Showing posts with label Minimalist Basics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minimalist Basics. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Eco-minimalist crafting ideas on a budget

I love crafts. My favorites are crochet, painting, and sewing. But sometimes, I worry about buying supplies new and how that affects the environment. This article discusses all the ways I've found to enjoy doing crafts in an eco-minimalist and budget-friendly way.

  1. Resources that offer pre-owned crafting supplies
  2. Ask around
  3. Don't throw anything away
  4. Have patience 
  5. My eco-minimalist budget crafting

1. Resources that offer pre-owned crafting supplies


There's going to be some overlap here with the resources in my beginner's eco-minimalist tips article. I'll leave a few here, but I recommend referring back to that list for more options. 

I'm sure there are many places local to larger metropolitan areas as well. I saw a bunch of them while I was searching, but they didn't ship orders so I didn't include them. 

A lot of these places don't just offer partially-used supplies, either. People donate brand-new items that they bought and didn't end up using as well. For example, I've gotten unused skeins of yarn still in their wrapper and unopened bottles of paint. I would rather buy these from places that support the ideals I believe in than get them from a chain store where their money goes to create more waste and profit. 

2. Ask around


I bet you that you know at least one person who has some craft supplies that they're not using. From what I've heard, there are also networks of artists or crafters who offer up things they don't want to others.

Sometimes, people have stuff laying around that they forgot about, and they don't think to give it away until someone asks for it. I saw that all the time in my local Buy Nothing group.

I looked it up, and here are a few sites I found:

3. Don't throw anything away


What might be useless to you could be valuable to another maker, and vice-versa. I found so many upcycled products on Etsy from things I never would have thought of myself.



Here's this website with amazing pieces of art made from reclaimed and salvaged material. Here are some of my favorites:

Nelson Mandela in plastic and broken necklaces

Plastic, metal, and wood

From cars, motorcycles, and planes

I also found this great website called causeartist where artists raise awareness about pollution through their artwork. They use trash and found items as their media.

If you don't consider yourself an artist, there are still lots of options using recycled materials. I think Pinterest is kinda famous for this, but there are plenty of other places you can find ideas. Here's one website that has some simple beginner crafts that should be accessible to most people: https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/crafts-made-from-recycled-materials/.

However, if you still end up with items that you don't know what to do with, here are a few more articles with resources you can donate to.

https://www.creativelive.com/blog/where-to-donate-craft-supplies/

4. Have patience


Just like with buying anything else used, you're not likely to have immediate access to whatever you want. But isn't that part of the fun of being creative? I love being innovative with what I have access to, and designing projects based on what I'm able to find.

When I first started doing crafts that involved patterns, I would pick out a pattern and then buy the materials (all new) to create the project. Now, I do one of 3 things.

  1. I only do projects that will work with supplies I already have
  2. I pick the pattern based on the materials I have or am able to find
  3. I don't use a pattern at all, or improvise on a template to make it work with what's on hand
The tricky thing is when you're not sure how much you have of something and if it will be enough to do what you want. That's where extra patience comes in. I have some projects that are partially finished because I didn't have enough. I keep samples of what I'm using anytime I make a trip to a local store that might have craft supplies. That way I can check it against whatever they have and see if it will work.


5. My eco-minimalist budget crafting


I'll talk about crochet first because that's what I do the most. A lot of my crochet hooks used to belong to my grandmother, so I didn't even have an initial investment of tools! As mentioned, I get most of my yarn second-hand. New yarn has gotten SO expensive! I recently needed to replenish my stash and got about $400-500 worth of yarn (retail value) for $60, plus the large basket the previous owner was keeping it in. That yarn will probably last me for the next few years with little to no supplementation.

I sometimes design things myself. Other times, I use free patterns. I get them from yarn manufacturer websites, but my favorite place is called Ravelry. You have to sign up, but it's free and then you have access to an unlimited amount of crafting genius! 

Patterns are available for crochet, knitting, machine knitting, and loom knitting. There are paid patterns as well, and you can search and sort using all kinds of parameters.



For sewing, as I mentioned previously, I found a sewing machine at a thrift store for only $25. I looked around for a while, and it was the only one that included a power cord (and the foot pedal). I plugged it in at the store to make sure it worked.

I can't speak for the newer machines, because I've never used one. I learned to sew on my mom's old Singer, and the one I have now is from Sears and was probably made in the 70s or 80s. But that's a good thing, because the machines are entirely mechanical, and their simplicity makes them easy to maintain and fix. When I got it home, it needed some oiling, cleaning, and tuning. But since I did that, it's been working great!

I have worked with brand-new fabric and brand-new patterns before, but that's neither cost-effective nor eco-minimalist. These days, I have a few things I do regularly with sewing.

  • If I have a pattern that I like, I'll trace it onto scratch paper so that the original can be used over and over without damage. Pattern paper is very fragile.
  • If I'm trying to build/alter a piece of clothing based on something I already own, I use that clothing as a pattern. No paper is needed.
  • I alter clothing by pinning it to size while I'm wearing it inside out. I did this recently with a man's shirt I thrifted and converted into a tunic for myself.

