Check this out: http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/
A group of friends in Frisco (go SF!!) made a compact to take themselves off the consumer grid and not buy anything new for a year. They were allowed to buy shampoo, gas, and underwear, but that's about it.
They shopped thrift stores, combed craigslist, traded with each other, and tried other ways of acquiring things they needed. Brilliant.