A Review of Judith Levine's Book Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping

Last night I finished reading Judith Levine's Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping. I'm not spoiling the ending by revealing that after a year of doing without everything except the most basic necessities—food, mortgage, health insurance, utilities, and the like—Levine spent about $8,000 less in 2004 than she did in 2003, and, if I understood correctly, $7,956.21 of that went to paying off her credit card. Savings was not the goal of the project, but, admittedly, I was disappointed by the bottom line.

Levine earns between $40,000 and $45,000 a year, and one-third of her gross income goes toward discretionary expenses, which include food, clothing, entertainment, travel, etc. Let's face it, Levine was not living high-on-the-hog before her project, and her sacrifices included movies (renting and going to the theater), books (except for a few that she needed for work and which were not available from the library), restaurant meals, and travel (except to attend her niece's graduation in Montana). Throughout the year, she lapsed only twice; once when she bought a top and cargo pants on the Montana trip; and again in Vermont when she bought a pair of slacks.

I'm no spendthrift, but I know I would have a difficult time abstaining from movies and books. I'd manage with no new clothing and body potions for a year. Impulse buys like the silk Chinese purse that Levine covets, or the lime-green pumps that promise a night on the dance floor, I could avoid. I'd do without the occasional restaurant meal, knowing that my sacrifice was finite. But books and movies? Whoa! (And woe.) Books and movies are educational, I found myself rationalizing. They supply me with ideas and ideals. How can I practice my craft in a vacuum? I bought Levine's book, didn't I?