With the new year right around the corner, I thought I'd share a little bit about what we've stopped buying since downsizing and simplifying our lives. We're heading towards a zero waste lifestyle as well, so you'll see some alternatives to items we have previously used. Before I share this long list with you, let me give you some insight into some of the questions we ask ourselves when we go shopping. By choosing to live with intention, life is much simpler and we save a lot of time, energy, and money when we do go shopping. So, let's get started.
Is it on our list? Do we need it? Can we afford it with cash? If we're using a credit card, it must be an absolute emergency. Our general rule of thumb is this: if we can't afford it, we don't buy it. Why do we want this? Do we want this because someone else thinks we need it and says it is a "must-have" item? How long will we use it for? Is it a one-time use item? Do we have something similar that can be used for the same thing? Or can we borrow the item from someone once a year? Where will we store it? When living in an RV, this is probably one of the most important questions to ask. What kind of maintenance and upkeep is required? How many hours would we have to work in order to pay for this purchase? Could we buy it elsewhere for a less expensive price? And last but not least, how was this item made? Ethically?
After answering all of those questions, if we love the item and it meets criteria, we buy it guilt-free. Here are the items we no longer buy after simplifying our lives.
BEAUTY
nail polish
hand / body / face lotion - we use fractionated coconut oil
shaving cream - we use conditioner or soap
mouthwash - we make our own
toothpaste - we make our own
HOUSEHOLD
air fresheners - we use essential oils
fabric softener - not really needed but we add white vinegar on occasion, depending on the garment
dryer sheets - we don't have a dryer, but when we do we'll make our own reusable wool dryer balls.
laundry soap - we make our own
household cleaners - we make our own
tupperware - we use glass storage containers
knickknacks - ah, dust collectors
kitchen gadgets - unless something breaks or wears out, we don't buy anything new
incandescent light bulbs - LED only
paper towels / disposable wipes - we use reusable microfiber cleaning cloths
ziplock bags - we use reusable snack bags
plastic straws - we use stainless steel straws
coffee filters - use a stainless steel french press
disposable napkins - we use fabric napkins
glass vases - use glass canning jars
CLOTHING / ACCESSORIES
impractical shoes - they must be comfortable, a replacement, or something we'll wear consistently
clothing we don't need - we regularly cull our wardrobe and if we haven't worn something in six months and don't plan on wearing it in six months, to the donation box it goes.
TECH STUFF
dvd's - netflix
cd's - (uploaded on iTunes) if we want to listen to other music, we choose youtube, pandora or gasp, the old-fashioned radio.
cable television - we sold our tv when we sold our first home. a tv did come with the rv but we took it down when we painted and just never put it back up.
landline phone service - we got rid of our landline when we sold our home
OTHER
books - we can check out books online from our local library
magazines - because, the internet
tampons / pads / panty liners - I use a menstrual cup and Thinx period underwear.
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