My purchases did include, however: a Mickey hand oven mitt for my cat sitter, a Minnie dress and Mickey ears plastic bangle bracelet for a friend's daughter, a Minnie dress for the baby I babysit, and a cookbook for our cookbook collection. Really not too bad, considering the damage that some families manage! There is no shortage of stuff to buy (though, oddly, they have discontinued their entire pet line of Disney paraphernalia) and no doubt most of it is made overseas in poorly run factories.
I obviously had some qualms about the entire trip - the lack and decimation of real nature, the poor quality food offered to the masses, the commercialism and consumption, and the various takes on people, identity and cultures that could be dubious (I am reminded of a blog I used to follow) - but I tried to ignore these as best I could. The trip was taken for a different reason than to be an over-enthused activist - my dad wanted us all to gather and have a good time, and so we did! It really was a great time, and in a lot of ways, I love Disney - I love the happiness that it can bring so many people around the world, bring imaginations to the forefront, and bring stories to life. I just hope they would continue to evolve down a more humane path, lessening any exploitation of peoples, helping care for the natural world and animals, and caring for people by providing healthy options and opportunities. It really was a great trip and our family had a great time.
Other than that, what have I spent....Ah, $27.16 for a bike lock since my brother needed his back. This is a toughie, since if I am trying to be more conscious of riding my bike more, I obviously need a bike lock, but still not a necessity. That said, it is a fraction of what I spend on gas money each time I fill up, so in the scheme of things, not too bad. I just wish I could bike everywhere and easier, but at least for work I can't. As the weather warms up, I will do it more, I am sure. That takes me to $91.66. I really haven't bought anything else that I can think of, and am pretty good at writing it down - not bad!
I will say, I am pleased with how this experiment is going. The fact that I started it before my Humane Education course is a testament to the fact that this was the right time in my life to go down both paths - I had these thoughts and concerns in my head and wanted to explore them and learn more. I am still a consumer, of course, but it is definitely making me more conscious of my decisions and the fact that I can go into stores like Ross or Old Navy and not buy anything, is a good thing. I am looking into more local options and making a lot more of my own stuff (like my niece's Easter bag, pic below!) and I like it. It opens creative doors and makes me feel better, despite if I don't make it under $365.
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| Homemade Easter bag out of a 'Freebie' reusable bag |
