jaspurlin is striving for balance
I would say at this time, between 70-85% of all things I purchase are either used, or made somehow locally. My definition of local is somewhat broad, even though I try to keep it in the state/region, I count most anything “Made in USA” as local. My purpose for doing so is at least twofold, but probably more.
Local products, those made nearest to you, required less fuel to make their way from creation to you. Also, the people that made money creating this product are people in your own community. They’re the ones paying local taxes, and spending their earnings nearby, thus strengthening the local economy. Also, with the creator of a product being nearby, you can see how they treat their employees, if/how they give charitably, and various other things that are impossible to tell about most products that come to us from abroad.
When a person buys a newly manufactured item, this shows that there is a demand for the item, thus encouraging additional manufacture, and the continued depletion of natural resources, use of fuel, etc. Used products, however, are a good alternative, because their consumption does not increase demand from a manufacturer, and require no additional natural resources to come to you.
With these issues being important to me (Localized economies, natural resource preservation), I will continue to try and increase the amount that I am doing this, until hopefully I can reach 100%.
