Hunting, Gathering and Investing
November 11, 2008, by Christie Healey
Kiva entrepreneur Sony Yoem of Cambodia
Indian Summer has arrived on the great northern plains; the days are golden and warm. There are many hypotheses for the origin of the time of the year known as “Indian Summer.” The one I like best describes the sudden reappearance of warm sunny days after the first frost when native North Americans gathered in their corn and squash for the coming winter.
Fall is a reflective time and this year I am prompted to consider my New Year’s resolution and see how well I have done with my year of secondhand living. I did buy a new top from Target in August. The one I was wearing bore the results of a “missing mouth with coffee cup” accident in my office and I had a client meeting that afternoon. Apart from that I have bought no new clothes, no new shoes, no new things for the house. New has been restricted to the unavoidable: food, cleaning fluids, gas for the car and things like that. I must state here that I consider art and music completely outside the no new stuff rule.
It was surprising to me how little I miss shopping. I was never in need of Shopaholics Anonymous, but I used to do a fair bit of trolling the sales at favorite clothing outlets and shoe stores. A comparison of credit card bills between 2007 and 2008 shows that I have saved over $2,000 so far. Not a fortune, but certainly a worthwhile sum.
I am taking $200 of my savings and making $25 investments in Kiva. Kiva was started three years ago by Jessica and Matt Flannery. I read recently that as of September 2008 Kiva had attracted more than 330,000 investors who have fronted interest-free loans totaling approximately $42.7million, the pay back rate is 98 percent. Now this is an economic turnaround I can really get behind.
In 2009 I think I am going to buy 50 percent used and 50 percent new. I came to this after wondering what I can do to be part of the economic recovery and realized that small businesses and the economy do depend on me to a certain extent. So the compromise will be buying my new stuff for cash from local independently-owned stores and direct from the makers. That way I can support small businesses in the U.S. in the same way that through Kiva I can support entrepreneurs in small businesses outside the U.S.
Life is good, gather your corn and squash or whatever it is you need to get you through the coming winter. I’ll be holiday present hunting in my favorite emporia of pre-loved treasures.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Here in rural Vermont, “going shopping” isn’t the recreational sport it was in my former home of Los Angeles. I guess I’m lucky; with almost no stores around, I’m not tempted. But, if given the choice, I hope that like you, Christie, I would choose to travel more lightly. Thanks for being an inspiration.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Last holiday season a vendor sent $25 gift certificates for Kiva and we got to choose who got the loan. It was a very cool gift. I mean who needs another candle? Christie, your post reminds me that I have way too much stuff and I will be cleaning out and trying to live a more recycled life myself. Thanks.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
In my family, we decided not to do Christmas presents, but to focus on spending time together instead. It’s been a much more relaxing holiday since then (this was more than a few years ago). I have to add the caveat that this was after my son had become an adult, it would be harder to do with young children.
After a lifetime of shopping in thrift stores, I have been buying some new stuff more recently, but your post is making me think twice about it. I think I’ll adhere to the 50/50 rule as well, I like it! I also love supporting businesses through kiva, I’ve had a few loans paid off already. It’s such a great model for helping people to help themselves.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Very inspiring, Christie. Although I didn’t consciously make the decision, I realize that, although I’ve never been a chronic shopper, I’ve hardly shopped at all lately; and when I did buy something new, I consciously chose to give something away from my closet. I just heard about some new multi-marketing scheme where you get money by buying green products you probably would have bought anyway. Although I usually run away from these things like from a skunk about to spray, I’m going to check it out because like the idea of somehow helping to clean up the environment while making passive income (I’ll report back on this thing). I’ve always liked the idea of micro-loans, and just had a meeting with an organization that makes loans to poor women in Haiti (Fon Koze). There are so many ways that we can participate in helping each other, and our planet. You’ve given us all a shot in the arm today!
November 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Great insight on your 50/50 plan for 2009, Christie. But may I suggest an added
goal. For the past few years I have bought very little in the way of clothing.
Instead, I never pass the boxes on the street that people put out with clothes they are giving away. Because I’m in no hurry I usually find all I need. In fact, way more than I need. It is amazing to me what people discard in the name of being “with” some bogus fashion image.
I guess the universe provides if you let it.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Christie – you are an inspiration!