Do you buy cheap, replaceable things to not feel bad about throwing stuff away if you don't end up using it much, or do you pay for quality goods?
Do you buy cheap, replaceable things to not feel bad about throwing stuff away if you don't end up using it much, or do you pay for quality goods?
I was thinking about this today. I try to research products and save up before buying something, so I invest in quality (also trying to buy responsibly due to environment), but sometimes I buy something expensive and then half a year later realize I didn't use it as much as I had hoped to... but feel bad about donating / recycling the thing so soon since I paid a lot of money for it.
Another example is shaving razors. I'd like to buy a proper, metal one with a replaceable blade, but then I'm thinking how much nicer it is to just dispose of it once I am done (no need to clean it or sharpen it).
Any thoughts, experiences, comments are appreciate it. Really interested about what people think about this topic!
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I try to buy good quality things that will last longer (a lifetime whenever possible) even if they cost more. Having a policy of buying higher quality/cost things helps me think twice about whether I really need it or not, and I tend to cherish them more. Whenever it turns out to have been a bad decision, the sting is greater, but don't beat yourself up about it, just let it be a learning lesson fir next time! It's like a built-in penalty to teach you to be less impulsive. If you buy something for $10 and just have to throw it away, you don't think twice, but if it cost $60, then that bad call will come to mind the next time you go to buy something.
Another strategy I use to reduce the risk of buying something unnecessary is that I'll research, pick out what I want, save it to a shopping list, then tell myself I can buy it in three month if I still want it; in the meantime I'm forced to do without and either borrow from someone, find another way to do what I need, or just get over the perceived need if the thing (especially if its a fleeting hobby item).
On the topic of disposable items, I try to be as non disposable as possible because I get satisfaction from producing as little waste as possible. When I see that there's a certain disposable item I use a lot, I'll try to find a nondisposable alternative (paper towels is my most recent change to little washable cotton towel).
There as some things though where, for me personally, the burden of using a nondisposable option creates a burden greater than the dissatisfaction of using disposable. A big one for me is baby diapers; I feel some guilt, but I just can't see myself using reusable ones.
Remember to be kind to yourself. I'll bet your more intentional and deserning with your consumption than the average person; so if using disposable razors really works for you in your situation, that's okay! Nobody's perfect and the only bar you have to measure up to is the one you set for yourself 😃
Wow thanks for the thoughts!
First, I strive to do the same with buying more quality goods rather than cheap ones (because I've also noticed that I actually save money with lifetime warranty stuff). Second I saw the advice on r/minimalism about adding things to your shopping list or window shopping and waiting out for 3 months before buying it and took it to heart. One of the best advices ever!
And hey you sound a lot like the people over at ZeroWaste, is there an equivalent in the fediverse? I agree I can't bring myself to replace all my things with reusable ones (diapers was a great example), but striving towards that is all I need!
Thank you for the awesome thoughts and advice :)
Glad to help! And yes there is a zero Waste community hosted on lemmy.ml!
Yiss! Thanks! And it has the same moderator as [email protected], awesome!