Joseph Kaos Jr
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 07:50:00

THIS Thursday is Buy Nothing Day. How many of you are going to take part by not making any purchases for the entire day?

Husband and wife Firdaus Muhd and Nurul Adha Abdul Razak of Subang Jaya are more than excited to join other consumers nationwide in the campaign to spread awareness on unnecessary spending.

But not spending a single sen  on Buy Nothing Day will be a tough challenge for the duo.  “Although we constantly keep a close watch on our spending, this will be the first time that we do not spend at all in a day,”
said Firdaus, who is an aircraft engineer.

“But we are eager for the challenge,” he added.

Nurul, a housewife, said she would be preparing lunch for her husband to take to work. “We usually buy our dinner. On that day, I will cook a special meal for both of us. We could also watch a movie at home instead
of going to the cinema.”

Editorial executive, Iqbal Ikhwandi, 23, said he would be taking the opportunity to fast on that day.
“For the breaking of fast, instead of buying food, I will cook dinner. I think I can get some of my friends to join me too.”

Era Natasha, a public relations executive and a self confessed shopaholic, said it would be a tough challenge to not spend at all in a day. “I have been guilty of entering shops and ending up buying something just for the sake of buying. This time, I will remind myself to avoid shops at all cost!”

Buy Nothing Day is a consumer awareness campaign that has been going on in countries like the United States, Canada and Britain. The aim of the campaign is to allow consumers to reflect on their spending habits
and discourage unnecessary purchases.

Organised here by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations as part of the National Consumer Campaign (3K) programme, Buy Nothing Day in Malaysia is marked annually on July 16 and is entering into its second year.

3K coordinator Paul Selvaraj expects more people to participate this year. According to him, 20,000 brochures are being distributed at toll plazas and LRT stations this year, compared with last year when they distributed 5,000.

“It will be fantastic if this campaign receives the same type of support as Earth Hour,” said Selvaraj, who is also the chairman for the Consumer Research and Resource Centre.

He said the campaign should not be seen as a large scale boycott or a form of protest. “The aim is to educate consumers to be more prudent in their daily expenditure. We hope it would send a clear message to consumers that one can spend a day without buying anything.”

And what would he and his family be doing on Thursday? “Anything but shopping!” he said.

Be part of the campaign

? Instead of going to the local kopitiam for coffee, make your own coffee at home.
? Don't go out for lunch; prepare your lunch at home.
? Cook dinner instead of having dinner out.
? Do recreational activities such as jogging and cycling at the free public park.
? Instead of spending money buying books, visit the library.
? If a close one is celebrating their birthday, make your own personalised birthday card.
? Even better, challenge your own creativity by making your own gift!
? Be the host of a movie-viewing party and invite your friends.
? Visit a museum where entry is free.
? Try free samples at the supermarket

Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/8053-are-you-ready-buy-nothing-day