Buy Nothing Day UK

Shoppers of the world are being asked to put down their carrier bags on what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, put up their feet and/or do something fun and free for the  annual Buy Nothing Day.

"It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life." says the web site for Buy Nothing Day (UK).

"The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!"

Buy Nothing Day is the brainchild of Adbusters magazine - the same organisation that was the catalyst for the global Occupy Movement including Occupy Edinburgh. It was set up with the aim of concentrating minds on what life might be like if we live with smaller ecological footprints.

Events include zombie walks to shopping centres, credit-card cutting parties, "whirl mart" actions, which is where a group of people endlessly drive empty shopping trolleys around the aisles in a conga line, and sharing christmas present exemption certificates.