consume less

So now that I’m pregnant I have made a huge effort to get as many of the baby things second hand as I can. It is working great. I have also bought almost all of my maternity clothes used.

Actually thinking of starting my own business and concentrating on reusing items when possible. That would be great.

shopping:
-not to buy clothes till the new year
- not to buy magazines and newspapers at all (and go to websites instead)
- not to buy books (and read what I’ve already have or go to the library/ borrow)
- not to buy dvds, watch what I have and borrow
- not to buy junk food and soda, candies and chocolate bars
- try to use less bottled water
- reuse plastic bags I have and don’t get new ones
- I do buy items but those of high quality and which are really needed

paper:
-try to print only what I really need
- not to photocopy much
- use both sides of papers
- not to use paper kitchen towels
- recycle paper

general:
- go on foot whenever is possible
- switch off the light and electric appliances
- not to leave water running unless it is needed

I also would like to educate myself in ecology to find out the real ways that can help and which are quite useless.

... in addition to everything else I had mentioned before, I want to start having “meatless mondays” (try it for a month), so I consume less processed meat and get an added health benefit (see; www.meatlessmonday.com). This weekend I may go to the farmers market and see if I can find a good deal on fruit or veggies. And maybe, just maybe… I will back a loaf of bread (once this store bought one runs out).

I want to find different ways of getting the things I need/want, like farmers markets and free websites. I have started to make/take my own coffee instead of stopping at Starbucks, and I want to keep packing my lunch as much as possible. I also want to use almost all of my groceries before going out to buy more – same with beauty products (I have a ton under my sink). I have 3 reusable grocery bags – I want to fill them up when I go to the store, but not buy anything more than what can fit in the bags. Using less gas may be tricky, but maybe I could walk to the gym in my neighborhood instead of drive? This is about saving money, but it is also about not being a slave to STUFF and QUANTITY.

I’ve made a lot of progress on this goal – I try to buy processed food products as rarely as possible, avoid all unnecessary packaging and wasteful receipts, bike as often as possible to avoid purchasing gas – but I’m not satisfied yet. I’m still pretty addicted to used book & record stores, and while buying second-hand might be “off the grid,” and not really consumption in the same sense, I still feel like I’m too focused on buying and owning things. Having to move from my house is making me see just how focused I am on such things, since I’m having to pack away every last book and record I’ve obsessively purchased! So, what do I need to do to be satisfied with my goal? Spend more time enjoying and appreciating the things I already have (which are numerous), and less time collecting more things (I have no illusions about the fact that my record collecting habit will continue, but I would like to slow down the accumulation, and perhaps trim a bit of fat from the collection).

The next 4 household items I want to buy used and try to clean them up instead of consuming wasteful new products.

...included:

-Using a shopping bag rather than plastic bags when I buy groceries
-Recycle plastic bags as bin liners
-Make wish lists instead of impulse buying: this works particularly well with CD’s, DVD’s, books. Also, when people ask me if I have any birthday or St Nicolas wishes, I have a list handy.
-Quality over quantity = sustainability. Case in point: I always buy leather shoes of good quality. They are more expensive, but they’re prettier, better for my feet and they last longer. So rather than buying 4 pairs of cheap shoes I buy 2 pairs of expensive shoes: I consume less, but I enjoy more.
-Repairing instead of replacing. Again, the case of shoes: I cannot count the times that I had heels or soles replaced in order to make my shoes last longer. I repair my own clothes/socks as well.
-Consume what’s in my fridge before its sell-by date. I’m actually doing quite well; have thrown away much less food than before.

Areas that could improve:
-Cook instead of eating out/ordering in. I’m a decent cook, but I am lazy… I need to focus on doing this more.
-Take pre-packaged lunches instead of eating in the cantine. Still. Can’t. Bring. Myself. To. Keep. This. Up.
-Make pots of tea rather than cup after cup. (need to stop waisting expensive teas…)
-Buy fresh veggies and fruit from the market rather than pre-packaged stuff from the supermarket. Fresh produce = tastier, and involves less packaging material. I really want to do this more (see also cooking point).

This is what I can think of for now… Surely there are many more ways to reduce consuming. Tips, anyone?

I didn’t participate in International Buy Nothing Day because I had to go online and order my father’s birthday present, but, otherwise, I’ve made significant progress through the steps outlined below. Since I didn’t get any additional suggestions, I’ll just stick with these for now and try to get them to become second nature.

This is on the day after Thanksgiving, 11/28 this year.
See http://ecoplan.org/ibnd/ for more info.

I already buy most of my clothes at the thrift store or on Ebay and use a thermos cup for my on-the-go coffee. Biking more to work or the grocery really isn’t feasible in Atlanta, and I do use recycleable batteries and compact florescents where I can. I, also, pack my lunch.