Christine Song

Since I have been stuck at home more often than not this past year, I have taken the time to declutter my living space. I have lived in this house for over 20 years, and items have accumulated during those years. While cleaning, I found expired vitamins, unused notebooks, and unworn clothing, among many other things. Now that I’m older, I find it hard to focus with clutter around me, so I am more intentional with items that I choose to keep and buy.

Black Friday

November 26, 2020 is US Thanksgiving, which means that November 27, 2020 is Black Friday. For those who may not be familiar, Black Friday is a tradition that started in the US, where retailers offer severe markdowns on their products. Given that Canada shares a large border with the US, many Canadian businesses have begun to offer Black Friday deals. Don’t get me wrong; I love a good deal! But I urge you to think more about your shopping practices this Black Friday.

Buy Nothing Day

Originally from Canada, Buy Nothing Day is now an international holiday that combat mass consumerism and occurs on the same day as Black Friday. I am trying to be a more conscious consumer, especially after finding many unused and forgotten items while cleaning. It would be counterproductive to buy many things, only to declutter them later. Remember that just because something is on sale does not mean that you need to buy it. That’s how sales work. If you had no intention to purchase an item, you are not saving money. You are spending money that you otherwise would not have spent.

Be a Conscious Consumer

What does this mean? What does it truly mean to be a conscious consumer? I believe this might be different for different people, but here are some things to consider when trying to be more conscious about what you choose to bring into your life:

1. Do you need the item? Will you make use of it?
2. Do you need to buy it new? Is it possible to find the item used or thrifted?
3. What companies sell this item? Are there more sustainable and ethical companies that you can support when purchasing this item?
4. Can you buy this item locally instead of having it shipped?

“I’ll buy it since it’s on sale but I will return it if I don’t need it.”

What is problematic with this statement? Companies often trash returned items because it is more cost-effective and efficient than actually trying to repackage and resell them. This is especially the case with clothing, as this article highlights. Non-clothing items are also often sent to the landfill (see this article for more details about returns to Amazon). I have heard that some returned items end up at liquidation centres and sold at a reduced price. However, the reality is that once you return an item, you have no control over what happens to it. It’s essential to do proper research on the things you choose to buy so you can avoid having to return them.

I hope that you will join me in becoming a more conscious consumer, not only tomorrow but during the other days of the year. As always, if you are interested in chatting more about this topic, please feel free to contact me. I love to talk!

Cheers,

Christine