and so, for me, the not-buying-anything-new 2010 has begun an ambitious idea - beginning with buying-no-clothes-jewellery-makeup and moving on to secondly not-even-charity-shops and finishing with a wholly overambitious not-anything-new-except-food!

This idea was tested and found wanting when I found myself standing at the counter of Halfords, realised it was already Jan 1st, and was buying a shammy leather de-misting windscreen cloth - my defence - my child considers it an essential safety item as I have been driving in minus temperatures on icey tiny roads with only 2 inches of the bottom of the wind screen visible as my heater is ancient....and the collection of old cloths/sleeves/newspaper had only made it more greasy and then freeze on the inside! so my teenager has forced me to make slip #1....

Jan 2nd I find myself at the checkout of a supermarket buying ONLY food and ....slip #2 - a new pair of scissors - in my defence is the fact that I actually need some (!) - I use them often for cut and paste site plans - very fiddly small work so need to be sharp - and the flower stalk/kitchen/glue covered pair I own really do need throwing away...though I get home and realise a) I could have asked around to see if anyone had a spare pair, b) there is a thing called a sharpener apparently that does knives and scissors (vague memories of sunday dinner and Dad with menacing looking tools float at the back of my mind)

so 2 purchases/slips already and it is only the 5th of Jan - however - in this experiment - the can-I-go-a-whole-year-without-buying-anything-new experiment - I have managed to look at new clothes on the website, felt like buying them and then haven't, have righteously not bought anything for myself in Matalan whilst I bought for my mother (surely cancels out the scissors at least!) and am arranging another clothes swap evening....so at least the addiction-to-having-new-things will be satisfied if at least within the limits of this eco-friendly experiment...

Next update - charity shops? do they count?! answers please to info@eco-island.co.uk and I will add to this blog

Sophie says, "Kate, in respect for your not shopping for a year, I'm doing it for Feb. X.".

Congratulations on epitomizing the conflicts of an Eco aware modern day consumer! Regarding charity shopes surley they are the flag ship in the battle against the media hyped multi nationals take over, eroding the world of its recourses, and us of our sensibilities, filling our world with materialism and greed.

Long live the charity shops! (and M&S) ; ) Keep up the good work.

Miranda. xx

Think big, start small...I like your style lady kate. Charity shops def do not count though. Reasons: 

Gives structure to the lives of little old ladies who might otherwise descend into a life of violent crime and/or drugs. (that will be me one day)
Breathes new life into unwanted clothes/household items/tat (i think it's called recycling)
Supports ill/old people/animals and stuff (though i still moan when they charge too much for things when they get it for FREE, tut!)

In short, it's guilt free shopping, possibly even halo shopping. And nothing can replicate the joy of finding something you adore in a chazzer, and buying it for 50p.

Jax ; ) x

Your clearly gifted, please keep it up--i enjoyed the chuckles of laughter your thought provoking attempts at being a greater part of the solution caused in me.

Seriously though, i really enjoyed it, i found it easy to read, interesting, witty, and girlish (in a bridgit jones way) I hope you manage to keep it up.

And when we fail we must pick ourselves up to try again....and again...

good luck
Maeve xx