Hello! By the time this is posted, it’ll be February 28th, the date of the US Economic Blackout put forth by The People’s Union USA. While a few key companies are the targets, participants are being asked to pause all discretionary spending for the day or, if that’s not possible, to only support small, local business.
My Handsome Assistant and I knew this was coming up, but it didn’t really take much to prepare. It mostly entailed making sure we have enough food to cook for the day. It’s a workday and we work remotely, so we’re probably just gonna do what we do on most Fridays — pasta, video games, guitar, and books. Maybe watch a horror movie or two.
I did end up deleting the Nextdoor app about this. It already wasn’t great about sending me notifications about things I actually wanted to see (messages sent directly to me, for example), but unfailingly showed me every absolutely dipshit hot take about the blackout and I was a hair’s breadth from saying something actionable. I’m not trying to go to jail for fistfighting some pudding-faced guy named Duke in my front yard over his undying devotion to Amazon.
That’s just no way to spend a weekend.
My Handsome Assistant and I have also been paring back our spending in general already, partially because it’s become increasingly difficult to shop in good conscience, partially to prepare in case someone ends up out of work, and partially to avoid “lifestyle creep.” It’s been a whole Thing of deleting social media accounts, cancelling various subscriptions, and migrating to providers that are somewhat less objectionable. Inconvenient, yes, but I’m feeling pretty optimistic about it.
Even if I wasn’t, it’s just the kind of spite that I gleefully latch onto on like a starving lamprey, so I’m gonna feel all warm and fuzzy inside either way.
I’m not a minimalist by any means, though I fully support those who feel happy and fulfilled with that lifestyle. I do enjoy the challenge of No Buys, mainly because I really like developing new skills (and learning to make things is something that I feel like everyone should get more of). This year, I’m doing a clothing No Buy. I have items I actually do need, so I’m making an allowance for limited secondhand items like jeans and boots, but everything else I have to make (or repair, dye, etc.) myself. I have one or two very specific niche items that have been on my list since last year, and they’re handmade from small businesses, so they’re the only new articles that I may allow myself when the time comes. Otherwise, if I want something that badly, I’ve gotta learn the skills necessary to make it.
I want to do a No Buy for house things in general, but we’re moving a bunch of stuff around and have a whole other room to furnish into usability, and not enough other furniture to do so. So, there’s probably a bunch of thrift store hunting and scraping Buy/Sell/Trade listings in our future until that’s handled.
I’m also Project Panning all of my personal care items, mainly because I have a small bathroom and want to keep products to a minimum. (To be fair, my Handsome Assistant is a bit more of an offender here than I am. The man is absolutely Johnny Bravo about his hair.) This’ll let me see what I actually need, what’s redundant, and what manufacturers produce the products I use the most often. For example, I’ve found that I like Narayan Gel better than Tiger Balm.
I’m also not sure how to feel about the fact that I’ve become the kind of person who has strong opinions about muscle rub.
Even if you aren’t able to pause all of your spending today, there are things you can do to make your impact felt. You matter, and so do the goods and services you consume. The more you actively try to support small, local businesses, the more of your money stays in your community, supporting things that directly impact your daily life. Megacorps are cheap and convenient, but this is subsidized by the exploitation of their workers and suppliers. Bezos and the Waltons don’t need any more of your money, but your community does.
Marble Crow 