Friday was the one-day economic boycott and although I’m a low spender to begin with, it did effect my spending as my husband had asked me to pick up a couple specific things from H Mart — sweet chili sauce and furikake. I bought neither item.
A single day to boycott retail corporate America is a great idea, but a better plan is to expand that day to an entire month! I’m absolutely furious with how the current administration is prioritizing big business over care for vulnerable Americans and our natural habitat, so I’m going to continue with my economic boycott. I feel that voting with my dollars has more power than the actual votes that I cast in November’s election.
My wallet votes for the world I want to live in.
Are there rules? No, because we all have different resources available to us. However, I encourage you to only spend on absolute necessities and shop locally owned whenever possible, but do your research. (Locally owned bakeries that refuse to sell wedding cakes for LGBT+ weddings come to mind. Not all “locally owned businesses” are created equal.) Avoid Amazon, Wal Mart, Starbucks, Hobby Lobby, McDonald’s, Safeway and Kroger, (tried to create a grocery monopoly) and Target.
And that picture above? I found a recipe for homemade sweet chili sauce and cooked up a batch using ingredients I already had on hand. By the way, it’s absolutely delicious and my husband and I both agree that it’s better than the bottled stuff!
Are you interested in joining a No Spend Month? Let’s collectively tell corporate America that we have the power to spend our money in an ethical manner!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
Such great points! I agree with you that we all are in different circumstances but for us we are trying to shop more locally and with companies that aren’t actively supporting the dismantling of our democracy and country.
Well put!
I’m all the way in! I might even blow the dust off my old blog and report on it there too. Love that you made your own sweet chili sauce (and it looks great in the recycle bin sourced jars).
I saw a meme that said something like without all the park rangers, bison petting season is going to be interesting. I am also so heartbroken and angry at the dismantling of our natural treasures. There was even an EO signed to basically clear cut our forests on the eve of Dr. Suess’ birthday (Lorax). 🙁
Dust it off, baby!
I’m in.
Love it!
This is going to be…quite a challenge.
Fortunately, I love a challenge. I’m in. Except for pet food which is delivered regularly and so I don’t have a stockpile. My 130 pound rescue dog has tummy issues–probably why he ended up in a shelter– and can only eat special food. (Trust me, you don’t want a 130 pound dog having tummy issues in your house!)
I, however, can eat just about anything so here goes. Aside from groceries I don’t think no-buy/ultra low buy will be a problem. And I already bought whiskey.
So you won’t have to resort to bathtub gin?
Almost as bad–I have a small stock of Everclear that I use for making my herbal tonics. That stuff is NASTY!
I am already doing a low spend, necessities only year but can easily take it lower. Among the other outrages, I am absolutely livid at the treatment of Ukrainian President Zalensky.
Ruby, I’m with you on all counts. And to add to my disinclination to spend money anywhere, it turns out that I did crack a rib in my fall on the driveway ice last week. So I’ll be bundling up, chowing down, and staying home until movement becomes less painful.
Oh, I am so sorry about your rib and hope you heal up soon.
Ouch! Sorry to hear that, A. Marie. Sending virtual chicken soup with pierogies your way.
Speaking from experience, broken ribs are nasty, wishing you a speedy recovery
@A. Marie, I am sorry to hear that your fall cracked a rib – I gather that is a particularly painful thing, and in this day and age when we are constantly gasping as what is happening in the news your pain must be doubled. Take care of yourself and heal quickly!
My local council has started a Library of Things which means people can borrow tools, camping equipment, party supplies, kitchen appliances etc, instead of buying them from big chain shops.
We haven’t been to a McD’s in years. Their food is garbage. We don’t have Hobby Lobby, Safeway or Kroger near us. I only go to Starbucks when I get a gift card and they have a bogo special so they really aren’t making money off of me. I think I have been in Target twice in the last 6 months. We do use Amazon. Hubby has to use it for work so we have a free membership. I try to shop used and locally but sometimes I get lazy. I am trying to be better about that. Also my future SIL works for them so I feel like my money is supporting him. I always try to avoid the big companies when shopping. I love to shop at craft fairs and farmers markets where I know the money is staying local.
Friday I didn’t shop but I did go to my local library. So much better than shopping. Make sure you vote for your library’s budget. I returned books and put 2 puzzles on the free puzzle shelf. I got more books and 2 more puzzles.
