My mindful consumerism has been a work in progress for about the past year. I started by analyzing the products I use on a daily basis, and have worked to change my habits for the better. Mindful consumerism has not only cut down on clutter, but has helped me stick to a good financial budget as well. Below are a few of my recent helpful habits as a "mindful consumer":
- Purchasing bath goods in liters - In addition to saving my wallet the higher cost per unit of smaller bottles, I am also creating fewer pieces of plastic waste. Additionally, I switch out regular flip caps to pumps to better control the amount of product I use. These switches help make two 1L bottles of shampoo and one 1L bottle of conditioner last just over a year for me and my husband.
- Buying timeless wardrobe pieces - My style has remained pretty consistent for the past few years, which makes it very easy to buy fewer garments. My daily outfit consists of either a dress or a tunic, leggings, and boots. I have short sleeve and sleeveless dresses for summer, but they can be worn all year with the addition of a cardigan. My closet isn't stuffed full of a ton of different single-purpose outfits. Everything can be mixed and matched and accessorized to fit any occasion.
- Making do and mending - Despite items in my wardrobe being similar over time and easy to replace, sometimes I get attached to one piece or another and wear it to the point where it starts to get a little worse for wear. Instead of tossing out a cardigan because it gets a hole in the elbow, I'll "make do and mend" and break out some sewing supplies to stitch it back together. In addition to saving me the cost of a new garment, mending a ripped or holey one keeps it out of the landfill for longer.
- Simplifying my skincare routine - Some skincare regimens today have over 40 steps and several dozen products involved. Mine has one step, sometimes two in the morning, and sometimes a third step at night. By keeping it simple with a cleanser that doesn't dry out my skin and a moisturizer that pulls double duty as sunscreen, I save myself time and money that more complicated regimens would demand. At the end of the day if I need it, I'll use micellar water to remove makeup or just refresh my face. Up to three products, and just a few minutes a day--that's all it really takes to keep a face clean and healthy. (Plus I couldn't imagine the clutter of a 40+ step regimen.)
- Unsubscribing from retailers' marketing emails - Part of being a mindful consumer for me is not waiting for promo codes or the next hottest product to hit my inbox. I don't buy into marketing hype, and I can always search for promotional codes or discounts when I do need to buy an item. Hitting unsubscribe means fewer temptations, and fewer products I might buy only to use once then throw away if they don't work for me.
- Waiting at least a week before a "want" purchase - If I see an item that I want but might not need, I'll wait at least a week before I make a decision to purchase it or go without. It was hard at first to suppress the urge to buy things as soon as I saw them, but it's saved me a lot of clutter and money by waiting. I've found more often than not that I like the idea of the impulse item more than I'd appreciate the reality of having it.
Becoming a mindful consumer can be a difficult process, but with the right execution it can have a multitude of benefits. Personally, keeping down clutter, not producing a lot of waste, and saving myself time and money are the benefits that excite me the most.
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