Haha... I like what you said about souvenirs.. I bought a frying pan in Rome and a hat in Dublin... I love remembering those trips every time I use them...
A frying pan is such a good holiday buy from Rome! They have the most amazing copper cookware in Italy, and that is 100% what I'd buy as a souvenir if I visited.
We started similar in our honeymoon. We went to Japan and brought home some cups, rice bowls and soup spoons we really love and enjoy using. From our last Ireland trip we got some nice (thrifted) clothes. It makes way more sense to get things like that, doesn't it? That way we are reminded of a nice trip every time we use or wear them, without them catching dust somewhere in a corner.
I found the cutest little saucer in a thrift shop in Rhodes. Plus a handcrafted handkerchief from Burano and a tiny glass candy from Murano. They are much better than the mass produced souvenirs(I still have to admit to buying a postcard as a guilty pleasure of mine.)
DID YOU KNOW that paper has two sides, so you can use the back of the pieces of paper you cant refuse (school stuff, bills) as a place for notes, when you are done using them- instead of buying post-its. I do this and love it!
I have been doing this at work - my colleagues and I do patient intakes. They use new printer paper and new notebooks respectively. I bring in old half-used notebooks from middle school that I find in boxes in my mom's basement and bills that have blank backsides. I've got a whole Xerox box of this type of paper to run through and it will take me years to get through all of it.
Making napkins out of old bed sheets and duvet covers have revolutionised my home! We barely use any paper or cleaning supplies, the napkins work for everything! And sheets can be bought second hand in nice patterns/colours. Just rip them and maybe sew the edges. I got 40 napkins from one duvet cover 👍 they are gonna last me so long as well, just wash and re-use!
Regarding the hair ties: I’ve started to whenever I have to use a disposable mask, after it’s worn out I just rip off the elastics, tie a knot in them and they actually make for a great hair tie
I do that too! I wash them first and then save them in a container with all the elastic bands I occasionally get with our grocery and use them whenever needed. And we should be ripping them off anyway because stray animals go find their food from the trash and they might get stuck in those.
Seasonal decor is usually made from cheap plastic or unappealing materials. I think it’s fun to make seasonal decorations and use “bits and bobs” of stuff that is kicking around the house. It’s also a really fun pastime... especially during the Autumn and Winter months when we tend to spend more time indoors.
Flaxseed gel (which could possibly be converted to spray format) make a great hairspray alternative. I mention, because zero-waste or low-impact should be fun, not a misery, since it's a lifelong commitment, and I know a lot of us like to play around with our hair (I like to do curls!). Obviously, it's 100% fine to just skip styling in any way that needs 'hold' altogether, but if you do like to do anything fancy, such as vintage styles, OR if you have curly hair (Curly Girl Method approved!!) flaxseed gel is a fabulous, make-at-home (or buy from Etsy, etc) alternative that really works and doesn't weigh hair down. :) I think glycerin and gluconolactone make it even better (both natural, for anyone concerned about that), but do make sure you know how to work with a polyhydroxy acid if you decide to add in gluconolactone. It functions as a natural preservative and adds moisture.
I thought I was weird one for not buying seasonal decor, but people give away things for free year round off season... So I have a wide assortment of Christmas/twinkle lights. XD. Last item I bought for holidays because of household requests were reusable halloween clings for the window, and a long time ago a Christmas tree projector so we could have a tree, but be safe with puppies and a newborn underfoot. We borrowed a family members livingroom to do the Christmas tree photos with babe that everyone thinks so cute.
Oh, another tip: I know some folks LOVE costumes or cosplaying and actually get a ton of wear out of costumes (maybe pick a signature character or three to limit the amount?), so I would suggest sourcing them on Etsy or from any independent tailor (who you're paying fair wages). You can even custom order and work with them on the materials (they're usually very knowledgeable about what will work). If they don't have access to sustainable materials, many tailors and costume makers will let you send them the fabric that you want (which adds postage miles, so it's not perfect... But I think this all works out a lot better than buying cosplay on commercial sites and eBay, etc).
cosplayer here - if you don't have the sewing knowledge or want to learn this is 100% the way to go. there's so many cheap garbage looking cosplays for sale on eBay and such sites that, half the time, steal pictures from actual cosplayers who make them themselves. huge rantable topic for me lol
@@shugarysubstances I don't cosplay, but I have a casual admiration for the practice. Some costumes/artists are amazing. I think it's fair to say cosplay artist. Performer? Creator? Enthusiast? Ha, ha. Each person probably identifies a different way, depending on how they engage with it. But it's nice to know that someone more knowledgeable and invested than me thinks that my tip is on the right track. I've definitely seen those knock-off costumes on eBay and Wish, and I agree, it's awfully frustrating. And not right to steal creators' images without credit or even noting "Inspiration". Usually it's just straight-up theft and misrepresentation for profit. Even though I've never bought a cosplay, I do use eBay for second-hand clothing, so I see clothing knock-offs allllll the time anyway. Have you ever seen those clothing order fail sites, and how pissed off the people always act? I once saw a lace dress on there that I'd bought. The real-deal was handmade in the UK for a couple of hundred dollars (but I purchased on sale at a local shop who only had one left). However, this dress was VERY popular for duping and still is. Well, people order "it" off Wish for a couple of dollars or $10, and then write furious reviews and post fail photos on social media. This is my pet peeve and I have no sympathy. How can anyone's sense of value (and implicit knowledge of the cost of labour and materials) be so skewed as to think that they were going to get anything remotely similar for the price of a cheap bottle of oil? It's not as if I've never bought something and expected more from it and maybe had to re-assess that purchase and my mindset. But for me, the context of expecting a designer, artisan quality dress at the cost of literal slave labour--and then to be really angry and self-righteous when it doesn't happen--is entering delusional and selfish territory. That opinion might be too harsh and hypocritical, because I have tons of faults and my low-impact journey is so imperfect... I don't know.
This has nothing to do with the video (unless you also get your plants from cuttings from your friends' plants rather than buying them...) But I would love to see a plant tour - and perhaps also learn about sustainable (indoor) gardening and whether or not the hothouse industry of cut flowers (and fruit and vegetables) is wasteful or preferable...