Before work on Friday, I got 2 huge cabbages from my buy nothing group. They were over 10 pounds each. Saturday morning I used 1 to make coleslaw. I gave a container to my son, 1 to my daughter, 1 to my neighbor and 2 to friends. We still have 2 containers for us. I used the mayo that my neighbor gave me. They had gotten it with a catering order but wouldn’t use it.
Saturday Hubby and I went to my favorite thrift store. It is church run and only open the first Saturday of the month. Otherwise it is M-F which Hubby can’t do. They always have specials. I got the cutest set of flannel sheets for $1. They are red trucks with Christmas trees. I’m giving it to my daughter who sews. Hubby got several golf clubs for $1 each and a new golf glove for $3. I picked out 4 things for my birthday in May, $7. I got a Pyrex glass dish for $2 and a new pack of silicone cupcake holders for $2. Hubby found 2 CD’s too for $1 each. They were making hot dogs and giving them out. We each had 1 with sauerkraut and mustard. We didn’t take a drink because we both had our refillable water bottles.
We then went to Savers. I had a $3 off coupon that was going to expire. Hubby has been looking for a light jacket and found 1. I thought it was a little expensive for $16 but we have been looking for a few months. I got a book too. That was our shopping for the weekend.
Today I have been cooking and cleaning.
March is always a good month to go on a grocery food buying diet, because we are starting to get temps above freezing many days so stuff that has been in our blue totes acting as freezers will start to thaw unless we can eat enough to empty them. I am not sure how we collect so much excess frozen food during the winter, but it happens every year. The lure of sales, I guess. Won’t be able to avoid buying milk, but should be fine for anything else.
Need to figure out correct pollination for the heirloom apple trees I’ve planted in the past couple of years and then buy probably crabapples for that, so that’s one thing to spend on. My landmark birthday is in a month and I generally expect there to be a promotional circus at least–I decided to get takeout to save and to get the delicious main dish I love for takeout (wish I could figure it out myself) and asking Daughter for Gigantic! Creme! Brulees! Gift wise I asked my daughter to craft me something and my son to buy me a certain fossil, so we shall see.
So. question. I am down for this challenge, and I’ve eliminated eliminated most of the companies named above. I still have Starbucks because I keep getting gift cards for them. Safeway is walking distance from my house, and they have a big sign saying they are a union shop. Are they particularly bad? I’m grading on a curve now and they definitely don’t have any claim to a monopoly where I live. Just trying to make the best choices I can. Just re-upped my CSA for next year, so definitely won’t be contributing much no matter what.
I’m having trouble figuring out a CSA for where I live now but am committing to going to the Tuesday morning farmers’ market nearby as often as possible.
Yay! I’m definitely not getting a bargain but I’m so grateful that my money is going to some lovely folks in my own community!
Spend any and all gift cards, as companies earn money off of sitting on your unused cards.
Thank you! I am, though, deliberately walking to Safeway for incidentals. Are they really bad? I’m trying to really game my spending and I had resigned myself to them as a lesser evil.
Here’s an article:
https://nwlaborpress.org/2024/12/kroger-albertsons-merger-collapses/
“The two companies reportedly spent over $1 billion on lawyers and consultants to pursue the merger, according to securities filings. But it was obvious to most observers, including Wall Street investors, that the merger was going to run afoul of laws meant to prevent anti-competitive monopolies.”
Hey, thank you so much! That’s very helpful in my ranking scheme. I’ve got around me, within a 15 minute drive, 3 Safeways, 2 Giants, 1 Wegmans, Trader Joes, Aldi, a Mom’s organic, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Aldi, H-mart, Lotte Plaza… there might be a Lidl coming soon. I’m trying to get all the info I can to shuffle them all around and make good choices. I love your website and your inspiration has led me to a lot of “just don’t buy it” decisions, so I really appreciate the time you take to do this.
I have a similar questions, Katy. The Acme (I live in the northeast) is within walking distance of my house. Acme is part of the Albertson’s group, which owns Safeway. I have trouble deciphering which big corporations owns what, which matters when you are trying to decide the best way to vote with your dollars.
My take is to control your controllables and do as much as you can to limit harm now, and do more when you can. The research needed can be overwhelming to figure out what brands and companies are owned by who and what evils they’re trying to hide. The YouTube account “Denise Conroy’s Bridges to Burn” has done a lot of research in the grocery sector (with plans to continue into home improvement and more) on a matrix that is meaningful to her (like political donations, stance on unions, corporate statements on inclusivity, etc.). Her videos have helped me learn about some stores I want to fully avoid and which to limit spending as much as possible.
