A few people have asked for more information and/or links on compacting. Here are a few that I’ve found from Google

Mama’s on the Compact

Out of the Retail Rat Race (very timely seeing as Christmas is so close)

Don’t Buy New

Living Green This article focuses on the environmental impact of Compacting, and states that there is very little environmental effect from Compacting. I think this is flawed, as the author doesn’t seem to take into account the environmental impact of manufacture, limited usage, disposal or even that fact that if an item is reused, recycled or remade into something else then that is one or more other items that don’t need to be manufactured/bought/disposed of.

For me, compacting is more about breaking my excessive consumerism habits. This was brought home to me by the fact that my nine year old daughter expected me to buy her a treat, toy or lolly every time we went shopping, even when I just went to fill the car with petrol. If I refused then we had a (minor) scene and at one point she said “But you always buy me something!” Oops…. She sees me go into a fabric or craft shop for one or two items, and come out with $100 or more of other stuff, that is then put into bags and added to my craft stash. What is this teaching her?

I don’t go in for ‘Retail Therapy’ as such, I don’t go and spend hundreds of $$$ on clothes that I wear only once or twice, but I have my own bad habits to break. And as a parent, I see it as my responsibility to teach my child that money is a tool, purchases need to be thought about and planned. The value of money is not necessarily the face value on it. And what is the value of having a cluttered home, a bedroom with so many toys that you can’t see the floor? What is it teaching her about blessing others when I allow her to keep every toy since she was two? Why does she need new toys all the time, when she has so many she doesn’t play with them all. And possibly the most important lesson, being able to say no to yourself!

I almost can’t believe I’m doing this… I’ve been considering it for about three months. A friend of mine did 12 months, a whole year, of compacting which is where I first heard of it.

Compacting – 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-or).
• To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact) . (Copied from Mama’s on the Compact)

I have decided to Compact as part of an on-going project to declutter our home, to make it easier to keep clean, find things, be more organised. As part of a simpler way of living, because we are all so caught up in buying ‘stuff’ rather than being frugal and reducing, reusing and recyling. Our world can’t handle the affluenza that is overtaking it. We are also as a family starting a “Money Makeover” and paying in cash for any purchases, keeping to a strict budget, and concentrating on clearing our debts. This Compact will support that.

So I am pledging that for the next six months, with the exceptions below, I will not purchase anything new. I will reuse, recycle, buy second-hand or go without.

My Compact starts from today, 20 Oct 07, and is for six months which ends 20 Apr 08.

My exceptions are: I can purchase thread, notions etc to complete craft and sewing projects, provided I already have a minimum of 80% of the items required here already. This includes paying for framing of some of my embroideries that will be completed in the next few months.

I can purchase my normal magazines, two quarterlies and one monthly craft mag, plus one environmental gardening magazine. These are used regularly as resources and inspiration, and read constantly!

I can purchase the fabric to make a skirt that I have been planning for the last two months. I saw a gorgeous skirt in a shop, priced at just under $200 and decided that I could make it easily. I haven’t had time yet, so I’m giving myself permission to buy the fabric (probably under $30!) when I have enough time to make it.

Christmas presents. In the interest of saving my sanity, I am making an exception for buying Christmas presents. At this time, Christmas is two months away, I am completing assessments for a course I am graduating from in early december, working part time, looking for full time work for next year and preparing for an interstate move in early january. I will attempt to buy from Fair Trade, Cottage Industry and Local Artisans. I also have several presents already purchased, which does make this a bit easier!

When I start work next year (assuming I find work) I can purchase up to two pairs of suitable shoes.

I should also add that Eddie and Dian are NOT compacting. They can still buy new. This will be an interesting six months!