Debt protest on Black Friday 2008 December 1, 2008
Posted by BDO in Organizational.Tags: 2008, 28, beat, beating, buy, consumerism, day, Debt, economy, nothing, november, protest, shoppers
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In response to AdBusters.org, “Buy Nothing Day“, BeatingDebt.org came out and continued the effort by protesting debt and overspending.
I was the only one able to show up for this event, so I was a little nervous. Honestly, I’ve never done anything like this (alone). I’ve done car washes for my church and high school, but those were different (with lots of people). This was much different. I’ve never been on the outside trying to go against the grain like this.
It was surreal to see the amount of cars in the turning lane to go to the mall just staring at my sign. Yes, I did get some honks, some evil stares, and the ladies going by intent on not looking or “allowing the message to mean them, personally”. But after a while it was fine. No one threw tomatoes.
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It was actually inspiring. If BeatingDebt.org is going to be able to break out of the financial guru melting pot, we are going to have to do something new. So, how about this? Protesting? Or the “Politically Correct” version, publically educating people on their spending decisions!
We need less talk and more action
Go to any bookstore and count the amount of self-help financial books that are talking about how they can save you money and beat debt. Countless. Everyone has the “new” trick. But as their book sales skyrockets, consumer debt grows to $14 trillion and nothing changes.
We need to collect an army of volunteers that will descend on a city at strategic public locations and help educate consumers on debt and overspending. Maybe if they see others doing it and are proud of it, they will start reducing this $14 trillion consumer debt, instead of letting it grow. Maybe?
The Board of Directors and I are discussing the 2009 operational plan for BeatingDebt.org. We are strongly leaning towards more “protests” with more volunteers to make our impact on consumer debt and spending. To make public expressions of education to “Stop spending money we don’t have.”
What do you think we should do?
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A Kid's Guide to Managing Money (Ready-Set-Grow Series)
Eric, I am so impressed and in awe of you. I don’t know many folk that would be prepared to make a stand as you did. You are an inspiration! Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good fight! Just wanted to share that my husband and I have been married for nearly 8 months and we are now entirely debt-free!
We paid off his entire grad student loan before the first payment was due in the spring (no interest!) and paid off the last $3,028.51 of my student loan over the weekend. We celebrated last night by eating out on a restaurant gift card from our wedding and sharing our news with his family (mine will hear tonight).
Most people that we’ve talked to are impressed because so few people live debt-free. Granted, we’ve never bought a home, but if we ever have the opportunity (we’re going into located church ministry), we’ll only buy what we need – not what we can “afford.”
I would’ve been there! Sorry bud, but great job!