I’m always saying, “BUY LESS STUFF!” Why am I always saying this?
- Because I’m a huge Buy Nothing Day advocate; and it would look pretty lame for me to be like, “Hey, the rest of the year buy away!“
- Because having a lot of stuff is not eco-friendly.
- Because too much stuff is not very healthy or creative in my opinion.
- Because excessive stuff sets a terrible example for impressionable kids.
- Because there’s a ton of stuff that’s just so stupid and you don’t need it.
- Because the cost of all that stuff doesn’t leave you much money for the green goods you really need like organic food.
Not my idea of fun
And yet…
- During the holidays I tend to post at least a few green gift guide here and at other eco-friendly blogs of mine.
- I have ads on this blog.
- I share product reviews and post product suggestions.
- I even own some more product minded blogs – although, while I like them, I tend to slack on them because I loose interest in stuff easily.
Wow? Could I be more hypocritical? Really anyone could say, “What the flip Jennifer, if you’re so die-hard against having stuff, then why show all these products on this blog!?”
Well…
About the ads: I could go ad-free that’s true and I’ve considered it. However, I write and blog for a living and am sadly lacking a sugar daddy. That means I alone support my son through my writing and blogging and ads bring in $ to this blog. Secondly I LOVE blogging about green issues but again, because I have a son, I can’t do it for free, no matter how much I love it. Over the years I’ve gotten the nicest emails and comments from readers about how such and such post made a difference to them which makes me want to keep right on blogging. And really, on a totally selfish note, even if I didn’t get any nice readers ever, I’d still blog these topics because they matter a lot to me.
In the end, if I can’t bring in money I can’t blog what I want. If I make nothing I’d be spending more time working for the man, blogging the green topics my clients see fit for me to blog. Lame. Basically I want to blog what I want and what I think will help green families and still support my son – ads allow me to do both.
About my take on stuff: First of all when I say I don’t love stuff, I’m not kidding. I am really not down with clutter and over-consumption makes me cringe. I even give away most of the products I review here. Like most people I own items that are unnecessary for example, books, incense, candles and more than one pair of shoes… but I do try to stick to needs first and only smaller big time wants. For instance, I don’t think you need three kitchen appliances that do the same thing or the latest tech products. For me, wants are about items that make you feel at home or add to your life in a meaningful way – i.e art supplies or books vs. excess wants like four TV sets or three bathrooms in a family of two. That’s insane. Overall I’m not against things that make your home feel like home.
About my take on product minded posts:
I review products or suggest products for four main reasons and one silly reason.
Um, not my goal...
- Some products like reusable bags or water bottles are green living necessities so of course I’d share them.
- There are an excessive amount of really bad eco-product reviews online and I don’t think you deserve to buy crap for your family. I’ve bought lame stuff based on the review some blogger wrote and it really makes me angry. It’s a waste of money and hard on your ethics at best and at worst a bad product could hurt your family. Because of this I try to write much better in-depth reviews than what I’ve seen and offer decent product ideas so that you can make a better, smarter, greener decisions when you need something.
- I hope that when you need a new dishes, baby clothes, a gift or anything else that you’ll choose an environmentally responsible product over a not responsible product. Since as noted, I’ve seen my fair share of lame reviews and even more greenwashing one way for me to know that you’re really choosing a greener product rather than not so green products is to post about them myself.
- Sometimes I post about products to give myself an education. For example, we need new cooking pots at my house. However, right now I have no clue which pots we’ll be buying. I haven’t researched it enough. That said, pretty soon I’d expect to see a post about pots here because I will research it, and once I do that of course I’ll feel the need to share.
- My silly reason: While I don’t like to have too much stuff around I’m 100% guilty of loving to look. I’m amazed at some of the cool green products out there – I especially get obsessive over green kiddo items. That said, window shopping can be fun but it doesn’t mean you need the items you’re looking at – knowing when just to look is a smart move.
About my readers: Lastly, I’m pretty darn sure readers here at Growing a Green Family are smart so I’m comfortable showing products here. If I show a greener blender and you already have a blender I keep it in the back of my mind that you’re smart enough to know not to buy the new greener blender. If I share some fun “want-minded” product over a necessity product I’m guessing you know better than to buy it just because I post it.
In general, just because I show a product on this blog does not mean I assume you need it, it only means I assume someone might. You however, might not and I’m counting on you to know that. Gift guides for example – will you need all the stuff I show on a gift guide? Heck no you won’t but if you’re going to buy a gift I sure do hope it’s green which is why I like offering suggestions. Do you need every book I review – no – but some are worth it if you need help going green. You get the picture.
There – my rational behind the products I share here. Whew, I feel better for sharing.
What’s your take on stuff?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow… this post put into words about our desire to live more simple and not bring in so much “stuff”. I am kinda new at the living green lifestyle and have much to learn. That is why I am glad to find your blog and others that give me ideas and suggestions to try. Our big concern is replacing our old eating habits with new, healthy diets. This is going a challenge! Thanks for all you do : )
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Jennifer and in fact I HAVE said it myself though not in the same words.
Of COURSE the best was to live green is to buy NOTHING. But that’s just not realistic. Like you, we think our readers and followers are smart enough to figure out that what we are writing about, reviewing and even buying are not necessities–always. BUT if people are going to buy, they like to have people like us to guide them to those things that are green-er. They don’t have time or energy or the inclination for that matter, to do the investigation.
Your reviews (as well as the other content in your blog) are valuable precisely for that reason. You do the work for people (including us!).
Ditto to what Mandy said, thanks!
I agree, though I’m far from perfect. It’s nice having friends who see things similarly too and I am hoping I can be an example to my girlfriend and future family.
@Andrew – I think we’re all far from perfect. Sometimes I meet greenies who seem kind of perfect, but they’re not. We’re all just trying and that’s what matters
@Mandy – right now we’re working on eating healthy too. For a while there I got so addicted to soda. I never drank it, but my boyfriend does and it’s easy to get lured in. Finally I was like NO MORE soda in the house period. Eating habits are a great place to start IMO because you can see change happen pretty quickly. I’m glad you’ve started down the green living path – the more the merrier
Thanks for the encouragement from y’all! I am determined to buy less, give more and want what I have instead of wanting what I don’t have!