8. Reuse is beautiful
I will make careful purchase decisions for new items, I will buy used whenever possible and I will reuse, sell or donate items I no longer need.
I will act on one or more of these:
Before buying anything new, I will honestly ask myself “do I really need it?” and then not buy it if the answer is “no”
If I need it, I will determine if I can buy it re-used
before throwing away anything that has some value, I will determine if I can reuse it, sell it, or donate it
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Although the US only has 5% of the world’s population, we consume approximately 25% of the planet’s resources.
Creating new products requires a significant amount of energy and raw materials, and generates a lot of greenhouse gases. Throwing products away also generates many additional problems including land, water and air pollution.
As the EPA states: “Reduction and reuse are the most effective ways you can save natural resources, protect the environment and save money.”
TAKE ACTION!
Before buying anything new or throwing away anything of value, choose at least one of the following options:
Personal needs assessment. Before making a purchase, always honestly ask yourself: Do I Really Need It? For example, for an infrequently used item, could it be borrowed, rented or shared? Or can you repair an item you already have? If “no,” just don’t buy it. If “yes,” adopt one of these options to help the environment and save money.
Buy reused. If you need it, whenever possible, buy It re-used. Online and in-person shopping for pre-owned items is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reasons. You really can get great deals, while minimizing your carbon and other pollution footprint. There are many ways to do it.
For on-line purchases, consider these options: “8 of the Best Places to Buy Used Goods Online” and The Modest Wallet’s 21 Sites recommendations.
There are also lots of options to buy pre-owned items in person, for example, “The Best Thrift Shops in Santa Barbara,” and also check-out Craigslist, Nextdoor, OfferUp and garage sales.
When you purchase something that has been previously owned, you will find that the savings are amazing. It is a lot of fun, and you are helping our environment.
Avoid throwing away. Before throwing away anything of value, choose to repair it/reuse it, sell It, or donate It. First, consider repairing the item and re-using it yourself. If it is not repairable, consider selling it online or in person. You know the saying, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure – and it really is satisfying to help others discover and acquire treasures. For great on-line site options and sales tips, click here (The 40 best places to sell stuff online to make cash money – Mashable) and here (15 Websites to Help You Sell Stuff Online, Plus Tips – The PennyHoarder).
To sell in person, use garage sales, Craigslist, Nextdoor, and/or OfferUp. It’s fun and profitable.
Or donate the items(s) (Goodwill, Alpha Resource Center, and more).
Through sales and donations of your pre-owned items, you can make money and/or do good!
ADDITIONAL MOTIVATION THOUGHTS
Resilience provides a list of excellent reasons to buy used: “Used products are less expensive, don’t require new resources, don’t generate pollution, don’t require energy to create, and don’t have packaging. Buying used supports good causes and the local economy.”
According to the Lazy Frugal, here are some more fun reasons to buy second hand items: “Get higher quality for a lower price, eliminate the fear of the first scratch, and find new life for an unwanted item. Used items have character and are often unique. Plus they come assembled.”
