NativeUK Logo NATIVEUK.COM LESSONS
Friday after Thanksgiving • Anti-Shopping

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is an international day of protest against consumerism, held on the same day as black friday. Participants make a pact to buy absolutely nothing for 24 hours to draw attention to the environmental and social costs of our shopping obsession. This lesson explores the power of the purse—can 24 hours of silence really change the global economy? We explore the minimalist movement.

Buy Nothing Day Lesson Visual

Speaking Discussion

  • Is black friday a celebration of great deals or a sign of social madness?
  • How long could you survive without buying anything except for food?
  • Do you think advertising manipulates us into wanting things we don't need?
  • Is saving money a form of freedom or a form of restriction?
  • What is the most useless thing you have ever bought because it was on sale?

Activity 1: The Protest

You are a "Buy Nothing Advocate". You are standing outside a shopping mall. Convince people to go home using the word "Sustainability".

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify your answer in 30 seconds:

  • "Shopping is a hobby, not a problem."
  • "We should ban Black Friday advertisements."
  • "Minimalism is only for the rich."