If you only get thrifted (or gifted) clothes, then experimenting with altering them to fit your body and style is a lot less expensive. It's also better for the environment. 

As clothing wears out for me, I see if I can upcycle it into other garments, bags, or whatever. I have 2 t-shirts that are about to be on their 3rd iteration since I got them--I'm going to weave them into reusable grocery bags. I also have a sleeveless top with a hole in it. I plan on replacing the damaged area with some crochet embellishments.

Also, I've seen some really cool things being made out of thrifted blankets, quilts, and bedsheets. When my area started having a mask mandate, there were no masks to be found anywhere, in local stores (which I couldn't visit anyway) or online. I ended up looking up a mask pattern online and used some elastic hair ties and an old, ripped pillowcase to make a few masks. I have some other old sheets that have been hanging around for years. When I next need some new pajamas, those sheets are in for a transformation.

As for painting, there are some simple options that some people might find controversial. Someone came across some used canvases and gave them to me. Some were partially finished, and 1 was just plain ugly. I plan to paint over them. 

You could also do this with thrifted canvases. You can also paint on rocks, scrap wood, used furniture, clothing, ceramic, old glass items, walls...the options are endless. 

So far, I haven't found any thrifted paint brushes by themselves. But I've seen painting kits (the ones that come with paints, brushes, and a book or pad) in thrift stores, and definitely paints by themselves. I already have enough brushes, though. When the glue separates from the handle, I just re-glue it.

This could be a much longer article. I love finding inspiration for creativity and finding ways to enjoy my hobbies that aren't wasteful or expensive. I hope you can do the same!





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Saturday, September 11, 2021

My unpopular minimalist opinions

I've seen lots of videos and blog posts where people talk about their unpopular opinions, so I thought it would be fun if I gave it a try. So here are my unpopular minimalist opinions that will probably cause some backlash.

Before I get started, though, I want to add in a disclaimer, since cancel culture is such a big thing. I'm not writing this to attack anyone or change anyone's mind. I'm doing it because I'm lucky enough to live in a country that allows freedom of speech, so I'm going to exercise that right.

If you feel attacked by what I say, consider why that might be. I don't know you, so there's no way that I could know your opinions and try to attack them or change them. Therefore, this is likely an internal battle you're having, and you'll have to decide how to work that out within yourself. Also, my opinions are based on some minimalists. Not most or all of them; I did say they are unpopular. So if this opinion doesn't apply to you, then great! And if you don't agree with it, fine! You're entitled to an opinion just as much as I am.

If you have any unpopular minimalist opinions of your own to share, feel free! And now for a sneak peek into what this article holds.



1. It's un-minimalist to promote a minimalist brand on social media
2. Celebrating religious or cultural holidays in a typically commercial way isn't minimalist
3. All eco-minimalists should practice a plant-based diet
4. The average non-minimalist is addicted to consuming
5. Minimalism practiced by low-income people can still be a choice

Are you still there? LOL. If you've made it this far, thank you for your interest. Now, I'll go into more detail.

1. It's un-minimalist to promote a minimalist brand on social media


Shortly before I decided to shut down all my social media accounts (yes, I did that!), I was looking at the accounts of other minimalists that I follow. Social media has become such a competitive place, and from what I understand, the internet algorithms tend to work in conjunction with social media presence. So to keep up with their peers, minimalists resort to frequent, if not daily posts, spending tons of time responding to comments, and even paying for advertising to get their brand noticed.

I'm sure some of them have volunteers or paid social media experts to handle their accounts, so maybe they're not doing participating themselves. But does that really matter, when they're still using a place FILLED with consumerist ads and time-wasting, brain-numbing propaganda to promote their brand?

How can people focus on what's most important when they're spending so much time on social? Maybe minimalists think that they have to be on there to get recognition and promote their lifestyles. But just by using those platforms, they are not leading by example.

You may have also noticed that I didn't put a Pinterest picture at the beginning of this post and ask you to pin it. That's because even though Pinterest claims to *not* be a social media platform, they are starting to behave like one more and more. I decided that using them is no longer in line with my minimalist lifestyle, and takes up time that I'd rather spend enjoying my life.

Buh-bye, Pinterest.

If someone's non-minimalist work or personal life makes social media easier or more enjoyable, then I don't take issue with that. I just don't think it's a minimalist endeavor, regardless of whatever reasons excuses people give.

2. Celebrating religious or cultural holidays in a typically commercial way isn't minimalist


So much spending and waste are created by many of the American holidays. There are flimsy decorations, buying presents, special dishes, uneaten food, and special clothing, and going into debt. I'm not trying to knock religious tradition here, but from what I can see, many of the previously designated religious holidays have turned into opportunities for marketing agencies and retail companies to rake in the cash from the average person. 




