Welcome to the Buy Nothing Summer Camp Program!
At this camp, you will find freedom from the malls and big-box stores that bring you down with the incessant "just one more thing" mentality. Don't think of it as not allowing yourself to buy anything, but instead, not needing to buy anything. You don't even have to leave the comforts of your home* for this camp and will be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find to entertain you right under your nose (games, a basement full of camping and outdoors equipment, a toddler who is just learning to explore the world, and a certain yarn stash...).
Of course, an allowance to buy groceries and a few other items found on the "necessities" list (see below) is included in the camp plan. Just think of all the money you'll save by the end of the summer!
Camp dates: June 1 - August 31, 2007
Camp fee: nada, zero, zilch
Necessities:
- weekly groceries with a budget and a list
- household supplies (toilet paper, laundry soap, etc.)
- two tanks of gas per month (when the gas is gone, don't forget about the bikes!)
- unexpected Jackson items (in case he grows two inches and needs clothes or something)
- camping fees
- one-time yarn purchase IF there is a yarn store in the Adirondacks while visiting in-laws, otherwise, the yarn stash can hold its own
- weekly stipend of $10 cash per participating adult for coffees, etc., "just in case"
- one night dining out allowed per week, and we're not talking fancy restaurants here
If it didn't make the "necessities" list, then it's on the "no buy" list and will be ignored this summer. (Preliminary research with the y&g household has shown that simply ignoring desired items tends to make the desire to purchase them go away over time.)
We're sure that your family will enjoy the ease with which simply saying "no" to spending money for entire summer will come. Welcome to financial freedom! Have a great summer.
Sincerely,
Your Consciences
p.s. There are still plenty of spaces left in our summer camp program for other willing participants. If enough people want to register for this program along with the y&g household, we would be willing to establish a blog to track progress and encourage our "campers." To register, simply leave a comment on this post. Who knows where this could take us?
::Edited::
To register, send an email to yogurtandgranola AT gmail DOT com. You will receive an invitation to our blog: buynothingsummer.blogspot.com!
10 comments:
Oh, oh, pick me! Pick Me!
This is such a great idea...the buy-nothing summer!
I will definately have to talk to the better half before I jump in for sure....but it sounds like alot of fun, and a good exercise in commercialism, local economy etc...
Love and light to you
K
I love this challenge to yourselves and admire you for it! I bet you find at the end of the summer, your lives haven't really been altered that much by it...except that you can live even better with less! I'm a firm believer in the less-is-more business. Good luck to you and have fun!
awesome idea guys! I will definately be doing a modified version once I return to MN. I can't wait to hear how things go.
Good luck!!
As someone who just wrapped a very similar (and FABULOUS!) exercise, I can tell you that you are going to love this. You will rediscover books, your creativity will soar, you will dare to explore new, exciting "pantry meals", you will wake with a sense of purpose and settle to sleep with a feeling of accomplishment, and you will remember yourselves and the simple things. Trust me. It's gonna rock!
If we hadn't just wrapped our own adventure in frugality, I would throw our names in the hat, too. Unfortunately, we're headed into some heavy spending weeks as we welcome a host of new critters to the homestead. If we can get them settled and paid for before 6/1, you can bet we're in. =)
I wanna join in! Debi( Mima)
I'd love to join. One question can we have an allowance for books? I'll buy used I promise!
Mandi
aka threebusybees
I have already been on this simplicity campaign since December and I tell you, our bottom line is better than ever before AND I have been able to retire from work...we dumped the cable TV. Only have three fuzzy stations. My second grader just finished reading Prisoner of Azkaban. My 4th grader has brought her C's and D's to A's and B's and we are playing rummy every night, eating with chopsticks gone vegetarian AND are rediscovering each other and the joy of simplicity. No new clothing for the girls and I either. If I can't make it, thrift it or repurpose it, then we don't need it!! (well except for bras and panties....I draw the line there! hehehe.....) Count me in. No swimming pool membership this year either.......back to a good old water sprinkler!!
Looks like a great idea, but with baby coming and me rapidly outgrowing clothes (and needing to stock nursery) I can't participate this time. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress though.
I want to go to camp. Can I play?
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