Comments on: Can You Go a Week Without Buying Anything?

By: laly

laly — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:01:25 +0000

Come on guys!

That was a cute, if ever pointless, story.

I’m sure he got paid for writing it…

While we are still arguing about the inherent value, or lack thereof, of this, somewhat, stupid story…

He’s already banking on the next one.

Laughing all the way…

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:30:18 +0000

This is so wierd. On my ride home this morning, I was thinking about trying to do something almost exactly like this. (But I’d have to buy gas)

By: stormie24

stormie24 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:38:41 +0000

I think this would be a neat project to try out to see just how much money I spend in a week and whether those things are worth it or not. I also didn’t like how he differed the payments to the next week, but that’s just me being picky.

By: Peeves

Peeves — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:22:13 +0000

Wow y’all..he constantly says he is a jerk (not in those exact words) and illustrates that his project was ludicrous at the very beginning with the squash game. Loosen up and get what he’s trying to say. He has a child, I mean..obviously it was going to fail but he did it as an experiment with himself..to show himself how ridiculous it is at times to be tight when you have a family and a social life. His expenditures aren’t large..he isn’t someone who is an average consumer.

This was funny, quick and awesome. Relatedly, I definitely go weeks without actively spending money on anything besides bulk food.

By: Courageous Grace

Courageous Grace — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:52:19 +0000

I agree with everyone else who is saying how much of a jerk this guy seems to be. Even as a stay at home mom who rarely goes out anywhere, I still spend $ every week. Baby’s gotta eat. Fresh produce only lasts so long. Bills all the time.

By: red

red — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:50:31 +0000

I’m not particularly miserly, but I definitely allow my inherent laziness help me save money. Ie, I’ve been using shampoo sample packets for about 2 weeks now because I’ve been too lazy to go out and buy another bottle. I knew all those packets would come in handy!

By: Miss Cellania

Miss Cellania — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:45:20 +0000

I don’t think he was attempting to be “pretend poor”. I think he was just examining his spending habits. Still, he cheated so much even his personal experiment was for naught.

By: ristintin

ristintin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:48:02 +0000

Really now, not a cent.
Lame!
He had his wife to buy food and probably cook it.

Try living off of 40 a month for food, phone, bus fair(to go to school and work), and saving up for books and lab fees, anything that isn’t for rent.

Its called college.

By: ~April

~April — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:16:55 +0000

It’s not about being ‘haters’, Miss Curly, it’s about having contempt for a person who apparently has no idea of what it’s like to really be poor, and prides himself on turning poverty into a game.

By: Miss Curly

Miss Curly — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:24:31 +0000

I’ve been living like this for a long time now. My partner and I go to town once or twice a week. We garage sale in weekends, and buy in bulk when we can.
It gives me great pleasure when the clothes that I am wearing add up to less than five dollars for everything! (no we don’t buy used panties or underwear). We get 501′s carharts, polos, you name it, all in good shape with no stains or rips.
And by the way, all you haters, go away.

By: ~April

~April — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:16:47 +0000

I hope his next venture is to go a week without breathing.

By: Sofar

Sofar — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:02:32 +0000

Well, I ran out of money last Monday, and I get paid this Monday, so we’ll find out. But of course, I tend to stockpile. It’ll be months before I reach the back of my larder.

By: lovemeordie236

lovemeordie236 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:45:58 +0000

Haha that’s right about it being amazing that he even has a wife! xD

By: yosh hash

yosh hash — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:45:21 +0000

Really, is it a slow news day? My wife and I do that all the time, and it’s not necessarily because we’re poor. And we don’t mooch off of others. If we weren’t counting groceries and rent, we’d never get anything. We’re saving up to buy a house- that will be our big ticket item.

How sad that this is what constitutes a big accomplishment these days.

By: barbara

barbara — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:17:44 +0000

I agree with Rocky Rook, this is pointless. =/

By: Ferd Berfel

Ferd Berfel — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:48:03 +0000

I’m now a retired IT professional, but when I used to work, I would pride myself on going from Monday morning to Friday afternoon without spending a single cent. I brownbagged lunch and ate in a local park reading the daily paper. Once in a while I’d cruise the local Home Depot, and of course, in a moment of weakness, buy something!

