The Compact: Is It For Us?
Posted by Jeremy in community, family, frugality, personal finance, philosophy, self-reliance, simple living
In perusing the blogosphere, I keep running across mentions of the Compact. So, I decided to check it out. The Compact is a Yahoo! Group, or one of several spin off groups based on various locations.
I could try to explain it, but rather, I will leave it up to the group introduction, which I quote:
We are a group of individuals committed to a 12-month flight from the consumer grid.
The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
- 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. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
- To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
- To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
- Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
- Borrow, barter, or buy used.
In discussing the concept with DW, we have concluded that we can do it, but we have to make a few exceptions. The group make some obvious exceptions itself, like most of your perishables and hygiene related goods. But, DW was adamant that she be allowed to purchase her shoes new and qualified the exception by informing me that she gets them for about $12 at Target. I think we can give her that one, don't you?
I am doing my best to simplify much of our home, but I am especially looking forward to the de-cluttering idea. Now, don't get me wrong, I am by far the worst offender in our home. But, I may also be the biggest fan. I have a lot of junk and I know it. I have a lot of those things you pick up thinking" won't it be great to have/use this when . . . ", and then it NEVER gets used. Yeah, I do that a lot.
So, I am lobbying this idea pretty hard, and I think we are fairly close to setting a date to begin. I'll keep everyone posted if and when we do begin.
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