You said it best, “… if you’re holding onto something because of the guilt of wanting to keep it out of the landfill, know this: it’s going to wind up there eventually. The question is when.”
I really need to take to heart the second half of that.
Perfect timing! I love our local Buy Nothing Group, but even that can become a task that hangs over you or adds clutter in the spare room. I recently threw out all broken and generally yucky crayons from our 6-year collection for the first time ever (yes, my eldest is 6. Yes, we collect even the restaurant crayons. No, there’s no sentimental value to these crayons). I know people can melt them into fun crafts and may have wanted them on buy nothing, but guess where they went? The trash! And it felt like a weight was lifted! Then we had room for our new art supplies from Christmas!
I am always amazed at what people will take in my local buy nothing group. Worth posting to see if anyone wants that lotion or body scrub - my experience is that it will get taken!
A friend and I have a running list of the best ones! Two "favorites" are: 10 egg yolks after someone made an angel food cake; A homemade cake that someone won at a school event, ate a slice and then posted on buy nothing!
So true!! I use this mind-set to declutter and simplify as I go and it's been very freeing over the years. I still make "aspirational" purchases like lipstick that doesn't ever quite work or WAY more pens than necessary, but I've gotten gradually better about purchasing slowly and thoughtfully. Thank you for sharing this column after the holidays - great timing!
This is the beauty of local Buy Nothing groups! I often gift open food that we try but don’t enjoy.
Better landfill than closet fill. I know this but don’t always practice it.
I really needed to hear this… I know it, but…
You said it best, “… if you’re holding onto something because of the guilt of wanting to keep it out of the landfill, know this: it’s going to wind up there eventually. The question is when.”
I really need to take to heart the second half of that.
Thanks for the reminder :)
Perfect timing! I love our local Buy Nothing Group, but even that can become a task that hangs over you or adds clutter in the spare room. I recently threw out all broken and generally yucky crayons from our 6-year collection for the first time ever (yes, my eldest is 6. Yes, we collect even the restaurant crayons. No, there’s no sentimental value to these crayons). I know people can melt them into fun crafts and may have wanted them on buy nothing, but guess where they went? The trash! And it felt like a weight was lifted! Then we had room for our new art supplies from Christmas!
Sometimes it's worth just letting things go!
I am always amazed at what people will take in my local buy nothing group. Worth posting to see if anyone wants that lotion or body scrub - my experience is that it will get taken!
A friend and I have a running list of the best ones! Two "favorites" are: 10 egg yolks after someone made an angel food cake; A homemade cake that someone won at a school event, ate a slice and then posted on buy nothing!
Those are funny! Yes, someone might take just about anything...
Chop the top centimeter off the lip stick, then give it away
So true!! I use this mind-set to declutter and simplify as I go and it's been very freeing over the years. I still make "aspirational" purchases like lipstick that doesn't ever quite work or WAY more pens than necessary, but I've gotten gradually better about purchasing slowly and thoughtfully. Thank you for sharing this column after the holidays - great timing!
This is what I needed to hear today!