This article is all about spending a little less or a little more all for the right reasons. Questioning your purchases before you make them and making them last a little longer before you do.
Do you really need it? Before you buy something new for yourself, ask yourself if you really need it. This applies to anything from clothes to laptops to all those fancy (but useless) gizmos out there. Just because something looks cool does not mean you need to buy it (despite all those commercials telling you otherwise).
Borrow, exchange, share. Guess what? There’s probably someone you know who has exactly what you need and isn’t using it. Instead of buying new things, ask your friends, family and other acquaintances if you can borrow stuff from them. This applies to sharing vacuum cleaners, dishes and cutlery with your roommates. Instead of purchasing a vehicle, try joining the Grand River Car Share (it’s probably cheaper).
Once you decide you no longer like your clothes (or anything else you own) try organising a clothing swap, donate them to a clothing drive, or you can even try to sell things through a garage sale. Kijiji or Craigslist is always a great choice for this. Remember, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.
Buy stuff that will last. We all like a good deal whether it’s for clothes, food or something else. We’re inclined to go for the cheaper deal. Sometimes that isn’t the best choice. We buy ten cheap shirts (wash them once and see them fall to pieces) instead of getting one good one which will last longer (and look nicer). Is it really worth getting a brand new iPhone (which will break as soon as you drop it) or is an unbreakable Nokia (Note: Flip phones are never unbreakable even if they are Nokia) a better choice?
Reuse and Repair. A lot of stuff just gets thrown away because one small component is sort of, somewhat broken. All it takes is one small repair to make it as good as new. Yes, it’s a bad idea to start “fixing” an electrical appliance if you know nothing about circuits, but there’s nothing to stop you from taking that item in to get repaired. Shoes can get new soles, clothing can be patched, socks can be darned if you take the time.
This part also applies to empty yogurt containers, cardboard boxes, etc. These are all reusable and dirt cheap! There’s a reason everyone uses cardboard boxes as tables and chairs when they first move in to a new place: it works really well! I’m not suggesting you become a pack-rat but plenty of stuff out there can be used multiple times for different purposes. We’ve all seen pictures of really cool furniture made of stuff which would otherwise have been trash, so next time you’re bored (or procrastinating), see what you can do with the stuff around you.
Buy Organic and Fair trade. When you do buy something, take a few extra seconds to consider the impact you’re having on not only the environment but also the global economy. Every time you buy something, you’re essentially voicing your support for the way in which that item was made. Child labour, mass deforestation, slavery, diamond wars can all be linked to our consumption. As a consumer, you are responsible for what you buy so do a little bit of research and make an educated decision. Yes fair trade, organic, “local” and other labels often mean that it’s going to be more expensive but sometimes spending a little more is worth more (if it makes you feel better you can consider the extra to be like a donation to charity).
Hopefully this article has made you think a little about how and what you buy. So remember: consuming less and sharing with others saves you money, buying better quality goods may cost you more but it may have a better impact on the economy. Overall, be informed about the decisions that you make.
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