Buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.

So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something — not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.

One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.

1. Reconsider your need. Do you really really need it? Or is it a want? Or can you change things so you don’t need it? This should always be the first thing you do.
2. Borrow. You might only need it temporarily. Borrow books from friends or the library. Borrow a dress for a special occasion. Borrow a tool for a short-term project. Be sure to lend things in return, when you can.
3. Ask friends and family. Sometimes people you know might have the item you need, but not need it any longer. Instead of loaning it to you, they might be glad to give it to you. You only need to ask. I’ll often send out an email (or tweet) if I need something that others might have.
4. Freecycle. Same idea, but using a wider network. There are Freecycle networks in many areas — people who want to give something away, or who need something, post to the list and very often exchanges are made — for free.
5. Buy used. It’s infinitely better than buying new, because when you buy used you’re not having new resources taken from the earth and manufactured, but rather extending the life of resources that have already been used. Try thrift shops, charity stores, yard or garage sales, Craigslist or Ebay.
6. Make your own. This won’t work in every case (if I had to make my own clothes people would laugh at me more than they already do), but sometimes you can make something that’s just as good as buying, with inexpensive materials or materials you already have. This works if you’re good with crafts or carpentry especially. It can also be fun to get the family involved.
7. Go without. I know this seems the same as the first item on the list, but actually it’s a bit different: say you decide you really do need something, but can’t find it anywhere or make it. Should you buy new? Well, maybe you can go without it for awhile, until you do find a used version. Maybe you need it but don’t need it right now. Often things will turn up when you keep your eyes open — someone will happen to mention they have the item, or you’ll see it on Freecycle or Craigslist after a week or two. And sometimes, the need for the item will go away, and you’ll be glad you waited.

Sometimes you might have to buy a new item, even after exhausting all these options. But if you can run through this list first, often you’ll find you didn’t need it new.

7 WAYS … TO AVOID BUYING NEW STUFF by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits. Visit Leo at www.zenhabits.net

Photo courtesy: Brave New Films

Were in love with stuff – with shopping, with acquiring, with owning, with collecting.

Lets lust after life instead.

Our obsession with stuff has become unhealthy. When we have a void in our lives, we buy things. When we have problems, we buy things. And these things are becoming more and more expensive, bigger, shinier … more wasteful.

This obsession with stuff leads to owning a lot, having a lot of clutter … and yet this stuff doesnt fill our lives with meaning.

It leads to deep debt, from buying so much, and needing bigger houses and storage spaces to contain everything. Financially, were worse off than ever, because of this obsession with stuff.

We buy things when were depressed, we buy things for others to show how much we love them … and in this way, stuff has separated us from actually dealing with our emotions, blocked us from truly connecting with others.

Lets replace that lust for stuff with a lust for life.

Some ideas:

Rediscover a passion for life. Get outside and feel nature, appreciate the beauty of the world around you. Get active, do some gardening or yardwork, play a sport, go for a walk, take a hike, go for a swim, ride a bike. Feel the life coursing through you. Breathe it in.

Give experiences as gifts, not stuff. Instead of shopping for someone come birthdays or Christmas, think of an experience you can give them instead. A date with you, doing something fun, hanging out, cooking, playing, talking, exploring. A fun time at a park or beach. Something other than everyday. An experience is much more meaningful than an object.
Connect with others. In real life. If you havent hung out with a friend recently, give him a call and go hang out. Get your kid away from the TV or video game player and take her outside to do something. Go on a date with your partner. Visit your mom or grandparents. And be present while youre with them – really listen, really be there.
Deal with your emotions. If you have a need to buy things, to shop when you are having emotional issues, be more aware of this. Then deal with the underlying emotions, rather than using shopping as a way to forget about them. If youre depressed, or anxious, or lonely, deal with those. Find solutions, figure out whats causing them. Good news: experiencing life, getting active, and connecting with others all help you deal with those emotional issues.

Disconnect your attachment to stuff. Sometimes I find myself reluctant to give something up, even if I dont really use it. And thats when I ask myself, “Why?” What is holding me back from getting rid of this possession? Sometimes, the item has an emotional connection, but then I realize that its just an object, its not the emotion or the actual source of the emotion. Then Ill take a picture of the item, upload it to my computer, and get rid of the object. I feel liberated, because Ive broken an attachment to a physical object (but saved the memory). If you are attached to an object, figure out why – its not healthy in the long run.
Realize that life, not stuff, is what matters. Objects are just objects – if you lose them, if they get stolen or destroyed … its not a big deal. Theyre just objects – not your life. Your life is the series of moments that is steaming through your consciousness right now, and how you use those moments and what you fill them with is what truly matters, not what you fill your home with. At the end of this short journey, youll look back and remember your experiences, the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did and didnt do. Not the stuff you had.

This article was written by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits

Photo: aussiegall Flickr Creative Commons

Gorgeous eco-friendly fashion is easy to find thanks to website ecoworldfashion.com-a family business set up by two eco-aware professional designers, with a commitment to support fair-trade and ethical choices in fashion and homewares.

Babette Kono studied design in London, Perth and finally in Japan where she met Mitch Kono, an Interior Design student at Osaka University of Art. She started her professional life as a designer for boutique agencies and became Art Director for an upmarket chain of Australian Department stores.

During this time, the designer says she became aware of the cyclic nature and trends intrinsic to fashion. The process also made her “deeply aware of a need to change from harmful conventional textiles to safe organic and ethical fashion choices”.

Babette and her designer partner Mitchs goal was to offer an online boutique which has integrity on every level-from the professional position of the design/buying team, to the transparency and ethical position of the companies they choose to do business with.

Thorough research and understanding of all aspects of textile clothing production process is an important part of their ethos.

“We do not take things on face value,” they told The Green Dove. “We hope to benefit our customers by our insight and ability to bring the very best certified organic, fair-trade and ethical choices from around the world.”

Ecoworldfashion.com was born with the desire to bring professional design and fashion retail experience, to the savvy and eco-aware customer looking for a company who they can trust.

To find out more, visit www.ecoworldfashion.com

Photo: Woven Henley Top by Stewart&Brown