About the hairties, SAME i get them from the street as well. During lockdown i found 3 scrunchies on the street that were really cute. Hand wash them and they are as good as new!
Loved this video!!! Please make it a series!!!! Things I stopped buying: - razors (I just don't shave anymore haha) - disposable tissues - plastic toothbrush - liquid shampoo and conditioner - disposable menstrual pads - plastic paper markers - fast fashion clothing
I’ve never been one for seasonal decor but post it’s? I use them at work alllll the time. But I don’t buy disposable razors, single use plastic water bottles, or multiples of anything. I switched to shampoo bars but darn if I can’t find a good conditioner bar. I also stopped buying pens because I have like 50 pens for no good reason. I’m working on my consumption but I’m still trying to find replacements that work for me.
Hey! I noticed that you can't find a good conditioner bar. Have you heard of/tried HiBar? They have shampoo and conditioner bar sets, but you can buy them separately if you want. I use the Moisturize set, and my hair has been wonderful!!! 😃
when I was a kid I either would make a costume with old clothes and just wear makeup to push the idea or I'd just rewear old Halloween costumes. they're so ridiculously expensive for how garbage they are that my parents refused to buy me a new one every damn year, and I'm glad of it now. I still wear costumes today--I'm a cosplayer. but I make all of them myself. tbh if I need just basic cotton to make it out of I will just hit up a thrift store and buy an old sheet in the appropriate color I need. a million times cheaper and better than buying brand new off the bolt at fabric stores.
Maaan, It felt good that i dont bye any of those things as well 👌😊 proud of myself. Other things that come to mind are lotions, nail polish and make up 🤷♀️
My grandma gifted me her old flag because she moved to senior centre and I didn't own one. The flag is great quality and since I use 3/4 times a year, I'm thankful I got hers. And last year I found 6 black/gold raindrop shaped Christmas ornaments in the triftshop for 0,20 euro a piece. Real glass and looks hand blown! That sums up my seasonal decor ;)
I actually tend to have decor that I use for both Christmas and Halloween (I'm a nightmare before christmas fan). So I make a 'Halloween" tree and then change out the orange lights for blue during Christmas time. It's something that's kinda fun.
I stopped buying new school items for my oldest like his teachers demand all the time. NOPE! He's going to use up everything we got, THEN I'll go and buy something new. Also we stopped buying new books, granola (I'm making my own, because of a nut allergy) pads and tampons and a lot more. It's quite hard to recall everything, when it has become a natural habit to ditch useless stuff.
We have this harbour that is a big tourist spot in my town and we have a ton of local artists who sell their art there which is a great for little nicknacks you can actually watch them as they make the art
@@Gittemary but you are much slimmer than me! Actually when I open the box in late spring I love the feeling of having "new,"/ different things to wear.💚
@@helenvwalker7919 I agree, I have separate winter and summer 'wardrobes' (it's all in the same cupboard all year round) and I only wear the clothes during the appropriate season and I don't see a problem with that, personally. Most of my clothing is second hand, they all get worn when the weather's right and I like the change of clothes that comes with the change of season. Everybody's different, but for example right now I'm loving digging out my jumpers I haven't worn for months for autumn/winter, it really does feel like i've got new clothes without having to buy any! I think it's only a problem when people only wear clothes for one specific season and then forget about them.
I don’t buy menstrual products anymore and haven’t in about four years, since I use a menstrual cup. I spent $40 initially, but I did the math, and it’s saved me about $350 so far!
Thank you for your videos! You make this all feel so much more accessible. When we go away we buy art from street artists and small Indy shops, fulfils our need for decor too :)
Gittemary, a series please- the short videos are lovely. I've used cloth napkins for many years- also give them as gifts to encourage others to utilize them. Plants are used as decor in our home as well. Thank you once again for sharing all of your time, talent, and ideas! Smiles & Hugs to you little one- 🌳 ;-)
Also for celebrations, no need to buy wraps for presents, you can be creative and wrap them in any form of temporary wrapping, including some pieces of fabric. Oh, and for the Christmas tree, let’s stop cutting trees to decorate our homes! At my side, we’ve been either fine without that, sometimes having some cut parts of a (healthy!) big tree or a small tree which is planted in a pot and put back outside later to go ok with its life.
For souvenirs I've also picked stuff up off of the street. Remember to wash what you get and don't take plants across boarders. They may be carrying pests or be invasive.
I stopped buying gift wrap. Instead I save the brown paper that comes in parcels as filler. If we want to make it more festive we either stamp it or tie it with a ribbon. I also have fabric gift bags that we reuse each year.
As a mom, I grew so sick of paying for cheap costumes my kids would only wear once or twice. I started thrifting for costumes and bought my son a karate robe top (im sorry I don't know the correct term), khaki pants and linen and turned it into a Luke Skywalker costume. He already had the light Saber and it honestly cost less then going to target to buy a costume and accessories. He was so happy and is excited to go thrifting for his next costume.
Awesome video 😊 Ive been on and off picking things up off the street for example a hair clip that I thought I could just remove the rust from. But Ive actually stopped because ive felt so wierd about it because of “normal” ppl around me judging me :p but just knowing someone else does it, im gonna reconsider ❤️
Good tips Gittemary! :) If I get receipts from stores, I keep them and use the other side to write notes on. I think it's good to use them somehow before throwing them away since they are not recyclable. And also to help me not to buy unnecessary things, I have "no advertisement mail"-sign on our mailbox and I've unsubscribed all email-ads from the stores I used to buy stuff from.