A few examples come to mind of the trash generated and money spent in large amounts when Americans celebrate common holidays: 

  • fireworks on New Year's Eve and Independence Day/Fourth of July
  • throw-away decorations specific to a holiday that have to be re-purchased every year
  • new "Easter baskets" and plastic eggs filled with candy for Easter egg hunts, some of which never get found and are left to litter the environment
  • buying special decorative dishes, napkins, paper plates, etc. for a single use or for an event that only happens once or a few times per year
  • buying too much food and letting it sit out too long during a party, then having to throw it away
  • tossing out leftovers because people are sick of eating the same turkey/ham/whatever dish for days in a row
  • carving pumpkins or keeping them whole and/or buying hay bales for Thanksgiving/fall and then throwing them away
  • Halloween costumes that are only worn once as well as other holiday outfits that are only worn once per year
  • going into debt to buy presents that people don't necessarily need or want
  • skyrocketing electricity bills from lights and other plug-in decorations
  • Christmas trees--grown on land that could be used to grow food, cut down to use for decoration, and then thrown away after the season is over

I'm sure there are still many people who honor these holidays in traditional ways, like prayer/going to their places of worship or gathering for a simple meal. But a lot of people don't anymore, or they do that plus add on a bunch of extravagance. It seems like everyone wants to do things in bigger, flashier, and more expensive ways. There are even articles about how to deal with holiday stress. Do you know how you can experience less stress during the holidays? Change how you celebrate them. I wonder if people from 100 or 200 years ago felt stressed out by holidays?


3. All eco-minimalists should practice a plant-based diet


There is overwhelming evidence that the way that we eat affects the environment. I've been reading The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall, which was first published in 2009 (I'm reading the 2012 version), and back then he was talking about the environmental effects of eating animal products. 

I also found this article in The Guardian from back in 2018 that reviews a study published in a journal called Science. At the time, it was the largest study to date and stated that "More than 80% of farmland is used for livestock but it produces just 18% of food calories and 37% of protein." It also results in more than half of the global water and air pollution.

Simply shifting toward a more plant-based diet by switching out beef for beans could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 46-74%, according to a quote from this article. Since eating animal products accounts for so much of the environmental issues we're facing, I don't see how people can truly be eco-minimalist without cutting back on them and focusing on plant foods instead.



Eating beef also creates more pollution than driving a car. So if owning a car is someone's only option for transportation, they can still help the environment by making this switch to their diet.

Lastly, beans cost way less than beef and are more easily attainable for many people than beef is, which means less pollution caused by transportation. So there are 2 more ways that changing one's diet can up their eco-minimalist game.


4. The average non-minimalist is addicted to consuming


Shopping causes a dopamine rush, which is why so many people are addicted to it. Plus, did you know that grocery stores are designed like casinos? Speaking of gambling...

Have you ever heard stories about what people do with lottery winnings? According to this article, most people waste the money, and some end up worse than before. A lot of people seem to say they wish they'd never won the money in the first place!

The issues caused by shopping, gambling, and food addictions cause just as many problems in people's lives as addictions to drugs or alcohol. It's just that Westernized society encourages this type of splurging and even falsely state that any spending of money is good for the economy. The truth is that most of our shopping dollars go to enormous corporations, and they already have enough money. They're also less likely to put that money back into the communities they serve through donations, community service, or even increasing wages or other benefits for the average employee. Instead, we hear over and over again about how the CEOs and board members of these groups give themselves raises, stock options, and bonuses, while the majority of the workforce struggles to get by. Shopping locally is helpful to the economy, but going to your local Walmart to buy what you need is not likely to change your community's well-being very much.

In the U.S. (and I'm assuming many other countries with similar socio-economic structures), we're encouraged to spend. Don't have the money? Get a credit card, a payday loan, or a personal loan with astronomical interest rates.




And it isn't just about buying too many clothes, vehicles, vacays, or electronics we can't afford. We also consume food, drinks, pills, and supplements that cause harm. It may feel good in the moment, but we'll likely pay for it later.

The marketing we are constantly faced with definitely has some responsibility for this behavior, but individual consumers must also be held accountable for their actions. In the end, we all do have a choice on how and when we spend our money. Especially if money is in short supply, people need to find ways to be more realistic about what they buy and not fall into the consumer addiction traps being thrown at us. 


5. Minimalism practiced by low-income people can still be a choice


I've heard a lot lately about how minimalism is the glamorization of poverty and that people don't see minimalism as a good option because of this stigma they've put on it.

I just looked it up, and I'm considered "poor" for my area. My income is less than 50% of the median income for where I live. If I applied, I could probably be granted some social services, like food benefits or housing subsidies.

My family didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up, either. Or I should say, there should have been enough money, but it was spent in the wrong places. So I grew up in a house that was falling apart with half-finished repair projects and broken-down cars. I had clothes to wear (sometimes they were my sibling's) and food to eat, but I thought we were poor.

