14 Simple Ways I Practice Underconsumption
Incorporating underconsumption practices in your daily life can be easy! Here is a list of ways that I practice underconsumption.
A List of How I Practice Underconsumption at Home
Underconsumption can easily become a normal way of living!
Not wearing make up
On a regular day I don’t wear makeup. I typically only wear makeup to a special event like a wedding. This is a great way for me to practice underconsumption because my makeup products last a really long time and I don’t have to buy them as frequently.
Reusing boxes, bags, and wrapping
I’m a sucker for a good box. Whenever we do purchase things online, I like to save the boxes and packaging for shipping goods to our loved ones or shipping things I sell online. Similarly, I keep holiday wrapping from gifts in order to reuse it.
Secondhand home goods
A few of the book shelves around our home are secondhand. We were able to purchase them from neighbors moving out.
Using up all skin and hair care before buying new
I try to keep my amount of beauty products to a minimum and use up all skin and hair care products before purchasing more. This includes using up shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, and other bathroom items.
Wearing clothes until I Can’t
Honestly, it’s painful for me to get rid of clothes. I rarely do a closet clean out. I rewear my clothing until either the quality is no longer good or it no longer fits. Loving my clothes has helped me reduce the amount of clothing I purchase.
Reusing old towels and sheets
We reuse old bedsheets, blankets, and towels as blankets for our pets.
Mending
I’m certainly not an expert sewer, but I do know a few basic skills such as how to sew on a button and stitch up a hole. This is great because it allows me to fix garments or household linens instead of throwing them away.
Meal Plan
We plan our meals before going to the grocery store. Sometimes we try to find meals with similar produce or herb ingredients, so we can be sure to use ALL of that item we purchase.
Keeping random things
I keep things in hopes that I will reuse or regift them.
Regifting
Along with my keeping random things…I am a queen regifter. If we get gifts we will not use, I put this in our regift cabinet. When a birthday or the holidays roll around I go through this cabinet to see if I can regift an item before buying a new one.
Spend Money on Experiences Not Stuff
We like to spend money on experiences such as restaurants or travel instead of purchasing stuff. This helps keep our home less cluttered and us consuming less.
Lake Diablo Day Trip
One Perfume
I only own one bottle of perfume. I’ve had it for years and only use it on special occasions. This lasts me a long time and minimizes the amount of times I rebuy it.
Compost
We compost our food scraps to reduce our food waste in a basic compost bin that we have had for four years.
Eating Leftovers
I LOVE eating leftovers. Whenever we have leftovers from cooking dinner I will save them as my lunch for the next day.
Non-Matching Towels
A lot of people have matching bath towels….not us! We have bath towels from various sets and towels that are six years old. We use what we have in our bathroom.
Hopefully this list of underconsumption core practices gave you some ideas on how you can live more sustainably.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, and practicing slow living.
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