Sustain-a-ville

Chances are, if you’ve done any research about sustainable/low-waste living, some results for minimalism have also popped up. The two ideas have quite a lot in common although they aren’t really the same thing. The reason I bring it up on this blog is because one of my main goals is to share ways that we can be friendly to the earth while also friendly to our wallets and practicing minimalism is a great way to accomplish both!

If we own less things, the less things we will eventually have to throw away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really what anyone would classify as a minimalist. In reality, I’m more of an “always prepared” kind of person, which actually equates to MORE stuff (because, just in case!) But there are some minimalist approaches and mindsets that we can adapt which will help us live a more sustainable life.

Less stuff = less waste

The overlap between sustainability and minimalism boils down to less stuff = less waste. Every single thing we buy in this world will eventually have an end to its useful life. Before buying something new, I like to try to envision what it is that I need – what qualities do I want it to have, what do I want it to look like, and what do I need it to accomplish? By getting into this mindset before making a purchase, I can better ensure that I’m buying something that I know will be useful to me for a long time and therefore not need to buy another, similar item that makes up for what the first one was lacking.

This concept doesn’t mean you need to immediately go clear out your home and give away anything you don’t absolutely need. There are things in our life that bring us joy, or things that help us accomplish joyful experiences. For me, for example, I have some camping gear that doesn’t get used very often. But I hold onto it because, when I do use it, it brings me great joy. It’s worth it to me to hold onto this stuff in my life and make space to store it. Another example is kitchen items – when my husband and I got married he made fun of me endlessly for putting twelve of everything on our registry when only the two of us live in our home. But the reason I did that and the reason storing all those plates and forks is worth it to me is because I love to host. Those items will actually, realistically, get used and are worth it to me.

Another important thing to mention related to this concept is that companies have been studying marketing tactics for years and are VERY knowledgeable about how to convince you that you need something. My best advice for avoiding these skillful tactics is to ask yourself if the item being advertised to you accomplishes a need you have already identified in your life. If you didn’t know you needed it until you saw the advertisement, then you actually probably don’t need it at all.

One of my favorite resources on this subject is a book called “A Life Less Throwaway” by Tara Button. In the book, she teaches us how to discern our actual needs from what marketing tactics teach us to think we need. She also covers topics like creating your own personal brand so the items you buy don’t become obsolete with consumerism-created trends.

Lean on your community

Before you buy something new (or even before you buy something used / new to you) ask yourself if it’s something you really need to own for yourself. For example, if you’re hosting a big party, do you really need to buy a new set of serving dishes? If what you have already won’t cut it, could you borrow a set from a friend or neighbor? If the thing you’re planning on buying will only serve one, or very few purposes, ask yourself if you can get away with borrowing it instead!

Another example of items where this concept can help save a LOT of $$ is tools. Even used tools can be so expensive and, unless you’re a woodworker or a handyman by trade, chances are good you don’t actually need to own every tool you might want to use over the course of your life. If you don’t have a friend who’s willing to lend you the item you need, try renting it from your local hardware store. This can be much more cost effective than buying the thing for yourself and also saves that item from ending up in the landfill down the line.

Quality > Quantity

In an effort to give us options that are less expensive, companies have also started offering options made from lower quality materials. Not only is the lower quality material they use typically plastic (ugh) but these products also don’t tend to last as long. This applies to almost everything including clothing, kitchen utensils, appliances, furniture, etc. In the short term, buying something made from higher quality materials might actually be quite a bit more expensive. But take a vacuum cleaner for example, if you buy one, very high quality vacuum cleaner now, it could last you for 20 years. In the long run, this is likely less expensive than purchasing a new, cheap one every 5 years.

The other important factor here is to make sure we’re taking good care of the things we buy. It’s not going to do any good to splurge for the sweater made of high quality, organic materials if you don’t follow the washing instructions and it only lasts you a short time. By buying items for the long run and taking good care of them, we are saving tons of waste from ending up in a landfill!