Save now, buy never
Published November 21st, 2008That’s the headline the Washington Post gave my new piece.
Really, it’s fun to shop for holiday gifts. Also nice not to (especially if you’re expecting a pink slip or foreclosure notice). The Sunday Outlook section will — I think — have some funny tips.
The big question (not addressed in this piece) looms: now that Mom & Pop’s agenda is also Mother Earth’s (cut consumption), the grow-grow-grow economy is the odd one out. Something’s gotta give.
I’ll have to read your book; I like the idea and it meshes well with my own philosophy of anti-consumerism. I embarked on a similar mission as yours five years ago. I have found it helpful to stem the urge to shop by getting rid of all the enticements that vendors throw our way to get us to buy things. So I stopped taking the newspaper, cancelled my Time and Newsweek subscriptions, and got rid of the TV (yes, no TV for the last five years). And I don’t miss any of that since the Internet has filled in nicely for my keeping up with what is going on in the world.
Now maybe I should write a book about my experiences as well . . .
Comment by wowser — November 23, 2008 @ 5:25 am
WaPo!
And you’re such a delightful stylist. Who says “forwent” anymore?!
I Google searched it, subtracting the phrase “past tense,” and there were only 400-some hits.
I’m very sorry to have to forego your stupefying latke lipid fest this year. But thank you for thinking of me.
XO
Comment by Alison — November 23, 2008 @ 7:38 pm