Table of Contents
Introduction: How We Came to Buy Less and Share More 1
Why We Should Buy Nothing 12
The Plastic Age 12
A Clean Solution 17
The Psychology of Consumerism 19
Drowning in Stuff 20
The Unexpected Joy of Buying Nothing 22
An Invitation to Buy Nothing 26
Try Our 7-Step Buy Nothing Challenge 26
The Rules 28
Exceptions 29
Step 1 Give 31
Himalayan Teachings 32
The Importance of Having Something to Give 36
An Economy Build on Giving 38
Step 1 Give 41
How to Give 45
Regarding Gift Economies, Women, Poverty, and Wealth 49
How to Create a Gift Economy Group 52
Gift of Self 55
We Invite You to Give 57
Step 2 Ask 60
Money Separates Us, Gift Economies Connect US 61
We've Forgotten How to Ask 64
A Buy Nothing Wedding 65
Step 2 Ask 67
All Gifts Have Equal Value 72
Unexpected Connections 75
We Invite You to Ask 77
Step 3 Reuse & Refuse 80
An Experiment in Buying Nothing 85
Why Shopping Feels Good and Buying Nothing Can Feel Better 87
Life Less Groceries 90
Step 3 Reuse & Refuse 96
50 Things We Never Buy 96
Make Every Day a Special Occasion 121
We Invite You to Reuse & Refuse 124
Step 4 Reflect 126
The Thrill of Shopping 129
Step 4 Reflect 132
We Invite You to Reflect 138
Questions to Ask Before You Buy Something 139
Step 5 Make & Fix 141
Be a Producer, Not a Consumer 142
Step 5 Make 144
Fix It! 145
50 Things We Make 147
We Invite You to Make & Fix 168
Step 6 Share, Lend & Borrow 170
Create Your Shareocracy 172
Step 6 Share 175
50 Things We Share 183
50 Things We Lend & Borrow 195
We Invite You to Share, Lend & Borrow 205
Step 7 Gratitude 207
Step 7 Gratitude 207
The Ultimate Gift 210
We Invite You to Express Gratitude 212
Just the Beginning: Buy Nothing for Life 215
Share Your Experience 215
Start Over and Over and Over Again 216
Challenge Yourself to Buy Nothing Longer 217
Buy Mindfully 219
A Vision for the Future 222
Giving Networks as Aid Organizations 223
Saving the Earth, One Give, Ask, Share at a Time 226
Real-World Sharing 227
Acknowledgments 229
Appendix 233
References 241
Index 247