Yesss about souvenirs. In my decluttering journey I have found so many dumb little chotchkies from vacations I took as a teenager. They're never things I actually want to display in my house and I've given them all away. Its certainly not a perfect system, as new clothes are a huge problem, but nowadays I refrain from buying little knick knacks and will only spend money if I see a clothing item I know I'll wear on a regular basis. As I type I'm wearing a hoodie from a state park outside Asheville, NC and its in the regular rotation. Again, not perfect since clothing production is hugely wasteful, polluting, items are often produced unethically, most clothing aren't organic materials and release microplastics into the water system, etc, although to be fair, I've only been educating myself about this stuff in the past two years and haven't taken a trip since before that. I also pick up a small rock or beach debris on trips versus buying mass produced garbage. Lastly, I am in the habit of buying iron on patches on trips, which again isn't really zero-waste behavior, but is small, minimal, often supporting national parks, and intentional, versus mindless souvenirs that will get donated in a couple years and wind up in a landfill. So, improvement!
With souvenirs, I was watching a video of a guy going to the biggest mall in China. They sold all the most common souvenirs from all around the world for less than a dollar. There were a couple that I've been given before lol
valerie irving That’s what we do 🤜🤛 we found a tiny rock with a hole - it’s my necklace from New Zealand, and a large flat one in Sweden - it’s always on our table instead of bread basket 😃
I use hair spray to fix the charcoal in my drawings :///// Don´t give an f for hair but, my art??? I will research for an alternative I guess... Thanks as always
As far as I know the art field is the most difficult to change. I have never find anything like this, Maybe you should check some stuff that hairdressers are having and just ask them about it. I'm sure it's gonna be more expensive, but hey, we're not spraying as much on the surface, right? The amount of chemicals needed and pollution that is making I quit making oil paintings. Instead I got into watercolor. It's cheaper, "good to go", especially in pans. The last thing is that brushes are lasting for YEARS because they're not all stiffed and bad after few sessions, wich I HATE with oil paints.
Def look into alternatives, but also know that no one can be perfect. If you’re refusing your waste other places then don’t feel bad about using art supplies!
I mean, any sort of creative art is in incredibly difficult to make zero waste or even less waste, because, well, we need all the stuff to make stuff so I totally get that feeling 😅 but ig it's balanced out by trying to be eco in other areas of life
Yes! Please make this into a series. I have seasonal decor but I have 1 small item for each season. (So 3 or 4 items.) I put the item on my lamp shelf. (Lamp with built in shelves. If that makes sense.) I have a 6 inch led lights Xmas tree that I put out for that time of year and then put presents under the lamp.
Enjoyed your video. Yes, please do a series of these, maybe focus on each room of your home. I stopped buying paper products for household use. I am working on finding sustainable sources for my notebooks & journals. Unfortunately, I do not have any secondhand shops in my area.
I buy a little notebook for my purse at a local health food store. It's made w/o glue, recycled paper, no dyes blah blah blah...& it's ridiculously expensive. $6 compared to one I can get for $1, but it makes me appreciate the paper and use it sparingly.
The costume thing reminds me of when I last had to buy a graduation gown. It was so cheap the threads were loose and the seams were messy, and also I needed to modify it to fit my forearms through the holes. The material was awful and I felt like I was wearing a plastic bag to recieve my masters degree. With the amount of work I put into that degree I deserved better than to be required to buy and wear a $100 plastic bag to the ceremony!!
When I finish my hairspray I'm going to try going without. I've always had a (plastic) bottle of it around, but I'm not sure I really need it. Would love a series on this topic. Thanks!
I need to learn how to make this flax seed gel people are talking about. I have very curly hair and want to give up hair spray. I also use hair ties that I find on the street. I don't buy single use period items. I have washable tampons which I love. I don't buy paper towels, I use cloths. I also regularly use handkerchiefs to use less toilet paper. I literally was thinking about post it notes today, but I guess it depends on what you use them for. If it's to separate sections in a book, maybe try large paperclips
The point about layering possibility with clothes was new to me, thank you! At least I never thought about it too consciously and just considered if a new item fits some items in my wardrobe. But lately I found it tedious that I can't combine (nearly) every item of clothing with each other and always have to think so long about what goes together etc.
Can anyone help? I know this is unrelated, but I have no idea where else to ask this: I have a serious medical condition (which I don't want to go into), and I go through A LOT of medicine. The biggest proportion of my waste is blister packs from different medicines, which is how the majority of medicines come packaged in the countries I live in. I know we're not supposed to feel guilty for waste that comes from anything needed to stay alive (or even just manage symptoms or chronic health issues, but I'm using up five to eight blister packs every week (oof, embarrassing), and I have no idea if there's anything at all I can do to keep these from going to landfill or making such a big impact. When I track my plastic usage in particular, the amount of it that is just blister packs is depressing. If there's anyone who is finding a way to use them or place to send them, please let me know. Otherwise I'll just resign myself that this is essential waste. ):
Hi Michaela, I have medical conditions and use alot of medications as well. One of them comes in blister packs in the smaller size, but the larger bulk size is loose in a plastic pill bottle, so I get that instead. I also remove labels on prescription bottles (4+ a month) & clean inside (wipe any dust residue) and use them for spices, sewing, crafts, art, etc. I am saving bags of them, hopefully to give away to crafters=artists, etc...
I am not sure what to do with all the prescription bottles. The pharmacy won't refill it take them. I heard there might be an organization who uses them for medicines in Africa, I will have to research it.
There are a few areas in my life where I cannot be low waste (medications & health stuff, pet stuff, and food container waste (I get food from a food bank, so I cannot control the waste) so I just try extra hard in all the other areas to "offset" it... 🙂
To "offset", I will reduce my friends & families waste... at parties my friend brings out disposable stuff (I get out reusable and tell her & the party guests that I will wash them)... I also dig recyclables out of people's trash to properly recycle them
yes I started that too and I've got a colorful collection by now. At first I thought it's strange, but I thought the pink, yellow, green etc looked nice, and now I also think about the environmental aspect of them lying around
We no longer buy: most baked goods, most of our vegetables (except peppers and tomatoes), toilet rolls, fizzy drinks (we make our own and our own syrup for it), hopefully soon we will no longer buy eggs or honey
When it's Christmas or someone's birthday, what do you do to make sure nothing goes to waste and that the gifts are going to be used? Like do you ask them what they want or do you give them money?