Nevertheless, my life was not minimalist. My parents were both hoarders. My own room was filled with things I didn't use or need. It was only as I got older that I started to purge these items from my life during my teen years because it felt better to not have them. Then as an adult on my own, I was always conscious of my budget and not wanting to exceed it. But thanks to a complete lack of debt of any sort, I still had some discretionary funds that I chose not to "invest" into pieces that I would see as clutter.

I loved an article from the Black Minimalists website on this subject. Here's what one of the writers, Yolanda, said on the topic:

Personally, I find it a bit perplexing to say poor people lack choice and thus agency. Can you choose to be a minimalist and lack certain resources, i.e. be poor? From what I’ve read on the subject, it would seem not, but here I am, living proof.

I grew up poor and by current U.S. societal standards, I’m still poor. I’ve lived in some type of low-income housing, including a trailer park, for most of my life and have received government assistance in various forms. I also have a college degree which ironically has both elevated and further impoverished me at the same damn time.

I flirted with a middle class lifestyle while working my last full-time job five years ago. I chose to return to poverty and pursue a minimalist lifestyle after becoming disillusioned with the emotional, spiritual, and mental labor required to ascend to and maintain an average middle class life. Part of that labor also stemmed from an inability to reconcile a poverty mindset with a newly (physically) abundant one.

Additionally, I know many people in the larger minimalist movement and within the black minimalist community who have chose [sic] minimalism as a way to skirt poverty or at least maintain what they have while living the most healthy, sustainable lifestyle they can manage. 

I think she mirrored my feelings on the topic very well. 😀

One last thought I have about minimalism in general is its relationship to debt. Are you truly minimalist if regularly generate debt for items you can't afford? What about someone who can pay all their debts, but have more than they need? I'd love to know your thoughts on the subject.

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Friday, July 30, 2021

5 eco-minimalist tips for beginners

I've recently been binge-watching videos and reading articles about becoming more eco-friendly, and I've learned so much! I want to share some of my favorite eco-minimalist tips and tricks that are easy to incorporate into your life. I'll also share why each decision is important, and resources to help you be more eco-minimalist.

If you haven't read our previous post about the definition of an eco-minimalist, you can check it out here as well as some more good ideas for eco-minimalist changes you can make. Please note that I'm relatively new to this topic, so this will be a very beginner's set of tips. And I'm trying not to go for the super-obvious stuff, like reusable shopping bags, water containers, coffee mugs, etc.

I chose to split this up into 3 articles: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I'm basing how I categorize these tips based on how affordable they are and also how much life disruption they might cause. I think going from 0 to 100 in one step is both stressful and not likely to be permanent.

I consider myself to be a beginner because I realized after all this research how little I actually understand about living sustainably. I thought I knew quite a bit, but I really didn't. I also misunderstood some things, and I'm betting I'm not the only one.

Also, note that I've been writing this post for months in the background while I published others. I want to be as accurate as possible, and that takes a lot more time than my usual articles. For that reason, I won't be publishing all 3 of these posts (beginner, intermediate, advanced eco-minimalist tips) in a row. There will also be more articles specific eco-minimalist topics that need space all to themselves.

Here's what to expect from this article:

  1. Don't buy anything
  2. Use up what you already have
  3. Buy second-hand
  4. Offset your carbon footprint
  5. Encourage companies to be more eco-friendly
I consider these tips eco-minimalist (and not just eco-friendly) because the focus is on taking just small steps to make an impact while consuming as little as possible.

Being good stewards to our planet is so, so important! According to an article from the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council), we have to cut emissions globally by 40% by 2030, and 2040 is the point of no return. 

I don't know about you, but I fully plan on being around through 2040. That means I need to do my part to keep this planet alive. We are all in this together. I'd really appreciate it if you could share this article with others if you think they might be interested or learn something from it. If you already know all this information, rest assured that more "advanced" information is coming soon. Thanks for reading, and I'd love your feedback in the comments section if you have any more resources you want everyone to know about.

As usual, you can also save this post to Pinterest for later if you don't have time to read it now.


  1. Don't buy anything 
I know it's pretty normal for me to automatically want to replace something when I'm running out of it or it breaks. But the truth is, we don't always need a replacement item. For example, I'm about to replace two pairs of sandals that are falling apart (seriously, one has a metal washer holding the thong in place) with a single pair that covers the function of both. However, if one pair was still functional, I would stick with that pair and not buy a second one.

Besides replacing things that you run out of, it can be tempting to buy new things that you haven't tried yet. I know some people love getting the latest electronic gadget that has come out, or whatever other product is different and innovative. 

