Join The Economic Blackout February 28, 2025
Money talks, but most of us don’t control the conversation. Wealth is more concentrated than ever, with corporations and billionaires thriving while wages stagnate, families struggle, and basic needs become harder to afford. These corporations shape our economy and policies—often at our expense.
With recent events pushing this inequality to new extremes, now is the time to act. On February 28th, 2025, people across the U.S. will take part in a 24-hour economic blackout, halting all non-essential spending to send a clear message: we hold the power.
But this isn’t just about one day. It’s about taking that moment of reflection and carrying it forward—rethinking how we spend, who we support, and the impact we can make every day with our choices.
What Is The February 28th Economic Blackout?
The February 28th Economic Blackout is organized by The People’s Union USA, a movement dedicated to challenging corporate control through collective financial action.
The blackout is a call to action—a way to show big corporations that they rely on us, not the other way around. For one full day, we withhold our spending. No shopping, no subscriptions, no takeout, no gas, no online orders. A full halt to non-essential economic activity.
But this isn’t just about a single day. The February 28th blackout is part of a larger movement, with more targeted boycotts planned in the coming months. This is just the beginning.
How to Participate
- Don’t spend money on the designated blackout days. No online orders, no grocery runs, no gas, no takeout, no subscriptions, no unnecessary transactions.
- Plan ahead and, if possible, shift essential purchases to locally owned businesses and cash transactions.
- If you can safely take the day off work on February 28, do it in solidarity.
Upcoming Events
February 28th is just the beginning. More actions are upcoming. The following is copied directly from The People’s Union FAQ, so visit that page for future updates.
- February 28: 24-Hour Economic Blackout – No spending for one full day.
- March 7-14: Amazon Blackout – No Amazon purchases, no Whole Foods, no Prime orders.
- March 21-28: Nestlé Blackout – Boycotting Nestlé-owned brands due to water exploitation, child labor, and corporate greed.
- March 28: 24-Hour Economic Blackout #2 – No spending for one full day.
- April 7-13: Walmart Blackout – Shutting down spending at one of the biggest price-gouging, worker-exploiting corporations.
- April 18: Economic Blackout #3 – Another full 24-hour halt to the economy.
- April 21-27: General Mills Blackout – Exposing food industry corruption and the poisoning of our families.
The Beginning of Real Change
One day a month of no spending and seven-day boycotts sends a message, but it doesn’t change the world.
Real change isn’t about what we do for one day—it’s about what we do every day after that.
This is a moment to reassess where our money goes and who benefits from it. It’s a chance to recognize the grip that convenience and impulse spending have on us. The question isn’t just, Can I go one day without spending?—it’s Why is it so hard to imagine doing this more often?
The real challenge isn’t in skipping a single day of consumption, but in breaking the cycle of unnecessary spending, resisting the pull of marketing-driven desires, and making permanent shifts toward more intentional financial choices.
Discomfort, Sacrifice, and the Challenge of Change
Meaningful change is never easy; it demands we step outside our comfort zones, make sacrifices, and push through even when it’s difficult. A single-day blackout is a powerful statement, but lasting change requires more than a single act of defiance. It requires us to rethink our relationship with spending and challenge the habits that consumer culture has ingrained in us.
Think about it—we’re surrounded by easy, on-demand solutions. Need something? Want something? Buy it, stream it, order it—often without a second thought. We’re so used to instant gratification that anything else feels uncomfortable.
But what if we resisted that urge? What if, instead of reaching for our wallets, we paused and questioned that impulse to spend? This isn’t about depriving ourselves; it’s about taking back control and breaking free from the cycle of impulse-driven habits that corporations depend on.
Delaying gratification is a skill, and like any skill, it gets stronger with practice. The blackout is a single day. The real work—the work of cultivating patience, intentionality, and self-restraint—begins now.
Who Are You Supporting With Your Money?
Every dollar you spend is a vote. You’re not just choosing a product, you’re backing the company behind it—their values, their actions, their impact on the world.
So, who are you voting for?
Big corporations depend on our money to thrive, but most put profit before people, the planet, and equity—The Permaculture Ethics are not a part of their business plans. They underpay workers, outsource to exploit cheap labor and engage in unethical practices to cut costs. They influence politics and policy to stay on top. Yet, they survive because we keep buying.
It’s easy to feel powerless against corporate giants, but our spending habits are a powerful tool. Where we decide to spend—or not spend—shapes the marketplace. Supporting local businesses, and ethical brands, or simply buying less, forces these companies to change or become irrelevant.
This isn’t about perfection. No one can completely escape corporate systems. But if more of us pause before spending, question our purchases, and shift even a small part of our spending away from exploitative businesses, the impact will be undeniable.
From Protest to Practice: Changing Everyday Habits
Participating in one-off events like 24-hour blackouts and week-long boycotts is important, but the real challenge is changing our mindset about money, consumption, and necessity. How can we transform these temporary actions into lasting change?
Maybe you’re already doing some of these things. Maybe you’re already frugal with your spending. Maybe you’re already participating in boycotts. Now is the time to take it further, reassess your baseline, and push your boundaries. How much more can you do? We can make it into a game and challenge ourselves to do even better, knowing that, in this moment, thousands more are joining in solidarity across the nation and around the globe.
Here are some places to start or dive in further:
1. Think Twice Before Every Purchase
Each time you’re about to buy something, hit pause and ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” “Will it truly enrich my life, or is it just a fleeting want?” Even waiting a day or two can help distinguish between true needs and impulsive desires.
2. Choose Quality Over Convenience
Fast, cheap, and disposable products keep us trapped in a cycle of constant spending. Investing in well-made, long-lasting items—whether it’s clothing, appliances, or tools—means buying less over time. It saves money and reduces waste.
3. Stop Letting Marketing Control You
Advertising is designed to create artificial “needs.” Sales, limited-time offers, and influencer promotions pressure us to buy now instead of thinking critically. Recognizing these tactics makes it easier to resist them.
4. Reduce Dependency on Big Corporations
Where possible, look for alternatives. Buy secondhand. Support local businesses. Learn skills that make you less reliant on consumer goods—cooking from scratch, repairing items, or growing some of your own food.
5. Shift from Consumer to Creator
Consumption is passive. Creation is active. Instead of constantly seeking new things to buy, build something. Grow something. Fix something. Learning to meet more of your own needs nurtures independence from the systems that profit off constant consumption.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The February 28th blackout is a wake-up call—a chance to pause, reflect, and recognize the power we have as consumers. For one day, we’ll show corporations what happens when we withhold our spending.
But the real challenge isn’t participating in a 24-hour protest—that’s easy. It’s what we do afterward that really matters.
Change isn’t easy. It requires effort, sacrifice, and a willingness to sit with discomfort. But every small decision matters. Every dollar spent (or not spent) is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
February 28th is one day. What comes next is up to us.
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