It's an experiment author Judith Levine tried. Levine says she gave up everything from buying clothes and watching TV to eating out as part of the experiment to see what impact buying has on society. Levine spoke to a group at UW Marathon County about her experiences.
She says the hardest thing for her was simply learning separating needs from wants, and even after the experiment was over she still had certain cravings for materials and services was still there.
"On the day after the year I rented six movies. I really, really missed movies," said Levine. "I missed them not just for the entertainment, but also for the ability to communicate with other people and know what’s going on in the world."
Levine also says she didn't think of herself as a person who spent a lot of money on frivolous things but now says she has a new appreciation for how much people can consume each and every day.
