Let’s face it: We have a consumption problem.  From candles and cleaning supplies to throw blankets and kitchen gadgets, we are a culture steeped in stuff. And particularly with the holiday season approaching, advertisements for ever-more things at ever-lower prices are chasing us down the street, inundating our news feeds and e-mail inboxes, and stalking us across the world wide web to convince us to buy more and more. (And before you decide that’s dramatic, the average American sees 4,000+ advertisements per day).

#NothingNewNovember is a chance to hit the reset button on this consumption. This global challenge encourages us to be more mindful of our consumption by using what we have, borrowing from friends, or buying second-hand. Whether you’ve decided to go all-in on no “new” purchases this month or are still deciding if you want to dip your toes in the water, here are some ways you can participate in #NothingNewNovember:

De-Clutter your home, with intention 

One thing that constantly strikes me as an admin of my local Buy Nothing group is this: Whenever someone has an ask, no matter how “far-fetched”– it’s nearly always fulfilled, and quickly. Girl Elf on the Shelf? Covered. Spare microwave? There’s one down the street.  Mermaid costume? Got one.  

While members’ generosity is part of what makes the Buy Nothing community so special, what this phenomenon also points to is an abundance of “things” sitting unused in our homes. These “things” collecting dust in our storage sheds and closets are keeping us from living a more intentional life. Hoarding these “just-in-cases” and “maybe-somedays” not only clutters our homes and steals our emotional energy, but it keeps these items from being used and enjoyed by others. 

Hoarding “just-in-case” and “maybe-someday” items not only clutters our homes and steals our emotional energy, it robs these items of the chance to be used and enjoyed by others.

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Take the time to pass these items on, intentionally. Instead of unceremoniously dumping them by the curb, give your possessions a second life by gifting them to community members, donating them to charity groups with specific needs, or make some money back with second-hand markets like Mercari or Facebook marketplace.  And voila! Just like that, you’ve extended the life of your “stuff” and helped to reduce our collective environmental footprint.  

(And if something needs re-purposed or recycled, check out this comprehensive list for responsibly re-homing things).  

Embrace Second-Hand

Chances are, the “things” in our life are perfectly adequate to meet our needs. But, when our needs and wants do change– from color or style preferences to sizing and lifestyle shifts– it is often more environmentally friendly to find things secondhand. 

The key to shopping second-hand is often to anticipate what you might need, just a little bit before you actually need it! If you’re in the Labor & Delivery room just now thinking about a car seat or crib– you might not have many alternatives to clicking “add to cart” (with expedited shipping, at that). But if you stay just a little bit ahead of your needs, you give yourself the margin to find things secondhand. For example, I set a search alert on Facebook Marketplace for a Guava Lotus travel crib at the end of October. Wild One loves hers and uses it daily– so we decided to get a second one for Wild Two’s arrival in the spring! After just a few days, we got a hit– and voila, our family now has the privilege of giving a second life to this beautiful crib.  Facebook marketplace, in particular, also tends to be a good resource for furniture, kitchen appliances, or decor. 

For kids’ clothing, I try to stay one size ahead of Wild One– so if she’s in 18m sizing, I start looking for 2Ts. Nearly everything in Wild One’s wardrobe since her birth came from generous neighbors and members of our Buy Nothing community– saving us hundreds of dollars, and keeping hundreds of garments out of landfill. In fact, just yesterday, I picked up a toddler snowsuit and brand-new hooded towels from a neighbor’s curbside “free” box. 

For adult clothing, eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari are great resources for buying used. Particularly when you look for clothing items made with quality materials– 100% cotton, merino wool, etc.– or from brands that can stand up to hard wear (Patagonia, I’m looking at you!), your used purchases will often have a significantly longer life than fast fashion alternatives. And lest you think there is a shortage of second-hand clothing, a simple search for “J. Crew sweater” on eBay turned up 50,221 results. 

In many communities, connecting with re-use and gift economy groups (such as the Buy Nothing project), can be another valuable way to source items secondhand. My brother-in-law recently moved into his first “adult” apartment– and we found everything from a bed frame to a microwave and toaster on our local Buy Nothing group for him. If you have a specific “ask” in mind, chances are there is someone in your community eager to re-home their excess household goods. 

Have a “reset” on online scrolling to practice gratitude 

November often feels like a difficult month to be extra mindful of my consumption, even though most people would describe me as super-mindful of my purchases in general. 

For one, the weather is changing– and not only does that often require a re-evaluation of your wardrobe, but the extra hours spent inside and the negative effects of Daylight Savings on your mental health (seriously– Daylight Savings is associated with an increased risk of depression, not to mention disrupted sleep patterns) make it easier to slip into mindless scrolling habits (or, worse, to find yourself clicking “add to cart”). And while you can easily decide not to enter a shopping mall or department store, it can be harder to avoid incessant advertisements chasing you across the world wide web.

Plus, stores have expanded over-hyped Black Friday sales to last all month long. So suddenly, you’re inundated with advertisements for “Our lowest price all year!” and “Savings with promo code: GOGOGO!” (Geez, that’s not high pressure at all…). And even though you know you don’t need another gadget, trinket, or “it” toy of the season (let’s be real: you didn’t even know “it” existed until 5 minutes ago), it feels hard to pass up what is supposedly a good deal. To add insult to injury, advertisements are intentionally designed to stir feelings of comparison, competition, and inadequacy. 

