How To Be a Conscious Consumer

We always hear about what we should do to be more conscious consumers but we don't even bother with it because it all seems too much.  Today I'm breaking it down because these little things can make a big impact overall.
Really, it's about your mindset which is what signals your actions.  So by changing your mindset with these tips, it should be something everything can put into place in their daily lives. 

 

Not Everything Needs Replaced When They Say It Does

Sure, there are always recommendations on how often you should replace things like appliances but honestly, those are just suggestions.  We have a refrigerator from the 90s and it's still working like a charm. I see no reason we need to get rid of it and spend that money or send it to a landfill.  We plan to use it till it won't work anymore.   Also, maintaining things properly extends their life.  I regularly clean and replace the filters in my vacuum cleaner and I can tell you that most certainly does extend it's life.  And sell by dates....well, it's just a SELL BY date.  I use milk long after the sell by date and if I give it a sniff and it smells off, I know it's not safe to drink.  Of course I always buy only what I need to get me through till the next grocery trip so we usually use it up before it goes bad. 

 

Stockpiling Isn't Necessary

I know, some people are preppers and hey, whatever floats your boat but honestly, I don't need 100 cans of food just in case.  Especially if it's stuff we don't eat regularly.  I only buy what we need and use.  I know some people love couponing but for me I lack the space to store excess things so I just buy generic brands and end up saving more than I would with coupons.  Plus coupons aren't always available for every little thing we consume. 

 

Sales are Too Tempting

I don't shop around the holidays when there are big sales. I don't need anything so if I see something on sale but I don't need it, I refuse to give in to temptation. I don't even pay attention to ads anyways.  

Quality Over Quantity

The old saying is true.  Focus on buying quality products instead of cheap products.  A shirt that is well made can last years longer than something cheap.  A lot of cheap clothing isn't ethically made anyways but that's a whole different topic. 

 

Avoid Excessive Packaging

This goes for buying new things AND finding ways to store it. When we buy things that are wrapped and stored in plastic at the store, we add it to the trash when we get home.  Choose environmentally friendly products so the demand for the other stuff is less and hopefully manufacturers make less of it.   The other thing is that of course we love the look of a neat and tidy cupboard but honestly, I feel so bad buying things that come with packaging only to immediately toss it so I can empty the contents into my own storage. Think twice! 

Reuse

Try washable cloths instead of papertowels. Use hankies instead of facial tissue.  Repurpose jars that food and candles come in and create your own storage solutions to use in the future. 

Basically, stopping to think about your purchases can really make a difference.  Stop being in such a rush and slow down and think of the impact on your home, your fellow humans, and your planet. 

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