Could I Have Single-Handedly Prevented the Recession?

The Fashion Fast began as an attempt to do some good--reduce waste, consume less, give back to a charity, and enhance my personal will-power. But now I am beginning to feel bad about my non-shopping habits. Due to the recession, retailers are having a difficult time meeting their sales quotas and saying afloat financially (who isn't right now?), and most are blaming these trials on the fact that the money Americans once spent on shopping has now been tucked into mattresses.

A few Fashion Fast followers have questioned me on this paradox, "Don't you feel bad about not shopping? Don't you feel bad about not injecting funds into a hurting economy?" The answer is no, I don't feel one once of remorse. (And, it's been nearly 10 months!)

First of all, I began the fast before the mass downfall of the economy. Yes, America was already experiencing a recession, but the financial sector collapse didn't happen until a few months after I engaged in my anti-shopping habits. Second, there is no way that I would have bought enough clothing to help curtail the deficits that retailers are seeing on their balance sheets. I used to buy a lot, but not that much. Third, given the economic climate on my own micro level, my funds for shopping would likely have been limited anyway, just like everyone else.

When I think about the empty storefronts and the folding of multiple retail chains, I can't feel bad. The fashion world has been so bloated with retailers trying to sell the next person the same thing as the person before, that it's probably a healthy thing to trim the retail fat.

I want to know though, how have your shopping habits changed over the past year?