The Great American Apparel Diet
no buying for one year

Michelle Mullin

Michelle, 29 from Chicago is an Environmental Scientist and Wife. Michelle’s New Year’s resolution is to cut her personal CO2 footprint. While looking into effective ways of doing this, she ran across TGAAD blog on PlanetGreen. “I think the diet will fit in nicely with my goal,” she says. “Also, I've been questioning my own behavior lately- 2 years ago I didn't feel an insatiable need to buy "stuff" all the time. I had a lot more money, paid down loans, went on trips. Then all of a sudden I ‘needed new stuff’ all the time. I find I have a condo exploding with stuff out of the closets/cabinets/drawers, I have no money left over for trips, (and when i do go on trips the goal is to keep buying stuff!), my debt isn't reducing, I feel overwhelmed and unhappy!” Thinking about not buying ‘stuff’ has Michelle feeling deprived though; even as she tries to re-connect to the less materialistic person she used to be. “Just knowing there is a Diet out there, and there are other women who are liberating themselves from their new wardrobe ‘needs’ is a relief!” Michelle homes to become a prolific member of the group.