Reduce
Until manufacturing has conquered the obstacles to successful sustainability, it's up to consumers to make educated decisions when purchasing products. By reducing what you buy and therefore what is manufactured, you will help conserve natural resources.
Advertising makes products seem fun and necessary, regardless of whether they are. But before you embark on your next shopping trip, consider these tips to help reduce what you bring home:
Make a list and check it twice. Whether you're shopping for groceries, school supplies, makeup, or home repair items, sticking with a list will avoid unnecessary or impulse purchases. Preparing an accurate list may take some time, but consider that time an investment in the future.
Avoid the just-in-case purchase. If you aren't sure you need something, just assume you don't. Being organized at home can help you know what you have in stock.
Think about where the new purchase will go and what it will displace. A new blender may be a wonderful treat, but if the old one still works, is it necessary to buy a new one? If a new one is in order, can the old one be donated or recycled?
Evaluate want versus need. It can be worth the extra thought to consider if a purchase is for something you need or want. If it's just a desire, can it be quelled?
Beware of bargains. Bargains are designed to move merchandise, not necessarily to save you money.
Beware of warehouses. That twenty-five-pound bag of flour may seem like a good deal, but if it ends up getting thrown away, then it's not.
Walk to the store. You'll buy only what you can comfortably carry.
None of these ideas are meant to make you feel so guilty that you forgo the comforts of life; they are meant only to help you put a little extra thought into your purchases.