I have several different questions that I use to dissuade myself from buying things. I ask myself:
  • Do I really need this?
  • How often will I actually use it?
  • What goals am I achieving for myself by buying this item? What goals am I putting on the backburner by owning it?
  • Is there something (or multiple things) that I already own that perform a similar function?
  • How many hours do I have to work to pay for this? Do I have the money now, or would I have to go into debt to get it?
  • Where would I put it?
  • How much [food, rent, gas, utilities] could I buy with what I'll spend on this product?
  • Do I know someone who already has this? Can I borrow it from them to try it out?
  • Have I researched this product, its quality, the company's information, and consumer feedback thoroughly?
  • If I wait [7 days, 30 days, 6 months] to buy it, will I still want it?
  • And as an eco-friendly bonus: What were the resources used to make this item? When I'm done with this product, what will happen to it?
After going through all of those questions, I usually am not motivated to buy something anymore. It no longer seems appealing to spend money on it, and I realize that I've gone through life without this thing so far, and I've been fine. At the very least, I don't want to buy it brand-new.

To read about other ways to convince yourself to not buy, check out the articles in this web search I did.


Of course, there are some things that you have to buy, like food. For those items, try to plan out your shopping list well, and stick to them to avoid getting things you don't need. I'm going to do a separate post about buying food.

Another way to avoid buying more is to repair, reuse, or recycle/upcycle what you already have. 

For example, when I get to my crafts articles, I'm going to show you ways I take things I owned and turned them into other things. I also use old containers from just about anything, like cosmetics, protein powder, and pasta jars, and reuse them to store whatever fits in them. 

I'm a fan of making repairs wherever possible to things I own instead of throwing them away or donating them. I haven't bought any socks in about 5 years because I use an old-school technique called "darning" to fix them. 


I also repaired my smartphone after owning it for 4+ years when the "permanent" battery went out. I'm not very mechanically inclined, so I took it to Batteries Plus; they charged $99, but when they were done, the phone worked as good as new again.

One thing that people don't often talk about when it comes to sustainability is to provide proper care and maintenance to what you own to make it last longer. I have a thrifted sewing machine that may be older than I am, and it still works great because I learned how to maintain it myself. I've also read that car maintenance lowers emissions and improves mileage. My car is a 15-year-old Toyota RAV4 with 180,000 miles on it. I do the recommended maintenance on it and it still gets over 18 miles per gallon.

 2. Use up what you already have


I'm definitely guilty of buying something, realizing I don't want it, and then it sits around unused. 

For example, I realized recently that I really don't need to use conditioner on my hair. It's very straight, quite short, and seems to fall in the "non-porous hair" category. I don't ever dye it or use hair products or heat on it (because non-porous hair doesn't "take" products or styling easily), so it doesn't get tangled, damaged, or dried out. I only use conditioner once every few months, so I've had it forever. I've decided that I'm going to use the remainder of the conditioner as shaving cream, and after it's used up I won't be buying any more. 

I could just throw out the rest of the conditioner. But that feels wasteful, so I'm going to keep at it. It's taking me a long time. However, there isn't a deadline and it isn't taking up space that I'll use for something else.

Sometimes, there's something that you really can't use. Maybe you bought a skincare product then found out you're allergic to it. It's tempting to just throw those things away, because who's going to want a partially-used something, right?

I encourage you to not assume that nobody wants it. I belong to a local Buy Nothing group (https://buynothingproject.org), and you'd be surprised what people are willing to take that is not brand-new. I see posts for food (like half-empty containers of baby formula or a package of cookies with one eaten), partially-used cosmetics, broken items, empty Amazon boxes, packing materials, wood scraps...the list goes on. Not to mention what people offer on places like Craigslist for free. eBay also has stuff that people sell that is clearly broken, or used, for parts! I watched this one video about a couple who makes $3000/month from dumpster diving. In one instance, they sold used disposable cameras to this guy who wanted the transducers for his electronics projects. 

People also make art out of items salvaged from landfills. How cool is that? You can see some examples on the NRDC website at (https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/turning-landfill-make-fine-art). But why wait until something gets to the landfill? You can reach out to artists in your area doing similar work and see if they want donations.

Here are some other places where you can sell or give away unwanted items:

General marketplaces

Preloved and Freeloved

Amazon

Facebook Marketplace and Facebook groups

Freecycle (Trash Nothing)

OfferUp


Gumtree

Vintage Cash Now

Local consignment stores, thrift/secondhand stores, pawnshops, garage sales, flea markets

Nextdoor

5Miles

eBid

Bonanza

Etsy

Clothing and shoes

Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, Tradesy, LePrix, Buffalo Exchange, Vinted, and thredUP 

If you own Eileen Fisher clothing that is damaged, you can bring it to a local store. They will either repair it, or recycle it into a new piece if unrepairable, and will give you a credit for recycling their clothes. They're a Certified B Corp and have a lot of detail online about the steps they take to be compassionate toward the planet, their employees, and their customers. They also have a great article here called "Why You Should Recycle Everything In Your Closet."

Nike takes back all sneakers (not just their brand) through their Reuse-a-Shoe program

Levi Strauss is working to make their jeans and stores more sustainable. According to their website, they have in-store Tailor Shops at their flagship stores, where you can bring denim "to be repaired or repurposed." 

