The 2004 New Year's Resolution I Kept. And proud of it.

[catzies]

Probably my biggest kept New Year's resolution from the beginning of 2004, was to minimize as much consumer spending this year as I could. And not to spend money with/on companies who'll take my money and do things I don't like.

In January I changed a Putnam Roth IRA to a Scottrade IRA invested only in socially responsible mutual funds. It's up way over what it would have been if I held that worthless Putnam all year. Putnam also had problems with insider trading and I lost a bundle on it.

On a tip in '03 I bought shares in a company that did business with the Carlyle Group. I didn't know it until after I bought it, and once I knew that, I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I did in January and never looked back. I can't take blood money like that. The stock's in the toilet and has been all year. Karma.

To start New Year 2005 off with a cleaner slate, I had 3 dormant accounts with zero balances that I called and cancelled. Since yesterday I've cancelled cable TV and three credit cards (Citibank, ChevronTexaco and ExxonMobil). I told both of the oil cos. I despised them, and I told the cable co. they were bad corporate citizens. (I had Adelphia cable which I despised, and getting a dish with parallel programming was substantially cheaper.) :evilgrin:

Oh, and I ditched AT&T Wireless months ago & got Working Assets Wireless since they're already my L/D carrier. I stopped giving to two NPR stations and PBS since they've all let me down.

On a plus, I get all my gas at Costco now because they're blue. With my new Blue American Express card.

I'm on a mission to systematically de-corporatize my life as much as I can, and go blue wherever possible.

Happy New Year DU! :toast: :party:

[laruemtt]

1. congrats! what an excellent accomplishment.

think i'll make it a goal in 2005. am almost there but still a few stumbling blocks...

[catzies]

9. I also made the investment choices against professional advice I was given

I was told I was making a mistake and I'd regret it. Wrong on both counts.

[rug]

2. American Express?

[Merlot]

5. Are they blue?

[catzies]

7. No. But it's a nice pun and Costco only takes AmEx.

And getting rid of Citibank was sweet.

[Merlot]

11. good riddance to citibank!

I have a huge balance on my citibank card from business equipment (and then there was 9/11 but that's another story). So I've been paying it very slowly. They gave me a program which lockes in the interst for 6 months and you pay a reduced monthly amount. You can renew it for another 6 months, but I didn't call in time to renew - missed it by a couple of days. I was very pissed.

Then all the sudden my citibank account has been bought by another company. Now they call me and offer me 1 year at reduced payments and 0% interest. So, I went from citibank doing me a "favor" of 5.9, to 0 for a year.

[NMDemDist2]

3. excellent job!! I just asked DH if he had any resolutions and we both

agreed we didn't, but your post reminds me I really do

I am pretty much doing the same thing you are, I have changed my grocery store, am planning a veggie garden this year, started carrying my canvas bags in the car for my groceries and other purchases rather than having a pile of plastic bags to deal with all the time

I have already closed all my credit cards accounts and plan to keep it that way

thanks for the reminder I do have resolutions for 05 that are already well on their way into habit in my life

Happy New Year!! :party:

[Merlot]

6. Ah, yes, the canvas bag

Must by mine on Monday. thaks for reminding me!

[NMDemDist2]

14. hint on canvas bags

go to the thrift store, get lots of em cheap :-)

if you buy them new they are spendy and one is never enough

[Merlot]

4. Those are some good ideas

I just noticed there is a costo 5 minutes from me, but had no idea they sell gas. I'd decided to start shopping there because they are so blue. I get my gas at shell, they are the bluest (60% dem contributions) of the oil companies. I may look into working assets wireless.

I hope you sent NPR a letter telling them exactly why you stoped contributing. They make me so mad anymore I just can't listen.

When ever possible I purchase used/antique furniture. By doing that I support local businesses instead of large stores. It's better for the environment to reuse instead of buying new. Also, antique furniture, you know the wood didn't come from a rainforest.

[catzies]

8. I did tell NPR. Back when they fired Bob Edwards.

And your tip to buy antiques (or other used furniture) is an excellent one too.

[Rockerdem]

10. What's blue about Costco?

Im sorry. I just dont know.

[Merlot]

12. George Soros

[Rockerdem]

13. Please elaborate?

I googled Soros and Costco and didn't get much of a direct connection. Does he own it, run it? Wow.

[Merlot]

15. If I'm not mistaken he started it.

Costco donates to democratic candidates.

More about George Sors at www.georgesoros.com. or www.soros.org although neither of these mention costco.

I don't have the address, but there is a website that lists all the blue conpanies. Maybe someone else here remembers what it is.

[catzies]

16. Costco used to be Price Club.

n/t

[Rockerdem]

17. I was wondering

A few years ago the local underground paper was on Costcos case for preventing low-income folks in the stores with their membership dues. That was the technique that was used when membership stores began a few decades ago. They would plop their low-overhead outlets in bottom rent areas, and then screen out the neighborhood people that needed the discounts the most. Maybe Costco should give a number of free memberships to local A-A churches to soften the blow.