@@michaelafischer6177 I would love to try, but unfortunately I'm not allowed to do my own hair in order to make all the girls look the same and it sounds like something you need to learn how to use
I don't buy fabric softer or laundry detergent. I make my own detergent and just skip fabric softener because theres not much of a different between using it and not using it besides the smell. I find it unnecessary
If your boyfriend did go to Madrid and all you got was a lousy T-shirt, then I'm really sorry 😂 In all seriousness, though, I do most of the things that you've mentioned and buying something from a local charity shop is a great idea 🙂
uvenirs! Something I reeeally hate! Because it's useless. When I travel and want to buy something to my friends and family I usually buy local food. 😊 Plant milk are too expensive in Brazil, so I buy the plants and make my own.
Please! Can you make a review on how/where to buy elastic clothes and gym wear that are 100% biodegradable? I can't find any that are elastic and free of elastane aka spandex! I'm going mad! Thank you!
@@Gittemary So far I haven't found 100% cotton leggings, they all have spandex. 100% cotton leggins are just... regular pants. Could it be that simply there aren't elastic clothes without plastic? Thank you so much for answering.
I have left a link to my homemade plant milk guide in the description, I explain why to avoid sliminess as well. When it sits in the fridge it does split, but simply shake it in the container before use and you're fine. 😁🙌
Digger deg 💖 hva tenker du om planter og blomster? Kjøper du kun brukt der og? Jeg har sluttet og kjøpe roser og planter osv...er vel veldig miljø skadelig det?
hello! just wanted to tell you that you are one of the reasons why i decited to move to Denmark! im currently getting all my documents and all the other stuff ready but i will be moving either next month or the month after that. currently i live in Lithuania, and the weather here is very harsh especially on winters (somedays we even wear two gloves on one hand with multiple scarfs around our bodies) so the 7th tip about owning only clothes that you can layer is a topic in my mind now. what kind of jacket do you have? should i bring my winter gloves and scarf that had lasted me years or should i find something lighter. i read a lot about the weather in Denmark but i still wanted to get your opinion.
I used to be a "beauty" junkie, no need for this nasties anymore, just a mascara and a soap bar. I make my own deo and face products, no more impossible-to-pronounce-ingredients. And no need for a bathroom bin bags, because I dont have any rubbish in a bathroom.
I have use branches and green from my parents in law’s yard, I have dairy lights that go up, small knitted flags (in Denmark we put up the flag during celebrations), I have these crystal charms that so have from my plants and some other bits and bobs that aren’t too Christmas-y looking so they can also be used for other celebrations. I have to Christmas vlogs on my channel as well (link in description) so you can see what I mean 🌿
So just straight from the freezer you put the hair ties in? Like I get that the lice and eggs are dead but they’re still on the hair tie so you’re basically putting dead bugs in your hair still.
You should do like an “R” series, like: 10 things I refuse, 10 things I reduce, 10 things I reuse and 10 things I recycle
What a great perspective!!! I would love that.
I am LOVING the idea of buying something you NEED when traveling as a souvenier instead of touristy junk!!
Haha... I like what you said about souvenirs.. I bought a frying pan in Rome and a hat in Dublin... I love remembering those trips every time I use them...
A frying pan is such a good holiday buy from Rome! They have the most amazing copper cookware in Italy, and that is 100% what I'd buy as a souvenir if I visited.
We started similar in our honeymoon. We went to Japan and brought home some cups, rice bowls and soup spoons we really love and enjoy using. From our last Ireland trip we got some nice (thrifted) clothes. It makes way more sense to get things like that, doesn't it? That way we are reminded of a nice trip every time we use or wear them, without them catching dust somewhere in a corner.
I found the cutest little saucer in a thrift shop in Rhodes. Plus a handcrafted handkerchief from Burano and a tiny glass candy from Murano. They are much better than the mass produced souvenirs(I still have to admit to buying a postcard as a guilty pleasure of mine.)
DID YOU KNOW that paper has two sides, so you can use the back of the pieces of paper you cant refuse (school stuff, bills) as a place for notes, when you are done using them- instead of buying post-its. I do this and love it!
Hahahaha how genius ;D
WHAT 😱
Haha yeah, it’s crazy how the sustainable alternatives are some times right under our noses 🌿
oh wow.... I love this idea. thanks
I have been doing this at work - my colleagues and I do patient intakes. They use new printer paper and new notebooks respectively. I bring in old half-used notebooks from middle school that I find in boxes in my mom's basement and bills that have blank backsides. I've got a whole Xerox box of this type of paper to run through and it will take me years to get through all of it.
I know this isn’t necessarily an “everyday” item but I stopped buying pads and tampons 5ish months ago,I now use a Lunette menstrual cup and I love it
I think it counts, period products can produce a lot of waste, so switching to a reusable product can have a huge positive impact 💚🌿
Gittemary Johansen yasssssss🌿it’s also sooooooo much simpler😍
I appreciate the no waste lifestyle but when it comes to monthly floods no way no how
@@ritahall2378 lol I understand where you’re coming from💖
Same! I have had the Nixit cup/disk for 3 years and have used like two tampons since getting it.
When I went to New York i bought a second hand book in a beautiful book shop and love it so much more than any other thing I could have bought there 😊
How sweet❤️
Making napkins out of old bed sheets and duvet covers have revolutionised my home! We barely use any paper or cleaning supplies, the napkins work for everything! And sheets can be bought second hand in nice patterns/colours. Just rip them and maybe sew the edges. I got 40 napkins from one duvet cover 👍 they are gonna last me so long as well, just wash and re-use!
Regarding the hair ties: I’ve started to whenever I have to use a disposable mask, after it’s worn out I just rip off the elastics, tie a knot in them and they actually make for a great hair tie
That’s a great tip! 🌿
great idea!
I do that too! I wash them first and then save them in a container with all the elastic bands I occasionally get with our grocery and use them whenever needed.
And we should be ripping them off anyway because stray animals go find their food from the trash and they might get stuck in those.
