Re: [C-L] Walking Lightly - buying used things | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Ruthpoet (Ruthpoet![]() |
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Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 08:13:41 -0700 (PDT) |
Stuart - thanks for your comment about using it 'til you wear it out! In all of the conversations about greenness vs. affordability, I've been surprised that no one has mentioned buying used goods. Frankly, I feel much better about buying used goods than I do about buying new cheap goods (e.g. WalMart), new not-so-cheap goods (e.g. Macy's) or new "green" goods. It is MUCH more affordable, giving me much more flexibility and financial freedom, AND I feel like I've taken myself (to some extent) out of the consumerist loop. I would estimate that 90% of the non-consumables that I own (car, clothes, electronics, housewares, furniture) were bought used, or in some cases gotten for free, at _www.craigslist.org_ (http://www.craigslist.org) (a great place to find any and everything - for any of you who don't already know about it), _www.freecycle.org_ (http://www.freecycle.org) , or at a thrift store or flea market. It's been a long time since I had a job where I had to dress up, but when I did, I always found good quality "dressy" clothes in thrift or consignment stores at a fraction of the cost of buying new. For me, buying used is also more fun - there are more surprises (you never know quite what you'll find), it's more creative, and more eclectic. For anyone who doesn't know about _www.freecycle.org_ (http://www.freecycle.org) -- it's international, with myriad local chapters all over. In just the past few months, my partner and I have received, for FREE, a great futon and frame, two canoe paddles, a grill in very good condition, and a bunch of dishes -- and we've given away some stereo equipment, electronics equipment, some plants, a different futon mattress, an animal cage, a set of chairs, etc. Everybody's happy, and no new goods had to be produced to meet any of our needs/desires. (OK, the only "cost" was a little fossil fuel required to pick the goods up. Which isn't nothing.) Speaking of used items: I don't know how this equation works out is in buying a "used" (i.e. already existing) house, vs. building a new, but more greenly-constructed house. Since there are so many already-built houses on the market, it makes sense to me on the one hand that it would be better to buy one of them, rather than using up materials to have a new one constructed. On the other hand, most existing houses are not as well insulated or set up for solar, etc. Comments, anyone? Ruth ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
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Re: [C-L] Walking Lightly - buying used things Ruthpoet, July 3 2007
- Re: [C-L] Walking Lightly - buying used things Stuart Joseph, July 5 2007
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Re: [C-L] Walking Lightly - buying used things Rose M Brandt, July 8 2007
- Re: [C-L] Walking Lightly - buying used things joyce thorn, July 8 2007
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