There is nothing you can buy with promo code “GOGOGO!” that will complete you.

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And with the holidays approaching, the pressure is on: What’s the perfect present to show my partner I love them? Will my kiddos feel left out if they don’t get the same toys as their friends? What’s the just-right, “thoughtful-but-not-creepy” present to get a co-worker?

In the midst of this pressure, it can be difficult to resist the urge to “add to cart.” That makes November a great month to get more intentional with your scrolling, to take back your time and reduce temptation. So go ahead and set that time limit on Instagram or block yourself from accessing Amazon (if you have an iPhone, you’ll find these features under “Settings” → “Screen Time”). 

Then, take a step back and do something restorative for yourself: Make yourself a cup of tea or hot cocoa (every night, if that’s what it takes!). Go for a walk, do some yoga, or read a good book. Splurge on a haircut or a massage. 

Find opportunities to connect with your people: Host a bonfire, go for a hike with loved ones, or celebrate Friendsgiving.  

Use this time to give back to your community: Whether donating your time to a local organization, advocating for a cause you care about, or cooking a meal for a neighbor, you have the power to make a difference right where you live. And, if you’re financially able, you can redirect the funds you would have spent on Black Friday shopping to support a non-profit on Giving Tuesday (or, really, any time of the year).

Re-evaluate your holiday gift-giving

As we approach a season of unrivaled consumerism, it’s become even more clear that there is very little that most of us need, and perhaps not much we even want. 

Over the past few years, Wild Man and I have worked to be more intentional in gifting experiences, including donations in family member’s names, annual museum passes, and horseback riding adventures. And while we certainly give our share of physical items as well, we’ve also tried to be intentional about what our friends and family actually need or want (hint: consumables, like candles or alcohol, are often at the top of the list!). 

But this year, something interesting happened: My brother-in-law suggested we put a hard stop to gift-giving among the adult siblings this holiday season. And the closer I get to the festivities, the more relieved I am to enjoy the holiday magic without the pressure of extra purchases to make– or the anxiety of even more “stuff” coming into our lives. 

Even if you decide not to go all-in on no gifts, you can choose to give experiences and consumables. Or, really shake things up by deciding that everyone in your family will “re-gift” something not adding value to their lives, or give something of no monetary value. (Seriously– for my husband’s 29th birthday, I gave him “29 coupons” to redeem for everything from “he picks the movie” to “no chores for a week.” I was so unsure how the gift would go over, but he ended up loving it! He’s still using coupons at his discretion over a year later). 

And because I know you’re just dying to hear how my #NothingNewNovember is going…

It’s one thing to talk about Nothing New November, and another to hold yourself accountable to lowering your consumption. I knew, going into this month, that absolutely no “new” purchases wasn’t very likely to be an attainable goal for my family this time around. There were a few reasons for this, including an ever-expanding baby bump (which I’m happy to report I was able to clothe second-hand!), a toddler who needed some snow gear, and store rewards points that expired in the middle of the month. 

So here’s what we’ve purchased new: 

• Consumables, including food (no surprise there) and an order from Grove Co.* with toddler toothbrushes and low-waste cleaning supplies 
• A Hatch sound machine for Wild One, using the aforementioned store rewards points. I was really on the fence about this purchase, but after a few nights, the verdict is in: This thing is pure magic. 
• Snowstopper mittens for Wild One, which have already earned their keep during blustery November hikes. 
• A replacement filter for our shop vac 
• A pre-order for Arbor Made’s zero waste candles

And, here’s what we’ve found second-hand:

• A Guava Lotus travel crib in preparation for Wild Two. Wild One uses hers every night (the crib even made my short-list of baby products you might actually need) so I’d had a search alert set on Facebook Marketplace for any local listings– and it paid off! 
• Christmas gifts for Wild One, also from a local Facebook Marketplace listing– the Lovevery Count & Slide Ring Chute and their “Sustainable Sink.” I’m one excited mama to get to play with these beautiful new-to-us toys… and, you know, I figure Wild One will enjoy them too 🤣 .
• Three maternity shirts and a maternity coat, all in excellent secondhand condition from eBay or Mercari. Only necessary because this pregnancy, I started showing approximately 10 weeks earlier than my last…
• A pool floaty for next year, from my Buy Nothing group 
• An assortment of items from a “curb alert” of free stuff, including a toddler snow suit, a fleece headband for winter, and a never-worn Under Armour visor (for staying out of the sun AND looking cool while doing so, obviously). 

While we definitely brought more into our lives than we do in a typical month, the vast majority of our “new” purchases were indeed consumables (even the mittens, if Wild One has any say in it!)– and that’s a trend I’m hoping to stick with!

But even if your month looked nothing like ours– whether you’re still all-in on #NothingNewNovember or you’re just beginning your journey into mindful consumption– know that your intentionality will lead to a more peaceful life and real environmental change. I’m rooting for you!

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