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Grandma Wisdom

2023-09-05 Mama Minimalist

These days, durable and long-lasting products often seem like elusive unicorns. But they do exist, and finding them is a 2-step process.

First, it’s imperative that we check our collective predisposition for disposability at the curb. Second, we must learn insider tricks for discerning the buy-for-life products from the cheap junk that lines store shelves. Enter Buy Just Once Week!

On today’s show sustainability educator Sophie Jungbauer suggests practical ways to adopt our grandmothers’ mindsets when it comes to sourcing and caring for must-have household items.

Here’s a preview:

[3:00] What exactly does ‘quality’ look like IRL?

[10:30] Musings on consumerism and its consequences

[14:00] Does “American Made” mean anything in terms of durability?

[25:00] Getting in the habit of asking yourself, “Did my grandma have this?”

[28:00] Quality over quantity! The #1 minimalist mindset shift that must first happen before conscious consumption can take place

[35:00] Pyrex, stainless steel, and more: 5 Buy Just Once items for your kitchen

Resources mentioned:

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Saying No To New

New things are everywhere—and they’re causing us to disconnect from what we value most.

In a world that constantly tells us that new is better, our relentless pursuit of material wealth is costing us money, time and happiness. Worse, when we define ourselves by what we own rather than who we are, we reduce our lives to a single, superficial dimension.

On today’s show, New York Times journalist Eric Athas offers advice for stepping away from the cycle of constant buying, saying no to shallowness, and discovering the right kind of “new” in our lives.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] We're wired to become bored the familiar, and other truths to newness

[16:00] Consumption has costs! (In fact, it robs us of our finite attention, dilutes our capacity for genuine enjoyment, and misaligns our pursuit of happiness.)

[26:00] Musings on the ways in which overconsumption leads to superficiality

[37:00] Put down the trinket! Redefining what it means to experience novelty, growth, and freshness without relying on a transaction

Resources mentioned:

Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness―And How to Take Back Your Life
This episode is sponsored by Fearless Finance. Use code SUSTAINABLE to get $50 off your first meeting.
Book Club! We're reading Beyond Decluttering: Forty Days to Simplicity Through Connection for our Wednesday, June 24 meeting at 7 pm EST. Join us!

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My Story

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.

Want to know more? Read my story.