Too much stuff
Posted: Thursday, January 31st, 2008
We all like to get new stuff, but I don’t think buying brand new stuff is always the best way to go about it. I love to get new stuff, but I also love thrift shopping and the challenge of finding what I want somewhere other than the big box stores. I never shop at Target or Walmart, because they are just exacerbating the problem of having too much stuff that we don’t need. My favorite stores are Goodwill, St.Vinnies, or Savers and I’m always checking Craigslist for furniture or crafting stuff. Whenever we want something for the house I keep my eye on Craigslist. A good example is our wood storage bench we have by the front door that we store all of our hats and mittens in. I measured the space for the bench and then waited for someone to post something on Craigslist that would match our specifications. I waited a few weeks until I found something that I liked; it was the perfect size and it was made of real wood. The woman who sold it to us for $20 said it was her toy chest growing up and now it was just taking up space in her apartment. We took it home, put hinges on the lid, cleaned it up and put all of our stuff in it. I love that I had the patience to wait for this bench, and it was well worth it! So, I hope to set an example and show how easy it is to be eco-conscious and a responsible consumer. Another good site that I find invaluable is Co-op America. You can find everything clean and green and socially responsible there. If you become a member you get the actual paper green pages in the mail.