Seasonal decor is usually made from cheap plastic or unappealing materials. I think it’s fun to make seasonal decorations and use “bits and bobs” of stuff that is kicking around the house. It’s also a really fun pastime... especially during the Autumn and Winter months when we tend to spend more time indoors.
Flaxseed gel (which could possibly be converted to spray format) make a great hairspray alternative. I mention, because zero-waste or low-impact should be fun, not a misery, since it's a lifelong commitment, and I know a lot of us like to play around with our hair (I like to do curls!). Obviously, it's 100% fine to just skip styling in any way that needs 'hold' altogether, but if you do like to do anything fancy, such as vintage styles, OR if you have curly hair (Curly Girl Method approved!!) flaxseed gel is a fabulous, make-at-home (or buy from Etsy, etc) alternative that really works and doesn't weigh hair down. :) I think glycerin and gluconolactone make it even better (both natural, for anyone concerned about that), but do make sure you know how to work with a polyhydroxy acid if you decide to add in gluconolactone. It functions as a natural preservative and adds moisture.
Wow I did not know that but I’ll definitely be trying it out 😍🌿
I thought I was weird one for not buying seasonal decor, but people give away things for free year round off season... So I have a wide assortment of Christmas/twinkle lights. XD. Last item I bought for holidays because of household requests were reusable halloween clings for the window, and a long time ago a Christmas tree projector so we could have a tree, but be safe with puppies and a newborn underfoot. We borrowed a family members livingroom to do the Christmas tree photos with babe that everyone thinks so cute.
Oh, another tip: I know some folks LOVE costumes or cosplaying and actually get a ton of wear out of costumes (maybe pick a signature character or three to limit the amount?), so I would suggest sourcing them on Etsy or from any independent tailor (who you're paying fair wages). You can even custom order and work with them on the materials (they're usually very knowledgeable about what will work). If they don't have access to sustainable materials, many tailors and costume makers will let you send them the fabric that you want (which adds postage miles, so it's not perfect... But I think this all works out a lot better than buying cosplay on commercial sites and eBay, etc).
cosplayer here - if you don't have the sewing knowledge or want to learn this is 100% the way to go. there's so many cheap garbage looking cosplays for sale on eBay and such sites that, half the time, steal pictures from actual cosplayers who make them themselves. huge rantable topic for me lol
@@shugarysubstances I don't cosplay, but I have a casual admiration for the practice. Some costumes/artists are amazing. I think it's fair to say cosplay artist. Performer? Creator? Enthusiast? Ha, ha. Each person probably identifies a different way, depending on how they engage with it. But it's nice to know that someone more knowledgeable and invested than me thinks that my tip is on the right track.
I've definitely seen those knock-off costumes on eBay and Wish, and I agree, it's awfully frustrating. And not right to steal creators' images without credit or even noting "Inspiration". Usually it's just straight-up theft and misrepresentation for profit. Even though I've never bought a cosplay, I do use eBay for second-hand clothing, so I see clothing knock-offs allllll the time anyway. Have you ever seen those clothing order fail sites, and how pissed off the people always act? I once saw a lace dress on there that I'd bought. The real-deal was handmade in the UK for a couple of hundred dollars (but I purchased on sale at a local shop who only had one left). However, this dress was VERY popular for duping and still is.
Well, people order "it" off Wish for a couple of dollars or $10, and then write furious reviews and post fail photos on social media. This is my pet peeve and I have no sympathy. How can anyone's sense of value (and implicit knowledge of the cost of labour and materials) be so skewed as to think that they were going to get anything remotely similar for the price of a cheap bottle of oil? It's not as if I've never bought something and expected more from it and maybe had to re-assess that purchase and my mindset. But for me, the context of expecting a designer, artisan quality dress at the cost of literal slave labour--and then to be really angry and self-righteous when it doesn't happen--is entering delusional and selfish territory. That opinion might be too harsh and hypocritical, because I have tons of faults and my low-impact journey is so imperfect... I don't know.
This has nothing to do with the video (unless you also get your plants from cuttings from your friends' plants rather than buying them...) But I would love to see a plant tour - and perhaps also learn about sustainable (indoor) gardening and whether or not the hothouse industry of cut flowers (and fruit and vegetables) is wasteful or preferable...
Yes. That will be good
Yes, please!
Yes she does get plants from cuttings
That’s a great idea, I’ll be planning a plant tour very soon then 🌿🌿🌿
About the hairties, SAME i get them from the street as well. During lockdown i found 3 scrunchies on the street that were really cute. Hand wash them and they are as good as new!
Loved this video!!! Please make it a series!!!!
Things I stopped buying:
- razors (I just don't shave anymore haha)
- disposable tissues
- plastic toothbrush
- liquid shampoo and conditioner
- disposable menstrual pads
- plastic paper markers
- fast fashion clothing
I’ve never been one for seasonal decor but post it’s? I use them at work alllll the time. But I don’t buy disposable razors, single use plastic water bottles, or multiples of anything. I switched to shampoo bars but darn if I can’t find a good conditioner bar. I also stopped buying pens because I have like 50 pens for no good reason. I’m working on my consumption but I’m still trying to find replacements that work for me.
Hey! I noticed that you can't find a good conditioner bar. Have you heard of/tried HiBar? They have shampoo and conditioner bar sets, but you can buy them separately if you want. I use the Moisturize set, and my hair has been wonderful!!! 😃
when I was a kid I either would make a costume with old clothes and just wear makeup to push the idea or I'd just rewear old Halloween costumes. they're so ridiculously expensive for how garbage they are that my parents refused to buy me a new one every damn year, and I'm glad of it now. I still wear costumes today--I'm a cosplayer. but I make all of them myself. tbh if I need just basic cotton to make it out of I will just hit up a thrift store and buy an old sheet in the appropriate color I need. a million times cheaper and better than buying brand new off the bolt at fabric stores.
