Non-Consumerism: When Needs and Wants Stretch Beyond the Check Book
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| Photo by Ella Olson |
I'm trying to blog more, things I've been thinking about and trying to put down in words. It's a way to get through the long winter, and as I lamented with Kim on her post a few days ago, helps a bit with the loneliness. This post is one of those musing topics that occupy my brain when I'm trying to put the chaos and cruelty of the world aside for a few minutes of calm.
In 2026, in efforts to switch my narrative, I'm aiming to first think, "how can I consume less, reduce waste, leave a smaller footprint, and make a statement about my beliefs in how people and the planet are treated." Natural results should be good for my bottom line. I'm scouting blogs and websites to see where I can learn. I'd love to hone a resourceful skill or two that reduced needs to buy a new whatchamacallit or doodad. I want to reinvest time in slow methods that maximize any use of energy. Basics I've done sporadically but want to adopt as regular practice include:
- Stop, think, look, before I decide I actually need to buy something (anything)
- Walk or bike to do errands in town
- Combine any out-of-town driving with errands that can economize on miles
- Buy local, put a moratorium as much as possible on big box store spending
- Hang more laundry to air dry
- Be a lender and a borrower of whatchamacallits and doodads when needed
- Look at secondhand options and only buy new as a last resort
- Batch cooking simple meals from bulk/ reduced packaged ingredients
"Free" soup from bits found that
were at risk for waste. - More "free" cooking meals (basically making something out of nothing bits, most likely soups, wraps, and hotdishes
- Avoiding single food items like yogurt cups, wrapped cheese sticks, plastic water bottles
- Use less, particularly of things that are getting more and more expensive such as coffee (do I really need to drink 1/2 a pot or more a day), Diet Coke, bubbly water, and use more as treats, things to look forward to and savor
- Source local, unpackaged food sources like farm stands, markets, co-ops
- Bulk buy/ partner buy large quantities with reduced packaging
- Increase vegan and vegetarian meals
- Tweak heating temps to be a bit lower and cooling temps a bit higher
- Look for creative uses, problem solvers, entertainment, and just be more creative in general to reduce my consumption of stuff
I'll have some limitations. Weather can be both extremes in Minnesota with a need for heating and cooling, and the ability to always walk or bike is not realistic, even in town due to ice and road/ path conditions. (A recent walk to the grocery store was quite treacherous due to melting snow and ice and refreezing on the path, sidewalk, and side of road.) Unfortunately, we have no public transportation and two of my kids, probably all three within the year, live 25 or more miles away. My doctors are all out of town. A car's a must. I can't see myself gifting second hand either but will try to go more experiential, consumable treats/nice products and if a thing, greener versions.
For those that already see non-consumerism as a real way of life, where do you get your ideas and inspirations? What would you add to my list above?
I don't really seek out sources for non-consumption anymore. Why? I see every dime as part of "travel". Thinking about buying an item? 1. Do I have something already that will do the job? 2. Where will I store it? 3. If I bought this X times it would be a plane ticket to....... 4.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a convenience/boxed/bagged food cook. I love to cook and prefer scratch made simple meals.
The more you walk and improve the motion in your new knee, the more you will want to walk when it's safe outside. Sadly, we've had only a skif of snow this season so bundling up and walking has been safe here.
I know you'll find your way, a way that serves you :-)
"Where to store" the item is another great question. I do not need more stuff cluttering my home. I'll walk when it's bitter cold as I have a good coat, boots, etc. within reason if course. It's the ice that gives me pause.
DeleteI'm with you on rethinking expenditure on things that should be treats. Expanding the number of portions from a pound of meat is my current focus by adding canned baked beans, kidney beans etc. The meat becomes an addition. Plus this adds fibre and reduces saturated fat! And just generally reducing portion size.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's eating less meat, but not necessarily adding something to it, but will add as another side dish, so my plate is bulked up. Alternative , no meat, and just the beans like in chili. Yes, more fiber is a win and I'm fortunate that beans do not give me adverse effects some people experience.
DeleteI think you've covered most points. I've cut back hugely in various ways and I no longer really think about spending as I used to. Like Elle, and like yourself, I want to do a little travelling. Not spending is now as habitual as spending used to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd part of my travelling is wanting to experience more everyday life, culture, experiences. I was grateful my friend hosted me and we compromised with splurges on meals and coffee out, but also some good meals and mornings at her home.
DeleteI have followed The Non Consumer Advocate blog for about 15 years. I do not shop on Amazon at all, like Katy, and try my best to live a a nonconsumer life. Katy is my Nonconsumer hero. I also read The Tightwad Gazette books during the 90’s. There are fb pages for both above. . I also follow The Prudent Homemaker Blog and she started posting again. I follow her more for recipes. I am helped out by not eating out because there are zero restaurants where I live ( although a food truck shows up on weekends and the gas stations have a food bar, common in rural areas here). There are only a few restaurants in the town where I work and I never know who I have dealt with in court and just don’t eat out as a precaution. Plus I don’t really have time when at work to go eat out. It is easier to grocery shop in the town where I work, and cook a couple of times a week. This week I made from dried beans and frozen foods a red beans and ham with turnip greens soup. I also made homemade coleslaw and homemade potato salad. I have a huge stockpile of dried beans and I am making an attempt to use them this year. I have my black or houndstooth work suits and jackets, they last for years, my Levi jeans with black T shirts or Alabama shirts for casual wear and a couple of church dresses. I don’t really have a big wardrobe bc it isn’t necessary for me. I just use sweats or shorts for working out. I buy Dansko shoes and a medium quality sneaker and replace when needed. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI'll look for prudent homemaker. I follow the others, though trying to reduce my Facebook due to the political and anti human rants that seem to change me through. A good quality shoe is a must, but I can get by with my same wardrobe for the next year. Even for substitute teaching, I have enough simple but professional pieces so no need to buy. I think I'll miss Happy hours the most, so will keep a few in my mix. Plus, like tonight, have friends or family over casually for practically nothing, and get the same happy hour benefit of friendly get together and an early night!
