READING 4 B1+

www.blog.lucygreen/yearwithnoshopping

So last December I wrote down everything that I had bought that month. A pair of
white boots, for example. They were in the sale and I told myself I'd 'saved' £50 by
buying them at a reduced price. But guess what? I've never worn them – not once!
Next on the list: a cake tin the shape of a heart. OK, I made a pretty cake, but round
cakes are pretty too. Further down the list: a toy for my dog, a lamp, three pairs of
earrings …. I could go on. I still have that list, and when I feel like giving up and going
shopping, it keeps me strong.
And that's why I decided to have a year without buying anything new. I can't say it's
always been easy, but it's certainly been interesting, and I've learned a lot about
myself, and about other people. So, as this experiment comes to an end, I have some
messages for a few of them:
To my dad: Thank you so much for buying me a new laptop for my birthday. Some
people may say that's cheating, but it's the best present I've ever had!
To my friend Rob: Thank you for encouraging me to be creative. You helped me
make a kitchen table out of wood that we found. Now all my friends want one like it!
To my now ex-friend (you know who you are!): Next time someone spends hours
making special biscuits and a beautiful hand-made card for your birthday, don't look

My year with disappointed and say 'I was hoping for a new handbag.'
To my sister: You really don't need to feel guilty about buying all those new clothes

no shopping
21 December
Well, it’s almost over! For eleven months and ten
days, my credit card has stayed in a locked drawer
in my study and I have bought nothing except
food, bus tickets, soap, cleaning products and a
second-hand bicycle.
I can hardly believe it's more than a year now
since I watched a TV programme about how much
our society wastes and how terrible that is for the
environment. That programme made me take a
good look at my own life and decide that I needed
to change my ways.
this year when you knew I couldn't (well, OK, maybe just a bit guilty!).
So was it worth it? Yes, definitely. I've learned to think a lot more carefully about what
I buy, and that's a good thing.
Did I save money? Well yes, but not as much as I expected because I allowed myself
to buy experiences, just not things, and with all the extra time I had from not going
shopping, I was able to go to the cinema and the theatre more often than usual.
And what about the environment? One person's efforts don't make much difference,
obviously, but then again, they're better than nothing. Because I couldn't buy petrol,
I've become used to using public transport and cycling, and I don't intend to go back
to driving any time soon.
And would I do it again? Hmm, not sure about that. I must admit that there were
times when the whole thing seemed very silly, for example, when I forgot to take my
sunglasses on holiday and couldn't just go and buy a new pair. I hope that this year
has taught me what I needed to know, but perhaps I will make that list again each
December, just to make sure.

1 Put the phrases in the correct order to make sentences about the blog. 3 Find words in the blog that match
1 shopping for / a year / Lucy decided / to stop these definitions.
2 think more / her year with no shopping / what she buys / made her / carefully 1 bought from someone who has
about used the thing already
2 a time when a shop sells things
2 Read the blog. Are the sentences true or false? more cheaply than usual
1 Lucy hasn't bought anything this year. TRUE/FALSE 3 something you do to see what
2 She wanted to do something for the environment. TRUE/FALSE happens as a result
3 In the past, she used to buy lots of things she didn't need. TRUE/FALSE 4 good at thinking of ideas for
4 She bought a kitchen table because she really needed one. TRUE/FALSE making things
5 Her friend liked the biscuits she made for her birthday. TRUE/FALSE 5 feeling bad because you have
done something wrong
6 This year she spent more money on going out than she did before. TRUE/FALSE
7 She is looking forward to being able to drive again. TRUE/FALSE
8 Lucy will definitely not have another year with no shopping. TRUE/FALSE

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