So cool to hear a cosplayer finding sustainable options and still enjoying cosplaying, I love that! 💪🌿
Maaan, It felt good that i dont bye any of those things as well 👌😊 proud of myself. Other things that come to mind are lotions, nail polish and make up 🤷♀️
That’s such good work 💚🌿
My grandma gifted me her old flag because she moved to senior centre and I didn't own one. The flag is great quality and since I use 3/4 times a year, I'm thankful I got hers. And last year I found 6 black/gold raindrop shaped Christmas ornaments in the triftshop for 0,20 euro a piece. Real glass and looks hand blown! That sums up my seasonal decor ;)
I actually tend to have decor that I use for both Christmas and Halloween (I'm a nightmare before christmas fan). So I make a 'Halloween" tree and then change out the orange lights for blue during Christmas time. It's something that's kinda fun.
I stopped buying new school items for my oldest like his teachers demand all the time. NOPE! He's going to use up everything we got, THEN I'll go and buy something new. Also we stopped buying new books, granola (I'm making my own, because of a nut allergy) pads and tampons and a lot more. It's quite hard to recall everything, when it has become a natural habit to ditch useless stuff.
We have this harbour that is a big tourist spot in my town and we have a ton of local artists who sell their art there which is a great for little nicknacks you can actually watch them as they make the art
Where I live in Southern Spain, I have to have summer dresses but I put them away each year and get them out the next summer.
During winter I wear my dresses with a jumper underneath, or a cardigan on top 🌿🌿
@@Gittemary but you are much slimmer than me! Actually when I open the box in late spring I love the feeling of having "new,"/ different things to wear.💚
@@helenvwalker7919 I agree, I have separate winter and summer 'wardrobes' (it's all in the same cupboard all year round) and I only wear the clothes during the appropriate season and I don't see a problem with that, personally. Most of my clothing is second hand, they all get worn when the weather's right and I like the change of clothes that comes with the change of season. Everybody's different, but for example right now I'm loving digging out my jumpers I haven't worn for months for autumn/winter, it really does feel like i've got new clothes without having to buy any! I think it's only a problem when people only wear clothes for one specific season and then forget about them.
I don’t buy menstrual products anymore and haven’t in about four years, since I use a menstrual cup. I spent $40 initially, but I did the math, and it’s saved me about $350 so far!
Thank you for your videos! You make this all feel so much more accessible. When we go away we buy art from street artists and small Indy shops, fulfils our need for decor too :)
Gittemary, a series please- the short videos are lovely. I've used cloth napkins for many years- also give them as gifts to encourage others to utilize them. Plants are used as decor in our home as well. Thank you once again for sharing all of your time, talent, and ideas! Smiles & Hugs to you little one- 🌳 ;-)
Would love a Video on houseplants and how to get them in a sustainible way. Yours are so pretty. 💚
Also for celebrations, no need to buy wraps for presents, you can be creative and wrap them in any form of temporary wrapping, including some pieces of fabric. Oh, and for the Christmas tree, let’s stop cutting trees to decorate our homes! At my side, we’ve been either fine without that, sometimes having some cut parts of a (healthy!) big tree or a small tree which is planted in a pot and put back outside later to go ok with its life.
For souvenirs I've also picked stuff up off of the street. Remember to wash what you get and don't take plants across boarders. They may be carrying pests or be invasive.
I stopped buying gift wrap. Instead I save the brown paper that comes in parcels as filler. If we want to make it more festive we either stamp it or tie it with a ribbon. I also have fabric gift bags that we reuse each year.
As a mom, I grew so sick of paying for cheap costumes my kids would only wear once or twice. I started thrifting for costumes and bought my son a karate robe top (im sorry I don't know the correct term), khaki pants and linen and turned it into a Luke Skywalker costume. He already had the light Saber and it honestly cost less then going to target to buy a costume and accessories. He was so happy and is excited to go thrifting for his next costume.
Awesome video 😊 Ive been on and off picking things up off the street for example a hair clip that I thought I could just remove the rust from. But Ive actually stopped because ive felt so wierd about it because of “normal” ppl around me judging me :p but just knowing someone else does it, im gonna reconsider ❤️
All my hair ties are picked up from the street :) I just wash them and reuse
I do it to, sis 😅
Good tips Gittemary! :) If I get receipts from stores, I keep them and use the other side to write notes on. I think it's good to use them somehow before throwing them away since they are not recyclable.
And also to help me not to buy unnecessary things, I have "no advertisement mail"-sign on our mailbox and I've unsubscribed all email-ads from the stores I used to buy stuff from.
Yesss about souvenirs. In my decluttering journey I have found so many dumb little chotchkies from vacations I took as a teenager. They're never things I actually want to display in my house and I've given them all away. Its certainly not a perfect system, as new clothes are a huge problem, but nowadays I refrain from buying little knick knacks and will only spend money if I see a clothing item I know I'll wear on a regular basis. As I type I'm wearing a hoodie from a state park outside Asheville, NC and its in the regular rotation. Again, not perfect since clothing production is hugely wasteful, polluting, items are often produced unethically, most clothing aren't organic materials and release microplastics into the water system, etc, although to be fair, I've only been educating myself about this stuff in the past two years and haven't taken a trip since before that. I also pick up a small rock or beach debris on trips versus buying mass produced garbage. Lastly, I am in the habit of buying iron on patches on trips, which again isn't really zero-waste behavior, but is small, minimal, often supporting national parks, and intentional, versus mindless souvenirs that will get donated in a couple years and wind up in a landfill. So, improvement!
It should be a series
With souvenirs, I was watching a video of a guy going to the biggest mall in China. They sold all the most common souvenirs from all around the world for less than a dollar. There were a couple that I've been given before lol
Awesome video! My favorite souvenir is a cool rock from the beach. I love making seasonal decorations from things that I find in nature. Stay awesome!
valerie irving That’s what we do 🤜🤛 we found a tiny rock with a hole - it’s my necklace from New Zealand, and a large flat one in Sweden - it’s always on our table instead of bread basket 😃
zofia kosut Awesome! Love collecting rocks 😊
I use hair spray to fix the charcoal in my drawings :///// Don´t give an f for hair but, my art??? I will research for an alternative I guess... Thanks as always
As far as I know the art field is the most difficult to change. I have never find anything like this, Maybe you should check some stuff that hairdressers are having and just ask them about it.
