Modern Puritans survive 12-month shopping boycott

IT STARTED as a pledge over dinner between friends worried about the impact of mass consumerism and today's disposable society. "Let's see if we can give up shopping for a year," they said. At the close of the "12-month flight from the consumer grid", in which the 10 friends were egged on by thousands of supporters inspired by their idea, some have declared the experiment so revelatory and life-changing they plan to continue it. The 10 middle-class professionals living in San Francisco dubbed themselves the "Compact" after the Mayflower Compact, drafted by Puritan pilgrims who reached the New World in 1620. There would be no new clothes, gadgets, computers, car parts, mobile phones, books or music for them for 12 months, they pledged. Only food and essentials such as toothpaste, soap, basic underwear and medicine would be allowed.

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Shopping on a shoestring

Receive up to 80 per cent off on more than 1,000 gowns by well-known designers. Mother's gowns, suits, evening wear and accessories also on sale. Prices range from $99 to $699. Location: Toronto Congress Centre, Leonard Cohen Ballroom, 650 Dixon Rd., Toronto, 905-265-8707, amandalinas.com. Hours: Today 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., tomorrow 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. LANCE LORENT LIMITED End of Season Sale This importer of women's fashions is offering 50 per cent off the wholesale price of Italian sweaters, pants, suits, skirts, custom jewellery and scarves. Sizes range from 4 to 18 in regular cut or petite. Location: 500 Glencairn Ave., Unit 2, Toronto (off Bathurst St., south of Lawrence Ave.

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Merchants generally pleased with holiday shopping season

Retailers surveyed by a New York statewide trade association gave the just-completed holiday shopping season a "B" grade, the third year in a row that mark has been achieved. Sales in the week before Christmas -- nearly 75 percent of merchants said sales during that period were better than or the same as last year -- led to the high grade, according to the Retail Council of New York State. .

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