Okay. I am in as best as I can. I am back living in a food desert and the nearest grocery is 20 miles away and happens to be Walmart. There is another grocery store in that town so I will try it.
I’m pretty sure I can do this, but I might still shop at Kroger because I shop in a way that almost certainly earns Kroger no money. When I’m not buying loss leaders, I’m buying deeply discounted items. For example, last time I was there, I bought half a gallon of milk for 68 cents, a pound of strawberries for $1, and a pound of organic blueberries for $1. I don’t think they made money on that transaction!
I’m in for the month and will do all I can to make this a super low-spend year. We raised a family on one teacher’s salary, so we’re already VERY frugal. But there are always places to cut.
1. I bought produce at the farm shop 6 minutes from my house.
2. Up potted kale seedlings (grown from free seeds) that were ready for more space. I gave away the extras on Buy Nothing. Spread chicken manure around rhubarb and put free compost around the garden.
3. Pulled out saved fabric, picked up for free, for DIL to choose for me to sew the kids shorts for the summer.
4. Rode my bike to do 3 errands. One was a pile of kids books from the library to read to my grandson on the phone.
5. Had guests for lunch yesterday. Made it all from food I already had, even though it was the end of the month and the fridge was almost completely bare. I made baked potatoes, tuna (it’s an English thing), chili, cheese, coleslaw and cucumber salad. For dessert we had rhubarb apple crumble. We grew the rhubarb and the apples so that dessert probably cost about 75 cents to make. We run graywater to our fruit trees and supplement with water from the rain barrels, so water costs almost nothing. That is often the somewhat hidden cost of growing food.
We’ve already reduced our spending as we need nothing.
It’s challenging when you live in a hamlet of 6500 and are 25 minutes from nearest town to not shop at Walmart. We have almost no local retailers except for antique stores. However I’ll give it a try
I managed to go the entire month of February without buying a single thing from Amazon. Pretty sure I can do that all through March (and beyond). Buying groceries at Sprouts (which is still firmly and proudly in the pro-DEI camp) but need very few with a full freezer and pantry. Am going to my local ACE Hardware franchise for a water pump and pads for the evaporative cooler. I was having Amazon send dog food and treats every month but canceled that and will find them locally. Canceled my Washington Post subscription (again!) but because they charge you for a year at a time it still has a way to go. The reporting is fine and I can skip the op-ed junk.
I cancelled my Amazon Prime (it would have renewed in September, but the cancellation is in now). While there, I researched how to cancel my Amazon credit card, which I succeeded in doing.
I researched a supplement that I had originally found at Amazon, discovered they are a Canadian company, was able (with a bit of hoop jumping that included their excellent [weekend!!] customer service) to order direct for less than Amazon prices, free shipping, and 10% off as a new customer. Feel pretty pleased about that. Thanks to all who suggested using Amazon for research then buying direct or local.
As for no-or-low-spend, I can say that is the plan – this blog has been particularly helpful at raising my awareness of my tendency to shop more than necessary, as well as increased my focus on where things are from. I already shop at a local greengrocer and a regional grocery – I have a costco membership but don’t get there often enough to justify it, so likely will let that go, as well as the associated Credit card.
I have lots in the freezer, looks like enough seeds to keep me happy in the garden, a library card and more books in my TBR pile than I have time to tackle, and a recently refurbished supply of new socks, LOL. Now is a time to focus on getting things out of my house, rather than bringing more things in!
I understand your feeling to do something and to consume wisely is always a good thing. As I am from the Netherlands, I may not fully understand your feelings to the current situation in your country.
However it seems to me that you first will hurt people working for these businesses as the owners will downsize and so people will loose there jobs. The rich owners have enough stored away to survive and live their lives without any pain.
I thought that,too,Ada. I am in Arizona.So many people work in the stores and also for Walmart Target,etc… it is a tough decision.I don’t shop often but I can see being more conscious of where we source our goods,is a good thing overall.but we must keepthe workers in mind also.
@Ada – we need those (former) workers to vote out those making this mess. Too many citizens do not vote. Too many vote against their own best interests – sorry, voting for that anti-reproductive rights candidate that wants to raise your taxes and cut your benefits has to have consequences.
