Rule#3: No newly made clothing or electronics.

The New Year progresses smoothly with groceries and a calendar the only purchases made thus far. Local co-op and bookstore, respectively.

As there are not yet trials or tribulations to report, some musing on rule #3.
No newly made clothing or electronics.

See that link on the right to the Story of Stuff? Yeah? Click on it. That's pretty much it in a well-organized, clearly illustrated nutshell.

With underwear out of the way, there really isn't any need for new clothing. Jonesing for something different to wear can be satisfied by thrift/resale which is better for my stressed pocketbook anyway. Even the most wonderfully hippie, organic, bamboo, hand-dyed garment is off the list for a year. I cringe a bit at not supporting people who hand-make and sell clothing (it's expensive 'cause its a load of work, people) so my post-2009 shopping may widen for that arena. However, cotton farming is incredibly damaging to the environment, the factories where most clothing is made are still dreadful for the laborers, and there is just plain no need for making more stuff when there is so much in re/circulation.

Pretty much ditto on the electronics. Nasty chemicals, lots of unnecessary waste going into landfills. If it can't be fixed, I'll be without it for the year. Lucky me with no TV and no need to deal with the planned obsolescence of the old ones.