making do 4

[aboylegolcom]

There's a better alternative than boring old libraries. *Cough* Bookstores *Cough*

I happened to have the read the book he's talking about cover to cover in a bookstore for free (it took me a few days. I rarely pay for a book these days.

[splitdog]

i did the exact same thing, went on amazon when you mentioned that book and then closed the browser window quicksharp. haha

[jetaimemina]

Haha you completely nailed the Indian guy there. Not that I know how that particular individual sounds, but it makes me giggle ever since my first episode of the Simpsons decades ago.

[MystroTheDefender]

i know its brilliant, hes a brilliant voice actor isnt he?

[JesGreaves]

Not only get the "Not Buying It" book from the library but what about I book on how to fix your watch???

[PolishCringle]

Iv done that food from the skips thing round back of tescos but they started puttin locks on the skips whats the point I mean they chuck stuff like tins out they dont want then so why stop anyone else from havin it because its past the sell by date but the food life is actually about 2weeks longer. there just lettin perfectly good food rot

[Roboticexile]

*cough* library book *cough* - hint hint!

[littlejinkz]

I was just gonna say that...you beat me LOL

[GregorTyler]

Part one (Apologies for repeating a bit of this later on - but i had to work backwards to let it make sense) One rainy Sunday night a few years ago (this is true) I was sat waiting for a bus out side South Ken tube station and this old guy wandered up and stood next to me. we started chatting and it turns out he was homeless, not because of circumstances that had befell him, but out of pure choice.

[GregorTyler]

Part 1.5

He'd become sick of commercialism, to the point he didn't believe in paying for anything, housing, clothes or even food, and he also explained in his 15 years of living on the streets of London he had not begged a single penny off anyone.

And he looked very dashing too.

[GregorTyler]

Part 2 - He told me of his average day which started at a soup kitchen in Vauxhall I think it was, and would then take a leisurely stroll along the river towards the south bank and along to the millennium bridge then head to the west end for lunch. Round the back of oxford street.

[GregorTyler]

part 2.1 - Where, from the back of any of quite a few of the large department stores that had restaurants inside a lot of kitchen staff would bring out any of the daily specials that hadn't been sold and would there fore be thrown away otherwise. He told me he'd had roast duck that day. Then, if it was a nice day he'd take in the royal parks, well the ones in central London and do a spot of sunbathing.

[GregorTyler]

part 2.2 - Depending on which day of the week it was he'd then go to either Belgian restaurant in Battersea, an Italian on kings road, a pub just outside Chelsea FC in Fulham or one of several deli's he knew for his dinner. all leftovers that would be thrown, but still hot meals none the less.

And here he informed me, he would come on a Sunday night for his supper.

[GregorTyler]

part 3

At this point the overpriced sandwich shop we were stood outside opened it's doors and one of the members of staff came and placed 3 bin bags outside the front door waiting for collection in the morning. one of which was clear, and inside you could see all the (completely packaged and un touched) sandwiches and pasta salads that they couldn't sell the next day because by then they would be out of date.

[GregorTyler]

He opened the bag up and sat down on a step and invited me to join him for supper, which i readily agreed to. The funny thing was he was sooo fussy, picking up sandwich after sandwich, looking at the ingredients and saying ' spicy chicken - no thanks, yuk, look, mayo, why do they put mayo on everything these days, tch tch' and so on till he found him self a cheese and pickle sandwich - on brown.

[GregorTyler]

part 4

He opened the bag up and sat down on a step and invited me to join him for supper, which i readily agreed to. The funny thing was he was sooo fussy, picking up sandwich after sandwich, looking at the ingredients and saying ' spicy chicken - no thanks, yuk, look, mayo, why do they put mayo on everything these days, tch tch' and so on till he found him self a cheese and pickle sandwich - on brown.

[GregorTyler]

Part 5

We sat and gorged on sandwiches and pasta salads for a while till he bid me fare well.

' where will you sleep?' i asked

'In the usual place' he replied and tapped his nose. and walked off down the road.

I'd sat and missed 6 or seven buses while I was chatting to this guy and went to see when my next one would arrive.

Then i paused and i thought to myself, 'sod it'

And walked home.

[OldVideoPro]

Interesting comment about the Beeb. Now if you were to make a year-long documentary about it, you would then be being paid for not buying anything. Now how does THAT stack up? Mind you, I'd watch it and it might inspire opthers. Tricky moral conundrum. Go for it - make the show. :-)

P.S. Contacted Streamburst, asking for the commercial details (which do not appear on their website) and they don't even answer emails. So much for them! Not impressed - not very professional.

OVP

[QueenOfTheNanobots]

Hey, why not ask your library if they have they book.