The Blue Jeans Go Green program takes denim and recycles it into the insulation. Many participating clothing stores give you store credit for your donation. You can check their website for a store near you.

The North Face started the Clothes the Loop program to take clothes AND shoes in any condition from any brand at their stores and give you $10 off your next purchase of $100 or more. I may be bringing my two pairs of worn-out sandals to them--I'm trying to figure out which company will do the best with worn-out shoes.

Speaking of sandals, the brand Okabashi (found at Target and online) is where I found my latest pair of sandals to replace the broken-down ones. They have a 2-year limited warranty on their shoes, which are ethically and sustainably made in America. You can machine-wash or put them in the dishwasher! And once they're at the end of their life, you can send them back to be recycled and receive a 15% off promo code. 😍

If your shoes are gently worn, you can donate them to the Soles4Souls program, which provides aid for disaster relief, small businesses in developing countries, and unhoused persons.

H&M claims their garment recycling program is "the world's biggest" globally. They will give you a store credit, too. They're still a fast-fashion company, but if they're what you have available, then it's better than a landfill.

Clothing swaps (find one or start your own!)

Books, CDs, Games, Electronics

Ziffit

Decluttr

Music Magpie

Cash4books.net

Abundatrade

The Gone app

Swappa

Gazelle

Reverb (for musical instruments)

Collectibles, Antiques, and Art

Collectors.com

idonowidont.com (jewelry)

CommicConnect

Metropolis Comics

Ruby Lane

ArtFire

Redbubble

Saatchi Art

society6

*A note about these resources: Please do your own research on each company for their current programs. While I tried to research each company to provide basic details, things can always change! I will try to update this page periodically, but I don't have the bandwidth to check on them all constantly.

 3. Buy second-hand


Go for second-hand as your first choice. Not only is this more sustainable, but it's usually more cost-effective. Also, older items tend to be more durable because they were built to last, and you can get better quality items than you might be able to afford new. You can take advantage of what people discard because they always want the latest thing, and usually find gently used (or brand new) things in the "used" resale markets listed in the previous section. 

For almost 100 years now, greedy product manufacturers have used "planned obsolescence" to ensure things break or outdate quickly and you have to spend more money to replace them. From what I saw, it started in 1924 with lightbulb manufacturers, and other industries have unfortunately jumped on that bandwagon. That's why your new smartphone starts to lag after only a year of use (Apple was caught red-handed doing this on purpose!) and it seems like my printer breaks every year or 2. 

I follow an emotional-hoarder-turned-minimalist, Marissa Zen, who said she still uses the food processor she inherited from her mom. It's over 40 years old and still works perfectly. Can you imagine the average food processor you buy today lasting for 40 years? No way!

When looking for used clothing, try to avoid clothes that require dry-cleaning. There's a lot of evidence that dry-cleaning chemicals cause cancer, to the point that it might even be dangerous to bring dry-cleaned clothes into your house. Go for natural fabrics (cotton or linen is best). But give yourself some grace; it's tough to find 100% cotton clothing. There is so much clothing going into landfills; this topic needs its own post.

My go-to, when I need to buy anything, is always to visit my local thrift store first. I'm lucky to have a few independently-owned stores in my area as well as the big chains, Goodwill and Salvation Army, so it's (probably) the lowest carbon footprint for me to check there first. I prefer to support the smallest business first and then go to the larger places.  If I had to pick between Salvation Army and Goodwill, I would always go with Salvation first, because it's a charity. This means store profits and donated funds typically go directly to help those who need it. Meanwhile, although Goodwill is a nonprofit, they pay a LOT of money to their CEO (at least $720,000 per year). Goodwill is often more expensive, as well. 

Neither organization is perfect as is true with a lot of big companies. Plus, both have been known to redistribute their inventory across long distances, which is not the most sustainable method (though I understand why they probably do it). That's why I go to the local small shops first.

I know in other places I've been, I've seen other second-hand and thrift stores like Savers, St. Vincent De Paul, Plato's Closet, the American Cancer Society Thrift, Humane Society Thrift, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore (mostly for home goods and construction/remodeling supplies).

If you don't have any second-hand stores near you, the online options I mentioned in the above section make second-hand shopping possible. Here are some more options I found when searching for online thrift stores. If you have tried any of these, please comment about your experience. 👇

Goodfair

Thrift2U

Thrift Seekers

Swap.com

Thrifted.com

299thrift.com 

OnlineThrift.net

AMVETS Thrift Store

Vegas Vultur

I'll mention again about Facebook Marketplace--I have relatives who live in very remote rural areas that don't have a Craigslist option within an hour of them. They use FB to find used goods. Some local papers also offer free ads in their online edition to people who are giving away things for free.

 4. Offset your carbon footprint


If you want some basic suggestions to reduce your footprint, you can visit the EPA's free carbon footprint calculator at https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/. After answering some simple questions, you get a downloadable report and some links at the bottom of the page for more ideas. All the basics are included, like changing your thermostat, light bulbs, appliances, and windows.