DeleteI think it is all in what you value. I value my time and do not want to go back to full time work,
ReplyDeleteI like thinking of my morning coffee as a treat. Yes, I have it daily but I do not have 3 cups anymore, just one. I have less headaches now.
I realize retiring at 59 1/2 was a privilege too many don't have the option to consider, but that comes with tradeoffs like you say. I'm trying to keep coffee to two cups and really savor them.
DeleteI think its great that you are balancing this out with what is practical or reasonable, based on where you live, the weather, etc. For my part, I will be increasing some of the frugal habits I have like batching errands, eating in, thrifting when possible, and creating a smaller footprint inside my home. (I don't need to do run the washer and dryer as often as I do, for example) Some of the little luxuries, I will keep. They help me feel secure and at peace. I do love my coffee. (:
ReplyDeleteI too tend to over run dishwasher and washing machine. It's balancing out rewards that feel like treats with just habits out of well, habit. Refilling my cup until the drip coffee maker ( full) pot is empty was a habit. Making a good single or two cup French Press coffee is a ritual and a treat. Mindset changes.
DeleteA car is a must here too, although I would love to be able to walk to the stores where I need too, but it's not possible here either and there is no public transportation either. Ads far as other things, I do buy the larger containers of yogurt as they are usually cheaper and I buy the large box of kitty litter as it is much cheaper than the jugs you can buy. I do transfer the box into the jugs though (the ones I saved from the past) because I do prefer the jugs and my cat likes to get into the box, but can't get into the jugs. LOL
ReplyDeletePart of my goal in getting stronger is so I can lift those heavy sizes of things in bulk! While the grocery and hardware store are very close walking, they are quite expensive ones. I try to use for loss leaders or essential one offs. But I also appreciate the convenience so will pay a bit more and hope both stay in business.
DeleteThere's always, always, always ways to spend less and use what we have. It's doesn't have to be a complicated or over-thought thing. It's also fun to have no spend days. Or to use down a pantry. Sooo much fun in using the bits and bobs we have. That said, I also really enjoy ingredient shopping as well. Both sides, so fun.
ReplyDeleteWhile I like a good challenge, I guess I disagree that it's always doable and that it's always uncomplicated. I think everyone does the best we can but at a point, doing without isn't necessarily fun unless there's a feeling of reward. And, there's times when it is a necessity if literally there's no money.
DeleteWhen I was a kid, living with my parents, non consumerism was a way of life not just with us but our close friends. Most families had only one car, we walked everywhere (or one parent piled us all in) we never ate out, and ate what was served, all at the same time. Soda and snacks were a treat—if we were hungry there was peanut butter and jelly, if we were thirsty there was water or tea. None of us had the newest gadgets…fun was a group of us chipping in babysitting money to rent a vcr for the weekend which we walked to town to pick up and carry home. It would stay Friday at our house, Saturday at my dearest friend’s, and we would meet to get it and the videos back on Sunday during the two hours the store was open to accept the returns. (No way we were paying the Monday return surcharge!)
ReplyDeleteI don’t know why it seems so much harder to embrace that lifestyle now. I think it’s because everything we think we want can be had with the click of a button.
Good luck. I will keep you posted as to our progress on here. January is always a no spend month, except for a kid’s birthday.
-Meg B.
Life has developed very differently from my growing up years too. It took a lot of babysitting time to afford a movie night out. Restaurants were special occasions. I want that mentality again.
DeleteI love this post. It's a great reminder that its time to put the planet first, consume less and make our footprint smaller. I live very close to an Amazon distribution center and I've gotten into a bad habit of ordering stuff on a whim because it gets here the next day. When I was younger and had less money I was great at living 'small' and watching my pennies, I need to get back into that mindset but for a different reason now.
ReplyDeleteCovid and the reliance in delivery made expectations ramp up, in my opinion. I live in a community that has water issues...now I see it so much more than just pennies, but those are important too.
DeleteI more than I need and really want for very little. I am really good at delayed gratification and can put off whatever I think I need/want for quite a while.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a rough few years and yes, I shopped or spent as ways to fill a void. It didn't help. I too need little and want less physical things.
DeleteBack when my kids were babies and I stayed at home (late 80's early 90's) I found the book "The Tightwad Gazette" was a budget saver. Got it out at the local library. It is ironic nowadays that being frugal "back then" was actually good for the environment and lessening the "carbon footprint". My goal was to be able to pay the bills and stay at home so we lived on hubby's income. It helps to have a solid goal in mind rather than a generalized idea. Then the steps to reach that goal. Makes it easy to keep track that way.
ReplyDelete