Sometimes it can seem that everywhere you turn someone wants you to buy something.

And it can be very tempting not to give in and buy it because most of us feel like we might actually need it.

But the truth is we probably don’t, outside of the basic necessities of food, shelter, and water.

So, what is there to do when you’re got caught up in the cycle of “stuff”?

Luckily, there are many ways to be less wasteful, but here are five to help us all start out and keep our homes and our planet from being overrun.

Buy second hand

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Speaking of garage sales, instead of going out and buying something new when you need something for around the house or maybe the kids to need new clothes, shop second hand.

You can go to garage sales, thrift stores, and now, thanks to technology, there are online forums and Facebook pages that also sell nice items second-hand.

Just like the garage sale, you are re-purposing things instead of just throwing them away and filling the world with more trash, which is really good and helps you to live more sustainably.

Care about who you buy from

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There are certain companies that care about waste too, and it’s a good idea to buy from them versus others who don’t necessarily do that.

Do a little research to see who you are really buying from and how they treat this planet.

There are companies like BioLogiQ who use recycled materials to build and create other sustainable materials.

You may see which companies help you to recycle or even incentivize when you do so.

Have a garage sale

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If you are looking around your house, storage shed, or garage and thinking, “I don’t even know where half of this stuff came from let alone the last time I used it?” It’s probably time for a garage sale.

A garage sale is a great opportunity to give a second life to items you don’t use anymore and receive a little profit from them.

And when it is all over the items you didn’t sell you can donate and wa-lah! So much less clutter and waste.

Buy less and less plastic

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Plastic can be so easy, especially when you have kids who like to touch everything and who aren’t very gentle with things either.

But the hard part about plastic is after you ‘re done with it and throw it away, when it gets to the dump it ends up sitting there and just adding to all the other trash that is there.

If there is a way for you to use less plastic or to make sure you recycle the plastic you are done with, you can help lessen the waste and help keep things like the ocean cleaner.

Donate your time

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One great way to keep yourself from being tempted to buy more and more is to use the free time on your hands to volunteer somewhere and help.

Helping others can make you more grateful for the things you already have as well as give your time to others or causes that may sorely need it.

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It used to be that big department stores and other industrial corporations were the greatest demand of communities. The convenience of having large quantities of items available in one location was a major draw, but more and more we’re being urged to shop local, and here are 5 reasons you should do it, too.

Do it to Support Your Friends and Neighbors

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Local businesses and farms are run by the people you know living down the street. Imagine how much you could do to further your dreams and ambitions with their support; why not do the same for them?

Supporting your friends and neighbors in their livelihood also helps to improve the relationships you have and the quality of life in your little community.

Do it to Create a Strong Community Economy

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When you buy and sell within your own community, those funds circulate in the local economy which means they stick around and continue to sustain the businesses and organizations you see and use every day.

Spend your hard-earned money in local shops where sales tax will go toward your city’s growth and maintenance rather than one a couple states over. It will benefit your family through public school and community programs, too.

Do it Because it’s Better for the Environment

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The great thing about your locally created and manufactured goods through small businesses is they don’t rely on factories that add to pollution. They also make use of environmentally-friendly materials like NuPlastiQ for bags and packaging if they don’t forgo them completely.

In fact, the packaging itself is often its own cute bonus to take home. It tends to be durable, too so you can reuse it then recycle or upcycle it when the time comes.

Do it Because it’s Healthier for You

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With so many concerns about groceries that are too processed, too preserved, too genetically-modified, and too exposed to pesticides, can you really trust food from unknown parts of the country in your own body?

When you shop local, you can trust farmers to sell healthy produce that’s better than what you would find in a large supermarket. You know where it comes from because you pass the fields almost every day and you know whether it’s organic or non-GMO because you know the crew that cultivated it.

Do it Because You’ll Get More Unique Products

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Maybe you thought the Super Walmart on the outskirts of town was supposed to have more variety to choose from, but the truth is, when you walk into a department store, you already know what you’ll find inside.

We all value our individuality, so why would we buy the same products our neighbor does? Local businesses offer unique products just for you. They can often surprise you with something special that just says you and will even take on commissioned pieces. And to ice that cake? You’ll get a more personal customer experience because they care about everything they sell.

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10 Ways to Be More Environmentally Friendly

To help us help you, our friends at BiologiQ, manufacturers of eco-friendly plastic resin pellets, have put together this list of tips for becoming more environmentally aware this fall.

Burning

Fall is the season for burning, whether it’s a bonfire, your wood stove, or burning your trash. Keep these two things in mind the next time you go to start that fire: only burn dry wood and never use burn barrels for trash or debris.

Never burn damp wood because it doesn’t burn completely and can release more pollutants in the air. These pollutants will settle around your home, or the site where you are burning, and have been known to cause asthma and other respiratory diseases. Burn wood that has been drying for at least 6 months to ensure that it is completely dry.

Don’t use burn barrels. They don’t burn efficiently and release a lot of smoke toxins, especially if you aren’t burning clean materials. Instead, try to recycle paper, plastic and glass materials; donate old clothing, and grind up old branches and leaves into a mulch or compost for your yard.

Always be aware of your state’s laws regarding burning and burn bans as well. These are set in place not only to prevent wildfires, but to help keep pollution down as well.

Donating Items

Does anyone use the fall as a time to clean out storage? Are you throwing out old toys, clothes, or other items you’ve replaced throughout the year?

Don’t just throw these items away. For one, they take up landfill space, and for two, valuable resources were used to produce those items, so by donating them to someone who needs them those resources are saved.

If you have clothing that your kids have grown out of, dishes you’ve replaced, old toys, find a place to donate them. Homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers are always looking for items to be donated. Search your community to see where that need lies and take in your donation.

If you have other items, like leftover building materials, paint, wood, pallets, nails, etc. there is a place to donate those things too. All it takes is a quick Google search to find where you can send the items that you want to get rid of. Not only will you help the environment, but you can feel good knowing you helped people in need too.

Conserving Energy

One of the leading causes of greenhouse gases that contributes to global climate change is energy production from coal, oil and natural gas. So, conserving and reducing energy usage will only help to lessen that pollution.

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Some ways you can easily conserve energy in your home are through home heating, hot water, and lights and appliances.

When heating your home, reduce the temperature of the thermostat one degree at a time until you reach a temperature you and your family can be comfortable with – wearing sweaters or blankets to stay cozy. At times when you are away from your home, set the thermostat even lower – about 55 or lower.

Keeping hot water use limited. Take shorter showers, wash your clothes in cold water, and install low-flow showerheads and faucets. You can also turn the temperature on your water heater down or try a solar water heater system.

How To Be More Environmentally Conscious

Turn off the lights when you leave the room. This really does save energy. Use energy efficient light bulbs, turn off appliances and other electronics like computers and printers when they aren’t in use for a long time.

Keep these tips with you this fall as you go about preparing for holidays and family reunions. Help create a better world through these small and simple deeds.

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