Rethinking Consumer Buying

It is an interesting time to be a consumer in the United States right now. On the one hand, consumers are dealing with lay offs and uncertain financial stability around the world, causing consumers to decrease their spending habits drastically, and on the other hand, the public is being told by public officials and many mediums that they need to spend more in order for the economy to pick up. It is all so confusing, but right now is the perfect time for us all to make a major life change that is environmentally and economically smart.

I completely agree that halting spending entirely is going to do nothing to stimulate our teetering economy and boost consumer confidence, but we must also be smart about our purchases and live an environmentally conscious life every day. It has been stated that 50% of greenhouse gas emissions are directly linked to the production and consumption of consumer goods. This means that every purchase you make, whether it is clothing or electronics, is contributing to the downfall of this planet. Does that mean we all need to abandon our homes, live in a shack in the woods and grow all of our own food? Well that would be ideal, but not very realistic at this time. The key is to think local, recycled and second hand. Here are my tips to begin a new life as a more responsible consumer:

1.) Buy Small & Local: When I say buy local, I don't mean shop at your local Wal Mart. What I mean is purchase from small local businesses. Every Saturday in my home town my community has a Saturday Market. The event has booths from about 50 local artisans, cooks, and craftmen. It is a perfect time to pick up a hand made candle, jewelry, or a piece of art. Many of the vendors are just as concerned with being environmentally conscious as I am, and so they try and only use organic material grown here in Oregon. I normally shy away from buying any new products, but when I buy from a fellow local business, I feel a sense of pride and a connection with my community. I love knowing that I am making a choice to not contribute to the corporate, materialistic world our forefathers have designed for us.
2.) Always try and get it used: When it comes to things like electronics and home decor, do your pocketbook and the environment a favor by buying used. You'd be surprised the great finds you can get in secondhand shops and how easy and fun it is to spruce up an old item and make it unique and new. We have a great electronics place in Eugene called BRING that fixes old computers and cameras and resells them at a great price. It is the perfect place to get computer hardware, and a great place to recycle electronics you are no longer using.
3.) Differentiate between a want and a need: Teenagers in particular seem to not understand this concept, but is it really their fault? We live in a world that bombards us with advertisements and entertainment figures, which are both stuffing products down our throats 24/7. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not reminded of the capitalist society I live in. But just because that is the way it has been doesn't mean that is the way it needs to stay. As consumers we have all the power, and we can use our power by not buying excessively and not contributing to big business conglomerates. Do you really need to upgrade to a new phone or ipod every single year? No! Do you really need to buy $200 shoes made in a sweatshop just because they are brand name? Hell no! The moment Americans realize how much power they really have over this economy is the moment real change can happen.