Or if they don't-they should be able to order it in.

[VanWhistler]

In my local library they charged me for ordering a library book to be brought from another library to their library. less than a pound but you still are paying for it.

[PaulSiraisi]

Entertaining videos. But, to be a stickler: 1) Repairing boots and watches probably involves purchase of parts.  And the services of the repairmen are a new commodity you bought. 2) How do you eat?

[JoeBobOneHalf]

Are you allowed to go to a library? It's not buying. it's not even renting.

[Happy0]

I agree!

[tyronix]

tbh i dont buy stuff , everything i own is given to me my lifestyle is mostly based on favours rather then money and i like that :) great post!

[JamJells]

Make a wish list. Post it. Trade list. Barter. Great idea. I thought about food and it seems nobody likes to eat alone at work. They almost throw food at me at lunch now and some bring extra. Is it Kharma or guilt? Food is really the first thing I can live without buying. Amazing!

[guidotnb]

You don't need a watch!

[indianna22]

get the book from the library- its free

[CO2umbrella]

Email the author of that book and ask how you can borrow a copy, even rent a copy from her in keeping with her thesis, she ought to appreciate that and would probably help you out.

[b1979lasvegas]

Try the Library...

[Aithyne]

Nothing is ever original, but I'm sure most of the people that have tried, have failed, so good for you! Keep us updated, please. I'm rooting for you. =)

[itzLeo]

you should buy some wheels. for them bags under you're eyes!

[ourben]

You don't look anything like that guy of Changing Rooms?

[TheKlink]

cos he's not?

[ourben]

That one was wasted on you then...

[TheKlink]

seems so.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

And then, you mention how it doesn't really save you all that much money anyway. So, you can either pay for services or goods. Why is it so bad to participate in the economy? Don't people deserve to be paid for things they produce? I know, I'm not a pro-capitalist exactly, but...

[gratex]

Unsustainable overconsumption is the issue.

[TraitorX]

Hey, another gr8 vid, your doing really well! hey if you do get a new job at the bbc, let me be a runner!!! ha ha ha ! im studying media at college in bedford, and i need some experience!

[IshmaelBook]

read/listen to the book i uploaded :D

[gratex]

Yeah, it would be awesome to see a tv prog about that book!

[Magusstryfe]

cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ooooooooool

[IndBill57]

I don't know how now it is where you live but here in the U.S. if the book has been out for awhile you can just go to the library and get it to read for free.

[94070]

Does borrowing count?

[archdelux]

Well done Robert. Keep up the Good work. You are doing a lot better than I am I made the same resolution to not buy anything new and I broke it within a week. It isn't as easy as it seems and I admire you for not giving up

[KeeperOfTheGood]

I would think that your commitment to making do was more better worded or defined as making do without the excesses of life. You can, I think, be reasonably expected to replace worn and broken tires or shoes, and I think a reasonable excess is replacing one pair of shoes with a double helping of a three for one sale on shoes.

[richw4]

well done so far! Here is a dilemma though. Suppose you had an idea for a new project to do with your line of work and you needed to buy things eg a new suit, prop or whatever but an item you would keep after. How would you categorize this type of spend?

[pottymouse]

Maybe you sould make yourself a "making do budget", and just try to stay within that budget. It's all about sacrifice anyway...

[wheatbearing]

no no... not sacrifice, making do!

Eventually he will discover that if he looks around a little bit first, he may better meet his needs with what's avail., than with a "forced" consumer item.

i.e. coffee machine=req. new coffee filters

a coffee press =no new filters, but suddenly better coffee

[thoraarwin]

You could always read the book at the bookshop- a lot of people do that;-) But the whole idea, of writing a book about Not buying it, and then selling it- which means you want the people to *buy* it- that's *very* interesting:-)

And I guess it's a lot more fun to read a book about not buying it, instead of *really* not buying it, so definitely admirable what you're doing!

[techwondo]

Just an idea, why not see if a local library has that book?

[Chavndemo]

Robert you are a true hero of ours and many comedy fans across the country. Keep up the good work sir!

[RoguePlanet]

Dammit, Robert...go to a thrift shop and buy a little used one! Do they even have thrift shops in England? I'd think the Brits would have invented the bloody thing. Of course, if you really love that watch, there's no such thing as throwing away a useful gadget if it has served you well. Noble of you, sir...noble.

[Aithyne]

Unfortunately, it'd still be new to him. =(

[ellsvill]

Glad to see your still "making do" Robert! i would have given up by now

[komikero]

Whether you're not original in the idea or not, the important thing is you're doing it... and sticking to it, which is so damned admirable, Robert! When's your birthday? :D