Ada, one of the most important things Americans can do is vote with our dollars. As an overconsumptive capitalist country, we buy far more than we need to, in large part because it’s just so easy to order online from places like amazon, walmart, target, etc. These ginormous big box stores have steadily forced small, local shops out of business. And we, as Americans, have been complicit in that. While it might take awhile, if we shift our spending away from the giant corporations and toward locally-owned businesses in our communities, then those small businesses will grow and THEY will need to hire additional employees. I don’t think most Americans have given much–if any–thought to the small business owners and their employees who have lost their jobs when they closed their doors because they couldn’t compete against giant corporations. And yet now people are worried about what will happen if we take business away from amazon, walmart, etc. That’s a pretty big disconnect in my book.
Making March a low- or no-spend month will be a good thing. (Esp. since I had to make a large purchase to replace some flooring.) Count me in!
I didn’t buy a single thing on Boycott Friday (Feb. 28). On Saturday, I only purchased a dust mop from our store bc the Swiffer wasn’t doing a good enough job on my newly installed vinyl flooring (there was lots of sawdust where they cut the planks to fit). But towards the end of my shift, I started getting chills and aches — you guessed it, I came down with the flu. So after I went home, I haven’t left the house.
I don’t buy from Amazon, anyway, since that hurts the local merchants, esp. small businesses. Instead of buying some ceiling lights from Amazon or Home Depot, I went to our local Dealers’ Electric Supply and ordered some. I got excellent service, good information from friendly, knowledgeable employees, and good quality products made in USA. Bonus: their prices beat Amazon’s! (I know. I checked.) Although I had to drive to Dealers’ Electric to both place the order and pick it up, I grouped my errands to save gas and didn’t mind driving across town.
I haven’t bought anything from Hobby Lobby in a VERY long time, after hearing about their rotten trick to deny their female employees birth control coverage on the company insurance. I shall continue to boycott them.
I will still need groceries, even in March. Is it OK to buy from Aldi and HEB?
I’m not sure about HEB, but I did read Aldi put DEI back on their website, so they’re back on my list of places (after farmers markets and small businesses first).
I’m in.
I agree to only spend my frugal dollars with companies that align with my ideals. Friends and family make fun of me for not shopping at Hobby Lobby and Chic-fil-A, but my dollars won’t be spent there. Also, I love the fact that you are re-using the Bonne Mamam jars. Research their role in the Holocaust. I make my own jams and jelllies, but if I ever buy any, I buy from that company. (and re-use the jars ad infinitum!!)
Susan, did you know Hobby Lobby also has a history of anti-semitism? Another reason to shop elsewhere.
There are a ridiculous number of these jars in my fridge right now, they’re just so perfect!
Ive been low spending since Nov 5 and will continue. I definitely agree on doing research as I’m in a small, rural area in a red county of PA. Many of my small local family businesses are supporting trump. I will not buy from them. Also have many homophobic small minded stores owners I will not buy from them. I’m an ally and my money will be spent appropriately on what I support.
I’ve loved your blog for literally years and have never commented. Keep up the good work.
I am in as I had decided in November that my money was not going to be spent on anything but necessities.
I have never shopped Walmart because of their polices and the fact that they drive local businesses out as do the “big box stores”.
My family and friends have always made fun of me for my stance but now they are feeling the same way….
I also have never done Amazon, so I am good there.
I do use Rulers which is a subsidiary of Kroger but they don’t make any money from me as I only buy loss leaders and clearance. I would prefer to shop at our local fruit/veg market but… they take out full page ads in support of tRump in the local paper and their light up billboard is constantly spouting his philosophies.
Katy, good job on the sweet chili sauce, I make all of that type stuff also. I figure someone had to have come up with it on their own so I can too.
Cleaning upholstery with the “family” cleaning machine. We try to share all equipment and tools because we don’t all need to own the same thing.
Next up is making yogurt….cheaper and better IMO
JC
1) I did low spend last month and will continue this month, only buying groceries and gas. I do have both kids birthdays coming up, but am already being a lot more thoughtful, looking at Etsy, eBay and our local toy store and trying to plan ahead, rather than waiting too long and rushing to order something last minute from Amazon.
2) A family member passed away and left a fairly new car. No one in the family seems to want it or wants to do anything with it (sell it) so it’s just been sitting. I hate car shopping and am not at all particular about type of car as long as it works. This car is the same make, different model as my current car though and about 10 years newer. My husband suggested we replace my car with this one which I am all for if it delays the inevitable need to replace my car. We would pay something for it though but likely at a discount and I will sell my current car to my sister who has expressed interest in it before.
