Day 154 of our Green Year: Take Out Programs

While we have eliminated a lot of what we own by giving it away or recycling it, there are occasions where we need to purchase something. Of course, we always ask the purchase questions before buying anything, and for ever one thing we buy, we try to eliminate something we no longer need at the home to offset it.

However, there is a new way to offset what you buy, especially when you buy mattresses or electronics. These are companies that operate take-back programs, which take used or broken electronics, furniture and mattresses and recycle them for you, albeit when you buy something new from them. So, buy something from them, and they will take away the old item you are replacing and recycling it for you. The Brick is one such place that takes old furniture and mattresses away when you buy something new from them. For electronics, check with the retailer and manufacturer to see if they have a take-back program. If you have a manufacturer who does not, then you can bring your old electronics to Best Buy and they will recycle it.

Now, it should be pointed out that this does not mean we will go out and buy something simply because we can get rid of something through a take-back program. We will continue to use the purchase questions to determine if we are going to buy something and if it is needed (for everything from washboards to televisions) and we will continue to lower our possession count.

Although it is nice to know that the program is there.

Day 123 of our Green Year: The Purchase Questions

Layla and I are committed to decreasing our possessions and are currently going through what we own to catalog it and determine what can stay and what can go. I have already decided to give away 90 percent of my books, which is not an easy thing for me to do. The books I am keeping are only ones that have sentimental value to me.

Now, since we are reducing our possessions to reduce consumption and prove we do not need a bunch of items to be happy, we are also not buying up a lot of things. In fact, Layla and I have come up with the Purchase Question System, which we use whenever we have to buy something that is not essential (food would be an essential purchase).

These questions we ask are:

1. Does the cost of the item warrant the benefit we may receive from it? This means that if the benefit is just an immediate gratification (shoes we don't need) then it is not worth the long-term cost.
2. How much will this product be used after its initial 'neatness' wears off? Buying one of those dancing electric animals is a perfect example of this. It may seem neat now, but it will end up in the closet soon enough.
3. Can it be recycled or given away later? If it can, it makes buying it easier because someone else can get use out of it after we no longer use it.
4. Where could this money be better spent? If it could go to bills, mortgage, charity or anything else instead of the product, maybe it should.
5. Why are we buying this product? If the only reason is because we just saw it, then it is not a good buy. Impulse buys are not something we want to do. As well, if we buy it because we saw it on television, then maybe its not a good buy.

Those are just a few of the questions we will ask ourselves to ensure that everything we own is what we need.