There are lots of really easy, free things you can do. Some also save you money. For example, switching from hot water to cold to wash your clothes, driving less aggressively, recycling, and using rechargeable batteries.

But a lot of us have no choice about having a higher carbon footprint. If the nearest grocery store is an hour away and there is no public transportation, then you have to drive. Or if you're home-bound, you probably need to order just about everything to be delivered to you. Even though I live in a metropolitan area, I still have difficulties finding things I need locally and have to get them shipped to me.

If you have similar issues, you can look at ways where your carbon footprint can be offset. The way this works is to help out with projects that work to reverse climate change. So while you aren't changing what you do in your life, you're supporting other people or organizations to reduce a regional or global carbon footprint. We all share the same atmosphere, after all, so it all adds up to help.

One of my favorite methods to offset my carbon footprint is using the search engine Ecosia. It's free, they're careful with your privacy, and each time you use it, they plant a tree. They're a Certified B Corp, too.


The internet is a very carbon-heavy place (lots of energy-sucking equipment involved), but Ecosia uses renewable energy to run its servers. They have both a mobile app and a browser extension. It's as easy as setting Ecosia as your preferred browser and then searching as usual. Check them out here.

If you want to take your efforts a step further, you can visit https://www.goclimate.com. Over about 2 minutes, you answer easy questions about your country, electricity source, diet, shopping, and transportation. From there, you can create a free account to track your carbon footprint over time. You can also subscribe to monthly payments toward projects that are working to save the planet. These projects must all meet strict standards to be included on their platform.


According to my answers, here's my carbon footprint and how it compares to the rest of my country:


I guess I'm doing pretty well, but I still need to get better! It calculated my subscription to be 8 Euros (currently $9.42) per month for myself. But I personally know lots of people who don't care about the environment and sadly, aren't planning on doing anything to change their lifestyle. That's why I decided to pay 15.50 Euros to help offset my footprint as well as that of 1-2 other people. 

That's probably about the cost of eating out once or twice per month, so I'll just cut back on that to replace the cost in my budget. Meanwhile, I'll work on doing better where I can until I'm down to that 2.5 metric tonnes (or less) of CO2 per year.


Keep in mind that carbon offsetting is not a replacement for making changes to our behavior and taking personal responsibility. That's why I have it located in the "beginners" category.

 5. Encourage companies to be more eco-friendly


The human race as individuals need to do their part to take better care of our planet, but we can't succeed in saving the earth if businesses don't participate. Their policies and practices control a lot of things that we must use every day, and we need to speak up and let them know that we want them to do better.

Of course, governmental involvement can also have a big impact. But waiting for the government takes even longer--first, the laws have to be written, reviewed, and enacted. Then, there is usually a grace period before they take effect. Finally, they have to be enforced. If we go straight to the businesses and get them to commit to changes, we don't have to wait for all of that bureaucracy (although it will still probably take a long time).

In your efforts to create change, start with the companies that you use the most. As a customer, you can speak personally about their strengths and weaknesses, which is key for having an impactful conversation. Start with a few places like your favorite restaurant, grocery store or food brand, and department or clothing store. If you don't know what to say, here are some articles with tips I found, including sample letters.




I'm tasking myself with getting into the habit of using all of these tips regularly before I move on to more things. How about you? Are you doing any of these things already, or will you try any of them?



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Friday, July 2, 2021

How to create a 2021 summer capsule wardrobe

Happy summer! I spent the last 3 months wearing my neutral spring capsule wardrobe. The weather changed a lot recently, so it's definitely time to shift to a new capsule. Here's what's on tap for this post:

  • How things went with my spring capsule
  • My tips and tricks for designing a capsule wardrobe for summer 
  • Things I changed from spring to summer
  • Did I buy any items for my summer capsule wardrobe?
  • Details about my summer 2021 capsule wardrobe
If you don't have time to read this post now, you can pin it to read later.

 

How things went with my spring capsule


Everything went fine as far as not needing any extra clothing above what I chose. In fact, I didn't need a lot of items that I included. Here's a summary:

Among my shoe choices, I only wore my running shoes.

For outerwear, I only used the gray zip-up hoodie.

Out of all the tops, I only wore the Old Navy road trip T-shirt.

As far as bottoms, I used the black Capri-length leggings and I think I wore the gray leggings once.

I didn't wear either of the dresses.

From my jewelry, I wore my smartwatch every day and wore the essential oil diffuser necklace several times.

In accessories, I used the backpack (once), the sun hat a few times, the sunglasses frequently, and only the black cotton purse.

So out of 33 items, I only used 11 items!

You may be wondering, what did I wear the rest of the time? Well, I spent most of my time at home. I don't bother to get dressed if I'm not leaving home. So I was either in my PJs or my workout gear. 


