Well, I am only two weeks into my Buy Sustainably Challenge… And it’s really hard not to feel like I’m awful at this.
We’re going on holidays next month, and the children and I needed several items of clothing for the trip. Yes, we needed them! Firstly, I looked in the local op shops. I found a couple of the items - a piece of luggage, a jacket… But hardly made a dent in the list.
So I went to eBay next. It isn’t local. It isn’t necessarily Fair Trade. It’s only green because I bought mostly used items and bought from the one seller as much as possible (reduced packaging, fewer parcels traveling to me). Yes, I bought items to last. On eBay I can buy much better quality items than I can in the local department stores.
Still, I didn’t have everything on the list. We had to go to a larger town to drop off one of the children’s friends this week. Whilst there we went to said department stores. So that’s quite local. But the items I bought weren’t labelled (or likely to be) Fair Trade or green. However, I did buy them to last and avoided gimmicky fashion items that won’t do well handed from one child to the next (as I always do).
I’m looking at the purchases wondering if we really did need them? And the answer is - possibly not all of them. Some items are wants. They are our rewards for buying less in the past, making do. We haven’t had a holiday for a few years now, apart from some close-to-home camping trips. For this holiday, our bits-and-pieces wardrobes have now been supplemented with some simple mix-and-match items to suit the trip. We’re travelling light. We’re not taking our farm clothes!
I know that if I planned ahead a little more, I could have found more 2nd hand items to fill the gaps. I perhaps could have sewn a couple of the clothing items as well, from fabric I have already. This has been a lesson in wardrobe management and planning for me. It was something I excelled at when the children were all small. I’ve avoided the task (as much as possible) since moving to this house on a farm with inadequate storage, overcrowded wardrobes and less use for nice clothes than we had before.
I’ll update soon with some reflections on my food shopping and buying homeschool supplies. The Buy Sustainably Challenge has really got me thinking…
Don’t be so hard on yourself Bel. At least you are aware of what you are buying and trying to do better. No one can ask more than that (well, no-one should).
Libby
Comment by Libby — 15 January, 2009 @ 8:07 am
I’m not actively participating in the challenge but I think its great to be aware of where your things come from and make conscious decisions about where to purchase from. That said none of us are perfect and we all deserve to cut loose and have a little fun.
Enjoy your vacation!
Comment by N. — 15 January, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
I can so relate to your experience. I have found that my not-so-wise consumer choices have always been when time was limted and I needed something in a hurry. It does take more time to find what you want second hand. I once read somewhere that someone had a list of everything they needed for their child for the next 5 or so years. Then if they were in a second hand store and found an item they bought it and ticked it off the list. So not only do you have time to find what you need, but you also don’t buy more than you need. Maybe i will get that organised one day…Have a lovey holiday..
Comment by Tricia — 15 January, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
I think you have done well, and you are very concious of exactly what you bought wheras so many people out there would be buying wihtout giving a fig as to where it came from, how long it will last and how often they purchase.
My grocery shopping has a long way to go, however in the past 5 months I have made big changes which have resulted in spending far less, eating much better and shopping less often. I do a main shop now once every 6 weeks and in between pick forgottens/couldn’t finds and fruit/veges as needed. We have gone from spending $3-400 per week to less than $100 - both costings have us supplying our own meat eggs and milk. oh, and less packing is coming home too!
So Bel, you are doing pretty good I think! I hope you all have a great holiday! Bec xxx
Comment by Bec — 16 January, 2009 @ 6:35 am
I can relate very well. We really want to stay the way we were at the start, but somehow can’t.
Comment by Linda — 16 January, 2009 @ 12:29 pm