Did the pilgrims stand in line the night after Thanksgiving to buy half-price beaver pelts from Native Americans? Probably not.
But the extinction of beavers on Cape Cod after European colonization might have been a sign of things to come. Fast forward 400 years, and Americans now trample each other to death for doorbuster deals, making our nation the poster child for overconsumption and waste.
Welcome to Black Friday, the turkey-fueled midway point of America’s holiday consumer frenzy, where people buy things they don’t need with money they don’t have. This year, holiday shoppers are projected to spend nearly $1 trillion—double what they spent 20 years ago. Unsurprisingly, U.S. credit card debt has hit a staggering $1.66 trillion.
But what if there’s a better way? What if you could find the perfect gifts, nurture goodwill, and avoid maxing out your credit cards?
Say Hello to Buy Nothing Day
Buy Nothing Day offers a radical alternative to Black Friday’s consumer chaos. The movement, which started in the 1990s as a quirky protest against overconsumption, has evolved into a desperate call to action as climate change worsens.
Instead of contributing to overflowing landfills, Buy Nothing Day encourages reducing waste. During the holidays, Americans produce 25% more trash, adding millions of tons of packaging and unwanted gifts to landfills. Globally, the fashion industry’s estimated 92 million tons of annual textile waste only makes matters worse. Meanwhile, manufacturing contributes 12% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to federal statistics.
Buy Nothing Day asks us to pause, rethink our habits, and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. A great way to start? Join a Buy Nothing group.
The Magic of Free Stuff
Buy Nothing groups are hyper-local online communities where people give away items they no longer need and request things they do. It’s like Santa’s workshop, except you’re the elf—and occasionally the reindeer.
I’ve scored plenty of little treasures in my local Buy Nothing group in Mobile, Ala.: several lamps, two couches, countless books, framed art, and even a laminator that has laminated exactly nothing. That’s the downside. The thrill of free stuff can seduce you into taking things you don’t need.
My plant pot collection, for example, could start a coup.
Buy Nothing groups aren’t just about acquiring items; they’re also about decluttering. Want to get rid of that hideous armchair or your cat-themed egg cooker? Someone will haul it away for free. Need a quirky Secret Santa gift? Recent offerings in my group include a children’s oven, a cookbook dedicated to paninis, a spiralizer, and—of course—vases. Lots of vases. The good stuff—like the occasional womb chair or tube of parodontax—requires patience.
Clarification: it’s a child’s toy oven. Not a child-sized oven.
The best part? Gratitude and goodwill are baked into every exchange.
“Knowing these items are going to a good home makes the separation so much easier,” said Lindsay Downes, a professional organizer from Alexandria, Va. “Hearing the gratitude from recipients always makes me feel so good!”
And sometimes, Buy Nothing groups offer more than just free stuff.
I’ve heard of at least two romances blossoming after an exchange. Picture it: two strangers lock eyes over a faux-antique teapot. Sparks fly. Suddenly, they’re not just swapping items—they’re swapping life stories. But star-crossed lovers should be careful. If things work out, that teapot may end up back in your life.
Romance, decluttering, and sustainability—what more could you ask for?
Other Sustainable Options
If Buy Nothing groups aren’t your thing, try thrift stores. These treasure troves offer secondhand clothes, home goods, and unique finds. Buying used reduces demand for new production, saves money, and extends the life of items already in circulation.
“The planet is drowning in excess stuff,” Lauren Bravo, author of How to Break Up With Fast Fashion, told CBS News. “It feels more sustainable to buy things already out there in the world than adding to the demand for more, more, more.”
You can also adopt the “One In, One Out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, donate or gift one you no longer use. This keeps clutter in check and encourages mindful consumption. And don’t throw away broken items—repair or upcycle them. A worn chair can be reupholstered, and old jars can become planters.
Living sustainably doesn’t require standing in line all night to wrestle someone’s grandma over a half-price teal KitchenAid mixer. Whether you’re gifting a gently used bread machine or rehoming a novelty lampshade, consider this your call to action.
Go easy on the beaver pelt, pilgrims.