3) We had a weekend with no plans which was nice after so many busy ones in a row. We did all free activities with the kids including gardening in our backyard (with supplies we already had), riding bikes to a nearby playground, a nature walk on a trail by our house where they took pictures using the iNaturalist app on my phone, which identifies plants, animals and insects, and cleaning the house (they think mopping the floor and scrubbing the toilets is a lot of fun right now, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts!)
4) I cooked a big batch of African peanut stew for my lunches this week. I added teff to thicken it, first time ever trying it so we’ll see how it tastes. I’m having fun experimenting with different whole grains that I can buy from the bulk bins at a local store.
5) Checked out this months book club book from the library.
Frugal/not frugal: We needed a new couch. Our 25 year old one was slitting and looked so bad. And, most of our entertainment takes place In our own living room,lol..so..we got a new couch on a 35% off President’s Day sale. I was gonna give away the old one but my son was actually able to sell it,to a local club,and I used that “found money” to buy an air fryer,something I had been wanting for a long time.I am trying to eat very low fat, and also to cook for 2, heating up my oven all summer (in Arizona) is a bad idea..I cook sooo much..So it WAS a splurge but..I had waited over a year to do it..so, not feeling TOO guilty.. . We eat ALLLLL our meals at home..
I kept grocery bill for January at $300,which was my goal.I am now meal planning the WHOLE MONTH ahead and grocery shopping just TWICE a month with a banana/ salad greens run in between as needed and it helps a whole lot.
I purchase what I need mostly on ebay or in resale stores, but right now I anticipate no real needs in my immediate future.I feel blessed to have “enough” which is more than many can say right now, as medicaid is slashed and so many Americans are losing their jobs under the rein of the orange despot.
I do have a BIG paper-craft hobby,I do collage art watercolor and art journals and make greeting cards to give as gifts and to use for bdays etc..but I have SO MANY ART SUPPLIES…the only thinig I need on a reg. basis is GLUE sticks..where should I buy them??I usually order from Michaels or Walmart with a coupon. Probably will continue.
Trying hard to keep my handy husband OFF of amazon but it’s hard.He does all our home and pool maintenance and used to shop at Home Depot every week, now we save gas and time by ordering everything from gorilla glue to lumber for building projects, pool chem strips, etc online.. not sure what to do about that. He just purchased a %60 icemaker last week to repair ours..saved us tons of repair person money.
I htink we need to be very mindful, in all the ways we can.
AND to commit to helping out in our communities:VOLUNTEER at foodbanks, to babysit for a working Mom, to care fo an elderly person. We will have to take care of our friends family and neighbor’s going forward.. and there is some POWER in doing that.
And when Kroger wasn’t busy trying to create a monopoly,
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/kroger-ceo-resigns-after-probe-into-his-personal-conduct/ar-AA1A9kjm?ocid=BingNewsSerp
I am IN. Already stopped all the Amazon buying. Have been very mindful about what stores I go to and how much i spend.
I’m totally in. The challenge for me lately though is my children — while there’s little I want to buy for myself these days, the kids always want/need something. E.g., my daughter has a middle school dance coming up and while she likes thrift stores, she says that this time she wants a new dress. I’m going to have to think about how to handle that and some similar situations that are going to crop up. They are 13, 14 and 18 so to a certain extent they can use their own money and make their own decisions, but not fully.
Buy the dress from a local shop?
The day of Zelenskyy’s ambush in the White House, I withdrew all of my money from the stock market and put it in secure investments. We used to buy from Amazon and no more, no more Audible or Prime. I also vowed not to buy anything that is not consumable and absolutely necessary until this villain and his henchman Musk are out of office. Nothing. I’m increasing my savings and will not give this man’s economy a penny more of my support than absolutely necessary. I donated to NPR. I can make my own clothes as needed and do without. I need to buy a car this summer as I don’t have one and will be moving to a rural area from the city and will be sure it’s used.
I sold online a number of things and reinvested a small % in purchasing much needed mascara and a multi colored jacket via Mercari not a mass retailer.
I still plan to get the dog food at Costco as it’s 1/3 of the price for Purina brand. Our local supermarket chain is Crest a 25 minute drive. We do shop there however have to fill in with perishables at local Walmart.
Since I’m not working my very, very part time job I’m more aware of reduced spending.