If I was planning on working out, later on, I'd put on those clothes in the morning and still be wearing them if/when I went out during the day. Plus, as I mentioned in a previous post, I very often wear clothes more than once before washing. Or at least I did before it got so hot--I had to change clothes after a single wear during the recent heatwave, and even now it's still pretty hot where I live. I also sort of have capsules for my sleeping clothes and workout gear, though I don't plan it out that much.  

My tips and tricks for designing a capsule wardrobe for summer

If you haven't seen (and don't want to read) my previous post about my spring capsule, I will do a quick recap of how I decided what to include in a capsule. Basically, you want to choose clothes and accessories that you enjoy wearing, that will last through the season, and that is versatile enough to work with several other pieces. A capsule should include fewer items than you would normally wear, and the rest should be stored away so you can easily view and access the capsule items. Capsule wardrobes typically don't include undergarments, pajamas, workout gear, or a work uniform that you don't have a choice about.

If you've ever seen how kids dress when they first start picking their own clothes, you can take some cues from that about how a capsule wardrobe can be assembled. Kids gravitate toward choosing their favorite pieces of clothing and wear them over and over again. As an adult, it might not be your style to pair yellow rubber rain boots with a Princess Elsa dress worn over brown corduroys. 😆 But the mindset behind a child's wardrobe decisions is very similar to how you can decide what to put in your capsule.

I know it's likely there will be a lot more events like concerts, festivals, parties, weddings, etc. coming up that maybe weren't available last summer. If you have something like that in your future, think about whether you want to include outfits for those events in your wardrobe. In my opinion, if you have an item you're only going to wear once or twice, I wouldn't bother having it as part of your capsule. I personally would set aside that piece to go in my storage area so it isn't cluttering my capsule closet for 3 months when I only need it one time. An alternative is to think about whether you can wear things to events that you use more often.  For example, are you comfortable wearing that "little black dress" or your favorite suit to more than one event? If it looks good on you and is appropriate for the occasion, why not?

Things I changed from spring to summer


My spring capsule was neutral, with 99% of the outfits some combination of black, gray, and white. I think this is a great idea for someone who prefers not to wear a lot of colors or isn't interested in taking the time to work out which colors go well with others. If you buy pieces based on how they look individually, I can totally see why this would be the case. It's hard to bring something home and figure out after the fact how it will look with what you already own.

But I want more color in my wardrobe than I had in the spring capsule, so this will not be a neutral capsule. I'm also leaving out dressier pieces that I put in for spring, thinking I'd have occasion to wear them. I didn't. I prefer to dress casually, so I wasn't about to put on clothes I would wear to work or an event just to run to the grocery store. There's no point in me cluttering up my wardrobe with these items just so I can pass them over every day. They're staying out of my closet to hang out with my off-season items.

Lastly, I'm in the process of making some items to add to my wardrobe. This isn't because I really need more clothing, it's just a fun project for me and a way to use items I already had on hand. I was hoping to get these done before summer, but life got in the way. So as I add them in, I'll mention them in a post about my crafts projects.

Did I buy any items for this capsule?


Kinda. As I mentioned above, I have some items that I'm going to add. A few of them were clothes I thrifted with the intention of altering them to fit me. I bought them a while ago, and knew they would be for summer wear, but didn't get to them in time as they weren't as important as other things, like re-organizing my apartment.

Also, I was all set to use the same flip-flops and other sandals I've had for 3+ years. They're both cheap pairs I got from Target, the kinds with the foam soles. But they're both falling apart. I want to replace both of them with a single pair of sandals that are more sustainably made and will last longer. I'm looking into options and when I make a decision, I'm probably going to include what I found in an upcoming post about eco-minimalism.

For now, I'm just including a single pair of sandals, since I don't wear flip-flops outside of the house.

Details about my summer 2021 capsule wardrobe


You'll notice this list is way pared-down from last time. I'm also going to include some things that I've been told were "against the rules" in terms of including them in my list: workout gear. I feel like it's only fair because I sometimes leave the house wearing them to do things other than work out. However, I'm going to group them as a single item in the "tops" category, because I don't know how much I'm going to integrate them into my wardrobe. The bottoms are all full-length leggings, and it's been way too hot for that, so I'm leaving those out.

Anyway, here's my capsule wardrobe.

Shoes: 👠

2. Black lace-up sandals

Outerwear: 🧥

3. Gray zip-up hoodie

Tops: 👕

4. Black cotton tank top
5. Gray cotton tank top
7. Turquoise eyelet and cotton sleeveless top
8. Turquoise tank top
9. Workout tops (old t-shirts with the sleeves and necklines cut off)

Bottoms: 🩳

10. Black cotton shorts
11. Black short biker shorts
12. Turquoise capris
13. Black capri-length leggings
14. Navy casual skirt over shorts 

Dress: 👗

15. Strapless knee-length sundress in black

Jewelry: 💎


Accessories 👛👒🕶

18. black cotton purse
20. sun hat
21. sunglasses 

Quite a bit shorter than last time, but it still seems like plenty of clothing. Stay tuned for crafty updates.


 
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