7 Things I No Longer Buy
7 Things I No Longer Buy
It is important to reappraise your lifestyle from time to time to make sure that it is benefiting you, your wallet, and also the environment. This will not only reduce needless environmental waste but it can also save you money. Below I’ve comprised a list of 7 things I no longer buy because it is no longer conducive to my lifestyle.
Feminine Hygiene Products
I stopped buying sanitary napkins and plastic applicator tampons because I recently discovered menstrual cups. There is definitely a learning curve and it may not work for everyone but this is a good product that reduces landfill waste because it is reusable for up to 10 years.
Menstrual cups are not expensive compared to how much one would normally be allocating towards buying other feminine hygiene products. The upfront cost can range from $7-$40 depending on the brand and material but it pays for itself in the long run. Some menstrual cups are made from medical-grade silicone, rubber, latex, or elastomer and they are available in different sizes.
This is a great alternative to conventional menstrual products and it helps the environment.
Air Freshener
There are lots of different brands and scents of air fresheners on the market. However, many can contain toxic fumes which can be bad for your health (and your pets). Lots of big name air fresheners contain phthalates which are chemicals used to dissolve other materials. In the case of air fresheners, the purpose of this chemical is to hold fragrances. If inhaled or absorbed into the skin it can interfere with testosterone and cause reproductive abnormalities. Even air fresheners labeled as “natural” can contain phthalates.
I would recommend researching the impact that air fresheners can have on your health from NRDC which is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in fighting pollutants and they also talk about the hidden hazards of air fresheners.
So then what is a good alternative to commercial air fresheners? Alcohol. Before you go to the liquor store to buy a bottle of Vodka (or your beverage of choice) I am specifically referring to 70% isopropyl alcohol. The percentage is the important part. A 70% concentration is better for disinfecting than 91% because it has more water thus it dissolves slower which is good for disinfecting and killing bacteria. Best of all it can be double as a fabric refresher (with the exception of acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, and acrylic fibers as this can fade colors). This makes alcohol the best air freshener because it not only cost effective but it eliminates odors by killing odor causing bacteria – without the artificial fragrance!
Grocery Bags
Depending on where you live grocery stores may charge you for the paper or plastic bags that you use for your groceries. As much as I advocate for the environment, there still needs to be a balance. Plastic bags are not all bad but this is dependent on if and how they are reused. Some people reuse plastic bags as trash bags for small garbage bins. However, reusable bags are still superior since they are more durable and reduce environmental waste. Granted, stores that charge for grocery bags may be doing it to squeeze as much money out of customers as possible but in a way it is for the greater good because this could be a deterrent to make people use more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Sandwich Bags
In a similar category to plastic grocery bags would be sandwich bags. I stopped buying sandwich bags because I discovered a reusable alternative. Although there is a larger upfront cost, it is cheaper in the long run since they can last for years, can be leak-proof, and washed.
Daily Coffee
Fortunately I am not reliant on coffee to function or to start my day. However, some people who rely on coffee to begin their daily grind often find themselves at Starbucks or other coffee shops to get their daily caffeine intake. There is a monthly coffee/tea subscription at Panera Bread for about $9 a month which is cheaper than what you might normally pay in two trips to Starbucks.
Books
Emphasis on recreational books as free textbooks (which Amazon Textbooks offers for rent) can be more difficult to come by. Why pay for books if you can get them for free? Many good digital sources to rent library books and audiobooks would be Libby, Hoopla, and cloudLibrary. Also, check out my post about the positive effects that reading can have on your brain and some library perks that you may not have known about such as free language resources, book purchase requests, and museum passes.
Self-Care
When it comes to certain aspects of self-care such as eyebrow threading, manicures, pedicures, and hair care I have learned how to be self-sufficient. This not only saves money but also prevents you from being reliant on the often full schedules of someone providing the service.
YouTube is a great resource on demonstrated learning. If I step foot in a nail salon or a hair salon it would be purely for convenience because I learned how to do my own self-care to the point where my results are often better than what I would get from outside sources. This reduces the subconscious ways you are wasting money! Decent skin and quality skincare products such as moisturizers, masks, and exfoliants are not only attainable from spa appointments. It is important to know how to personally care for the largest organ on your body!
This concludes my current list of 7 things I no longer buy. What have you personally eliminated from your life to reduce environmental impact, save you money, and reduce consumerism?