in one day—on television, the radio, newspapers,
billboards, etc. What are these advertisements telling you to do? Make a list of all the
advertisements you see or hear on Buy Nothing Day, or another day of the week. Include
what product is being advertised and whether it is a need (fresh fruit or laundry detergent)
or a want (a video game or movie). Some things, like new jeans and a restaurant
hamburger, could be seen as both a need (clothing and food) and a want (excessive or
unhealthy). Use your best judgment in these situations and write a note about why you
chose a particular option.

4. Choose one of the products you saw advertised on Buy Nothing Day. Conduct some
research on the product using the Internet by visiting the manufacturer’s website, if it
exists. How much does it cost? What is it made of? Describe the packaging. What’s
its purpose—is it an edible treat? Something to wear? Something to do? Is it a need or a
want?

5. The day after Buy Nothing Day, write about how you feel. Was it difficult for you to
abstain from buying for a day? Easy? Has it changed the way you feel about
consumerism and consumption? Write a few paragraphs about how your outlook might
change if we all celebrated Buy Nothing Day every month or every week instead of once
a year.

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