I'm sure it's gonna be more expensive, but hey, we're not spraying as much on the surface, right?
The amount of chemicals needed and pollution that is making I quit making oil paintings. Instead I got into watercolor. It's cheaper, "good to go", especially in pans. The last thing is that brushes are lasting for YEARS because they're not all stiffed and bad after few sessions, wich I HATE with oil paints.
Def look into alternatives, but also know that no one can be perfect. If you’re refusing your waste other places then don’t feel bad about using art supplies!
I mean, any sort of creative art is in incredibly difficult to make zero waste or even less waste, because, well, we need all the stuff to make stuff so I totally get that feeling 😅 but ig it's balanced out by trying to be eco in other areas of life
Yes please to a series. I love all your videos anyway 😉x
Yes! Please make this into a series. I have seasonal decor but I have 1 small item for each season. (So 3 or 4 items.) I put the item on my lamp shelf. (Lamp with built in shelves. If that makes sense.) I have a 6 inch led lights Xmas tree that I put out for that time of year and then put presents under the lamp.
Enjoyed your video. Yes, please do a series of these, maybe focus on each room of your home. I stopped buying paper products for household use. I am working on finding sustainable sources for my notebooks & journals. Unfortunately, I do not have any secondhand shops in my area.
I buy a little notebook for my purse at a local health food store. It's made w/o glue, recycled paper, no dyes blah blah blah...& it's ridiculously expensive. $6 compared to one I can get for $1, but it makes me appreciate the paper and use it sparingly.
This video was helpful and I’d love a series! I’ve stopped buying single use menstrual products as well as I try to buy in bulk when I can!
The costume thing reminds me of when I last had to buy a graduation gown. It was so cheap the threads were loose and the seams were messy, and also I needed to modify it to fit my forearms through the holes. The material was awful and I felt like I was wearing a plastic bag to recieve my masters degree. With the amount of work I put into that degree I deserved better than to be required to buy and wear a $100 plastic bag to the ceremony!!
Finding and reusing lost hair ties is so rewarding! I've found some beautiful ones in the streets and it means each one is unique with its own story 😊
Seasonal decor: come on! We can find it in Nature! 😄
Always! I use green and branches every year!🌿
Would love series..
Wow I'm so happy, I have lots of coincidences with you!! That's a good sign!!
If you need hairspray you can actually use sugarwater. Punks have always used it but you can also use it in lower concentration😊
When I finish my hairspray I'm going to try going without. I've always had a (plastic) bottle of it around, but I'm not sure I really need it. Would love a series on this topic. Thanks!
I quit using hair products for 2 years now and it has a little getting used to. But I love my natural hair now 😍
Otherwise you could also use the hairspray from lush as an intermediate, it comes in plastic but you can return it :)
@@debcress6718 Thanks, Deb. I will if I feel I need it.
id love loveee this as a series
Dearly noted 😊✌️
I freeze hair bands too, I have so many I stopped picking them up, and left them for other people!
I don’t buy any hair products except for shampoo 😊👍
I need to learn how to make this flax seed gel people are talking about. I have very curly hair and want to give up hair spray. I also use hair ties that I find on the street. I don't buy single use period items. I have washable tampons which I love. I don't buy paper towels, I use cloths. I also regularly use handkerchiefs to use less toilet paper. I literally was thinking about post it notes today, but I guess it depends on what you use them for. If it's to separate sections in a book, maybe try large paperclips
Lemon juice is a very good replacement to hairspray for those little hairs o:
the seasonal stuff i have always bought- was always with the intention to keep it for years and years...
In Germany oat milk only costs about 0,95€ :D it‘s often cheaper than dairy milk :) it changed a lot in the last years :) thanks to the vegan trend 👌
The point about layering possibility with clothes was new to me, thank you!
At least I never thought about it too consciously and just considered if a new item fits some items in my wardrobe.
But lately I found it tedious that I can't combine (nearly) every item of clothing with each other and always have to think so long about what goes together etc.
Can anyone help?
I know this is unrelated, but I have no idea where else to ask this: I have a serious medical condition (which I don't want to go into), and I go through A LOT of medicine. The biggest proportion of my waste is blister packs from different medicines, which is how the majority of medicines come packaged in the countries I live in. I know we're not supposed to feel guilty for waste that comes from anything needed to stay alive (or even just manage symptoms or chronic health issues, but I'm using up five to eight blister packs every week (oof, embarrassing), and I have no idea if there's anything at all I can do to keep these from going to landfill or making such a big impact. When I track my plastic usage in particular, the amount of it that is just blister packs is depressing. If there's anyone who is finding a way to use them or place to send them, please let me know. Otherwise I'll just resign myself that this is essential waste. ):
Hi Michaela, I have medical conditions and use alot of medications as well. One of them comes in blister packs in the smaller size, but the larger bulk size is loose in a plastic pill bottle, so I get that instead. I also remove labels on prescription bottles (4+ a month) & clean inside (wipe any dust residue) and use them for spices, sewing, crafts, art, etc. I am saving bags of them, hopefully to give away to crafters=artists, etc...
I am not sure what to do with all the prescription bottles. The pharmacy won't refill it take them. I heard there might be an organization who uses them for medicines in Africa, I will have to research it.
Have you asked your pharmacist if there is any way to recycle the waste?
There are a few areas in my life where I cannot be low waste (medications & health stuff, pet stuff, and food container waste (I get food from a food bank, so I cannot control the waste) so I just try extra hard in all the other areas to "offset" it... 🙂
To "offset", I will reduce my friends & families waste... at parties my friend brings out disposable stuff (I get out reusable and tell her & the party guests that I will wash them)... I also dig recyclables out of people's trash to properly recycle them
Thouroughly enjoyed this video!
Napkins are sometimes that I struggle a lot with. I just can't bring myself to use fabric ones... so I make sure that I compost the paper ones.
Yasssssss series on this!!!!!
good point re souvenirs, I mean, there's so MANNNY of them!
Exactly, and we might as well bring something home that we can use 😍
I absolutely love your channel and your content!
