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3 Steps to Becoming an Anti-Consumer

3 Steps to Becoming an Anti-Consumer

Have you found yourself looking critically at consumerist culture for the first time? Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too. On this episode of The Sustainable Minimalists podcast, tangible ways to navigate holidays and birthdays without gifts, what to say to less-than-supportive friends and family, and why it's important to be loud and proud when advocating for your life choices. 


COVID-19 has forced many of us to look critically at consumerist culture for perhaps the first time. If you don’t like what you see, you aren’t alone.

Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too.

My guest this week is Aleah Mohammed. Aleah had an ‘a-ha’ moment as she took out the trash; she committed herself to a no-new-purchases year shortly after.

Aleah has been documenting her successes and struggles and is on the show to divulge what it’s really like to be an anti-consumer.

 

Here’s a preview of today’s episode:

[16:30] How to navigate holidays and birthdays without gifts

[19:45] What to say to less-than-supportive friends and family (and how to say it)

[23:30] Why it’s important to be loud and proud when advocating for your life choices

 

Happy listening!

 

* Want more episodes like this one? Check out #049: The Why and How of a No-Spend Challenge.

* This week’s eco-tip: Tinted mineral sunscreen brands include Elta MD, Coola, and Juice Beauty.

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.

 

Have you found yourself looking critically at consumerist culture for the first time? Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too. On this episode of The Sustainable Minimalists podcast, tangible ways to navigate holidays and birthdays without gifts, what to say to less-than-supportive friends and family, and why it's important to be loud and proud when advocating for your life choices. 

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The Shopping Conspiracy

Women have been targeted for decades with the message that shopping is recreation. It’s a way to relax and unwind, sure, but recreational shopping also contributes to the climate crisis, supports the worst of shareholder capitalism, and creates an awful lot of unnecessary waste.

Enter Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, a hard-hitting new Netflix documentary that forces viewers to look at our waste-related woes. On today’s show producer Flora Bagenal offers a behind-the-scenes look at the documentary’s creation; she also answers your pressing, post-viewing questions.

A note from Stephanie: This episode was recorded before the Los Angeles wildfires. If you're able, please consider donating to one of these organizations

 

Here’s a preview:

[7:00] People find it hard to look at waste, and yet the film makes us look. A behind-the-scenes examination all those hard-hitting images

[16:30] Adidas, Amazon, Unilever, and Apple: Here's why the film featured former employees-turned-whistleblowers

[26:00] Corporate execs must show growth, and corporations are on a treadmill of extracting more and more $$ by pushing unnecessary and redundant products. Is not buying an effective act of resistance?

[30:00] Mindset shifts! Quality is a climate issue, and once you press ‘Buy Now’ you become responsible for the item’s end of life

[36:00] Exactly how to Use. Your. Rage!

 

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Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

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