The Compact

Have you heard of The Compact? It's a group of people from San Fransisco that started a social movement of sorts, last year. In 2007 they pledged to not buy anything new for one whole year.

The objective of the group:

To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc.

To reduce clutter and waste in their homes.

To simplify their lives.

The main principles of the group are:

1. Not buy new products of any kind (with exception for sanitary and health reasons
2. Borrow, barter, or buy used

I've been thinking that this is something I would like to try, and for the past few weeks I've been trying to convince The Husband that this is something we CAN do, and might even have FUN doing. I'd like to add to my objective list, to save money. I imagine myself rolling around in a pile of dough like Scrooge McDuck after this year!!! Think we can do it?

I've been giving it a try for a few weeks now, and have done well. The only thing purchased new by our family were Mother's Day cards. The Husband had not agreed to the project yet (he still hasn't, but I'm working on him) and was convinced that the added stress of making cards was not something I needed to do, so he made the Target purchase.

Here is a story from the Star Tribune about a family from Waconia that gave it a try.