Have you trouble flaxseed gel? Really great if you want a more sleek look, and very moisturizing
"Lebensmittelparkplatz" 😄 That's both cute and funny.
Love from Germany ☺️
I pick up hair ties too 😄✌️
yes I started that too and I've got a colorful collection by now. At first I thought it's strange, but I thought the pink, yellow, green etc looked nice, and now I also think about the environmental aspect of them lying around
We no longer buy: most baked goods, most of our vegetables (except peppers and tomatoes), toilet rolls, fizzy drinks (we make our own and our own syrup for it), hopefully soon we will no longer buy eggs or honey
I like this series 'The things don't buy anymore" :))😍
When it's Christmas or someone's birthday, what do you do to make sure nothing goes to waste and that the gifts are going to be used? Like do you ask them what they want or do you give them money?
I agree with the hairspray one. I feel like it drys out my hair and makes it more brittle. But unfortunately I need it for competitions 😭
Can I recommend trying flaxseed gel? It might work well for your situation, I'm not sure!
@@michaelafischer6177 I would love to try, but unfortunately I'm not allowed to do my own hair in order to make all the girls look the same and it sounds like something you need to learn how to use
@@megslemp2906 Oh, that makes a lot of sense! We can only do our best. x
I am sure you can find other things to refuse outside of competitions then 😊🌿 No need to feel bad about the things we cannot change 💚
I don't buy fabric softer or laundry detergent. I make my own detergent and just skip fabric softener because theres not much of a different between using it and not using it besides the smell. I find it unnecessary
AGREED 💚
Thanks for your energy and tips! You are great! Xoxo from a faraway place, New Caledonia.
Yes! Another hair ties collector like me!! xx
If your boyfriend did go to Madrid and all you got was a lousy T-shirt, then I'm really sorry 😂
In all seriousness, though, I do most of the things that you've mentioned and buying something from a local charity shop is a great idea 🙂
Haha luckily that never actually happened, but it is definitely a worst-case-scenario haha 😂💪
I loved this, please continue this into a series! Looking forward to learning more🌱
Would you be able to do a video on first aid items because I think that plasters/ band aids are so wasteful but I don't know of another alternative.
love your eyebrows
You've looked bomb the past few videos. Can you do an updated makeup/hair routine please x
Aw thank you 🙈🌿 I’ll make an updated getting ready with me video soon 😊🌿
I stopped buying paper towels and use old socks instead to clean with
uvenirs! Something I reeeally hate!
Because it's useless. When I travel and want to buy something to my friends and family I usually buy local food. 😊
Plant milk are too expensive in Brazil, so I buy the plants and make my own.
so inspiring!!
Please! Can you make a review on how/where to buy elastic clothes and gym wear that are 100% biodegradable? I can't find any that are elastic and free of elastane aka spandex! I'm going mad! Thank you!
Why don't use something more "cosy"?
If you want to avoid synthetic fabrics, I suggest using cotton leggings or shorts 🌿
@@Gittemary So far I haven't found 100% cotton leggings, they all have spandex. 100% cotton leggins are just... regular pants. Could it be that simply there aren't elastic clothes without plastic? Thank you so much for answering.
@@Gittemary please, help!
Does your homemade oat milk split? I’m tempted to attempt it again with all the tips I’ve learned of how to avoid the slime
I have left a link to my homemade plant milk guide in the description, I explain why to avoid sliminess as well. When it sits in the fridge it does split, but simply shake it in the container before use and you're fine. 😁🙌
Yaas! I basically only spend money on rent, food, transport, events, school books and charity - and the occational piece of clothing haha.
Digger deg 💖 hva tenker du om planter og blomster? Kjøper du kun brukt der og? Jeg har sluttet og kjøpe roser og planter osv...er vel veldig miljø skadelig det?
hello! just wanted to tell you that you are one of the reasons why i decited to move to Denmark! im currently getting all my documents and all the other stuff ready but i will be moving either next month or the month after that. currently i live in Lithuania, and the weather here is very harsh especially on winters (somedays we even wear two gloves on one hand with multiple scarfs around our bodies) so the 7th tip about owning only clothes that you can layer is a topic in my mind now. what kind of jacket do you have? should i bring my winter gloves and scarf that had lasted me years or should i find something lighter. i read a lot about the weather in Denmark but i still wanted to get your opinion.
I used to be a "beauty" junkie, no need for this nasties anymore, just a mascara and a soap bar. I make my own deo and face products, no more impossible-to-pronounce-ingredients. And no need for a bathroom bin bags, because I dont have any rubbish in a bathroom.
Hey I spotted something German :D Let me guess, was the fridge magnet a souvenir from Germany?
How often do you wash your hair and how long does the bar is shampoo/conditioner last? Been looking at trying them.
I wash my hair about 2 times a week on average, and my soap bars last me month, at least three, often way more
@@Gittemary thank you for responding! Have a great day!
I’m not going to lie I DO care about my hair and I swear on my life that hair spray doesn’t actually do anything..
I'm lacking in creativity... what are some general 'festive decorations' that you use?
I have use branches and green from my parents in law’s yard, I have dairy lights that go up, small knitted flags (in Denmark we put up the flag during celebrations), I have these crystal charms that so have from my plants and some other bits and bobs that aren’t too Christmas-y looking so they can also be used for other celebrations. I have to Christmas vlogs on my channel as well (link in description) so you can see what I mean 🌿
So just straight from the freezer you put the hair ties in? Like I get that the lice and eggs are dead but they’re still on the hair tie so you’re basically putting dead bugs in your hair still.
Usually I'll through it in my guppy bag with my next wash, but have I also simply just used the hair tie straight from the bag? Yes, yes I have 😂
I have a notebook each year for notes and such. Post its are such a waste! There's a new trend on clear post it notes 🙄🙄🤦🏻
❤️
Her: talking about hair ties
Me, who has one scrunchie because i need it for gym: *i don’t have to worry about that*
You lost me at picking up hair ties off the ground.
As the comment section tells, I'm not the only one 😎🙌