Do I have it in me to be a Compacter?

I saw an interesting story on “Today” this morning. A group of friends in San Francisco have created the Compact, an agreement that they won’t buy anything new, other than necessities, for all of 2006. They’re battling consumerism, retail therapy, and crowding our planet with unnecessary plastic objects. Their movement is spreading across the globe. Good for them!

What new items can Compacters buy during 2006? Food, health and safety items, and underwear. That’s it. Deodorant: a necessity. Hair gel: an extravagance (they haven’t seen my untamed hair, have they?). Need a new outfit? Head to the thrift store and buy used clothing — but don’t buy used underwear (I don’t think we need to discuss why new panties are allowed). Exceptions to the shopping ban are discussed and listed on the group’s blog.

I’m intrigued — and, after my recent salon splurge, it might not be a bad idea. I’m not going to attempt 365 days of a necessities-only existence — goals, after all, should be achievable — but I’m curious to see if I can go a full month without buying anything new. No baubles. No books. No cute summer sandals. No (gulp) CDs or MP3s. Thirty days with what I own and the sustenance I need to survive.

Can I make it? I do, after all, come from a long line of shoppers. It’s in my DNA. Shopping is how we get exercise, how we socialize, how we rationalize our existence. The female side of my clan doesn’t miss a new episode of Isaac Mizrahi’s talk show. We enjoy deep, meaningful discussions about which Stein Mart is the best (the Buckhead store, in my opinion). We're the reason they invented the phrase "born to shop."

But I think I can do it, at least for a month. I’m up for a spring challenge. So … who wants to join me for Compact month in May?

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