Compactors' Club

Every February a bunch of nutty neighbourhood friends and I do what we call the 'Compactors' Club'. (Note: we got this from a group in California called 'The Compact' who have been committed non-shoppers for two whole years now!) Other than food and beverages (yes, the alcoholic kind), we pledge not to buy anything new for a month. Then, on the first day of March, or thereabouts, we 'fess up to what little things we might have inadvertently bought. Some examples this year included pillows, music books, heat packs for fingers and stamps. The idea is just to be more aware of what we really need, or conversely, what we can do without. It wasn't really difficult to do. I mean, really, economics and ecology play equal roles for me. First of all, I don't like spending money on over-priced consumer goods if I can help it. Secondly, I'm lazy when it comes to shopping, so it's a happy coincidence that Value Village is closer to me than any other retail store. And I'll take any excuse to browse in Frontier Furniture, a second-hand shop at Danforth and Pharmacy, as it has excellent bargains. Next year there's talk of expanding to three months. I'm in - anyone else? - Laurie Smith Please email us if you have a story idea.