It’s really easy to get into the reuse/resale mental space as a parent. Babies outgrow clothes and baby stuff so fast; you might use a bouncer for 6 months and then they’re crawling and never use it again. I started shopping and selling at local pop-up kids consignment sales and it’s a huge savings. I get a lot of my kids’ toys there too, because kids go through different interests at different ages. Those experiences have made me much more likely to look for used clothes and things (furniture and housewares are a huge savings used!) for myself!
Just seeing how much stuff in good condition people are trying to get rid of has made me much more conscious of finding good-quality, longer-lasting items when I can. I’d rather buy a piece of used furniture that’s solid wood and will last decades than something new made of particleboard, even if the used furniture has a few scratches or dings that I need to fix.
I don't recall what 'new' thing I bought was. Or when. I do buy music fairly often. Not every month, but at least half.
The joys of fixed income retirement, and starting out my adulthood as a hippie. Used items were the best, jeans were already flexible. My Wife shops used clothing shops and has since before we met.
I will have a chat with her and see if we could commit to a few months.
My New Year’s resolution is to buy no new clothing. Just a tiny way to protest our viral consumer driven capitalist system. It’s not enough, but it’s something.
Start small, start with what you can do and keep going. Millions of people doing imperfect environmental good deeds is better than a few perfectionist. We need to cheer on the small deeds.
For many years, my wife and I spent every Saturday during the warmer 6 months of the year cruising local yard sales. Most of our clothes are from yard sales, as are half or more of our furniture items. I have tool boxes full of yard sale tools, including power tools. More than half of all our possessions were purchased from yard sales.
We don't need a special month or year; it is our way of life.
I hope that there are plenty of people who continue to shop for shiny new items. Otherwise, where will the yard sale items come from?
It’s really easy to get into the reuse/resale mental space as a parent. Babies outgrow clothes and baby stuff so fast; you might use a bouncer for 6 months and then they’re crawling and never use it again. I started shopping and selling at local pop-up kids consignment sales and it’s a huge savings. I get a lot of my kids’ toys there too, because kids go through different interests at different ages. Those experiences have made me much more likely to look for used clothes and things (furniture and housewares are a huge savings used!) for myself!
Just seeing how much stuff in good condition people are trying to get rid of has made me much more conscious of finding good-quality, longer-lasting items when I can. I’d rather buy a piece of used furniture that’s solid wood and will last decades than something new made of particleboard, even if the used furniture has a few scratches or dings that I need to fix.
Wish humanity had gotten this memo about a century ago, but your words are inspiring nonetheless.
True. But better late than never, I suppose.
I don't recall what 'new' thing I bought was. Or when. I do buy music fairly often. Not every month, but at least half.
The joys of fixed income retirement, and starting out my adulthood as a hippie. Used items were the best, jeans were already flexible. My Wife shops used clothing shops and has since before we met.
I will have a chat with her and see if we could commit to a few months.
Interesting subject, well written per usual.
My New Year’s resolution is to buy no new clothing. Just a tiny way to protest our viral consumer driven capitalist system. It’s not enough, but it’s something.
Start small, start with what you can do and keep going. Millions of people doing imperfect environmental good deeds is better than a few perfectionist. We need to cheer on the small deeds.
For many years, my wife and I spent every Saturday during the warmer 6 months of the year cruising local yard sales. Most of our clothes are from yard sales, as are half or more of our furniture items. I have tool boxes full of yard sale tools, including power tools. More than half of all our possessions were purchased from yard sales.
We don't need a special month or year; it is our way of life.
I hope that there are plenty of people who continue to shop for shiny new items. Otherwise, where will the yard sale items come from?