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:19:39 +0000

I’d like to see this guy “start from scratch” like that other guy did a few years ago. He tried to see if he could start life over … as if he was a bum on the street. Within 9 months, this guy had a job, apartment and was saving money. THAT was a worthwhile social experiment.

By: Orpheus

Orpheus — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:14:52 +0000

Had a stint like this a couple of weeks ago – agreed, spending little is easy enough when you’re on your own, harder when the cupboards are empty and the rent’s due. Anyone know of an article about a whole family living on £x per month? Would be more useful, perhaps. Morgan Freeman dunnit already?

By: BabyCarrots

BabyCarrots — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:01:03 +0000

Jumping on the band wagon here to say what an annoying article! This wasn’t an “experiment”, it was a freaking game! ” How many times did I wine/beg my friends to pay my way in one week? That is not an experiment in frugality, by any stretch.”

By: Hellybutton72

Hellybutton72 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:44:36 +0000

Hey i do that every week.. I dont buy anything becasue all my money goes to bills. And i get paid once a month working for the good ole state of florida. We have not had a raise in about 3 years.

By: Seventh

Seventh — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:38:03 +0000

I can go a week without spending anything quite easily. And frequently do. I didn’t realise that that was unusual, actually. As long as you have enough food in the cupboard to get by and soap and so on, what else do you really NEED?
Anyone who can’t go a week without buying clothes or going to the movies or whatever has a problem.

By: ted

ted — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:30:53 +0000

Reminds me of the smokers who say they`re quitting smoking, but all they do is quit paying for smokes, and bum cigarettes off their friends.

By: Mr. Binky

Mr. Binky — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:07:47 +0000

hah, I concur. This is really dumb.

By: DOJ

DOJ — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:02:59 +0000

somehow i doubt anyone will be impressed by his tale…

By: Gail Pink

Gail Pink — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:02:30 +0000

This guy sounds like a total dick.

By: Zombie79

Zombie79 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:43:50 +0000

This reminds me of when I was poor. Really poor. I didn’t eat for nearly a week because I had to pay for my bus pass that week to get to school and work …. then I finally had to break down and call my mom and she sent me a box of ramen and told me I could pay her back with my next paycheck.

Oh wait, no it doesn’t. This guy is just a delusional jerk who spends others people money and shafts the needy.

By: Tempscire

Tempscire — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:36:21 +0000

Only a week? That’d be incredibly easy: just stock up on food makings in the previous week, eat in every meal (/pack a lunch), don’t even step foot in a coffee shop or movie theater or clothing store (ridiculously easy for such a short period of time), pick a week you don’t have to pay any bills…

A month at least, or even two weeks would’ve been more impressive, but by mooching, he didn’t even really accomplish that one single no-spend week. He succeeded at semantics.

By: Seriously?

Seriously? — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:34:15 +0000

I just looked at my bank account, and haven’t spent a penny in 8 days (I will need to buy gas today though); it’s really not very difficult when you don’t have many options.

I picked an awesome time in US history to graduate from college – but I make a meager salary and get by as I slowly recover, can’t complain really. Though, I’m glad this guy can blog about being a thrifty douchebag whenever he feels like it.

By: Athos

Athos — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:18:05 +0000

That was really a stupid project. He didn’t not spend any money. He only didn’t spend his money and only spent other people’s money. What was the point. It didn’t prove anything, except that he has generous friends.

By: Alisha

Alisha — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:12:20 +0000

Oooo, how wonderful. I do this all the time because I actually AM poor.

By: rika

rika — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:10:55 +0000

it’s awesome that he has a wife!

By: HollywoodBob

HollywoodBob — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:09:50 +0000

He didn’t go a week without spending money. He went a week spending other people’s money and creating debt for the following week.

It really bothers me when people pretend to be poor. They have no idea what it’s like to not know if they’ll be able to buy groceries next week, or if they’ll be able to keep the power on next month. For them being broke is just a game that they can end whenever they get bored of it.