GMA: Overcoming the Spending Addiction

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ABC News
Overcoming the Spending Addiction
Fed Up with Consumerism, Some People Trying Not to Shop

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American society is the richest in the history of mankind. And the evidence of our wealth is perhaps easiest to see in rampant consumerism: there are twice as many shopping centers as high schools, the average American uses 12,000 shopping bags in a lifetime, and 160,000 TV and computers are discarded everyday.

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Well, some people just aren't buying it anymore.

Sarah Pelmas and Matt Eddy, along with eight friends, swore off non-essential shopping for a year. Once word got out, they were joined by more than 1,000 others. "I think we're flooded with messages that say we are not sexy enough," Pelmas said, adding that we're told, "We are not rich enough, we are not cool enough, but we buy this really fabulous lipstick or really cool top, we will be so sexy and cool and fabulous."

Judith Levine tried the same thing -- buying only essential items for a year -- a few years ago when she realized her credit cards were maxed out. And it wasn't fun. "Not only does buying hook you into the things that are happening in the world, it gives you something to want, something to do, a goal, a mission," Levine said. Forced to fill her days in libraries and parks, Levine discovered that becoming less of a consumer made her more of a citizen. She and her boyfriend never argued about money and she saved $8,000 which she used to pay off her credit cards. In her year of shopping abstinence, she found plenty of material to write her book, "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping."

"Just like anyone else, I like good chocolate, I like nice things for my kitchen, I like beautiful clothing, I like to buy gifts for people," Levine said. "But I also like to do things for people, and I can also live with the dishes I have. And in the long run, you can't take it with you."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1870794