50 Things I'm Not Buying in 2024 (to live more sustainably)

[@rabbitgear]

I used to be anti-Christmas. Now I realize that I'm just anti-consumerism. I love making my own decorations, baking cookies, and having people over for dinner; not buying presents.

[@Angela-un2tx]

SAME! I just greenery from the woods, hang pinecones and dried fruit ❤ New decorations every year❤

[@raeraemillstone]

Same!!

[@walqqr1]

@@cyclotrojan yawn. you're desperate for attention and it shows. btw my notifications are off so i won't see your next attention-seeking reply lol, bye

[@CutYourBangs9]

​@@cyclotrojansure, but that's not a bad thing

[@alikatt]

This year was my first attempt at a gift free holiday as I don't need anything else in my house. We went to an art exhibit and lunch. It was great and definitely worth repeating for birthdays too.

[@futureforecast1388]

I get that plastic bottles are the problem, but people buying stainless steel bottles and company giving away stainless steel bottles and literally overflowing the thrift stores are insane too. Those are also tossed out because no one buys them

[@katzchenschatzchen6751]

Yep, balance is key

[@llw04939]

I think it's a "pick the lesser of two evils" situation

[@julsca3738]

I do notice that. I have lost mine as well and get them as gifts. I have even won one as a gift and gave it to some. What I want to do is place an AirTag on my water bottle to not lose it 😅

[@shorterstax]

I hate when I see companies giving away cheap water bottles it's like you know the s*** is just going to the landfill

[@letsmakeout1990]

My partner is in an industry where he gets free junk all the time. He has his favourite Aston Martin bottle and that’s what he uses, the others just sit there… makes me mad. None of it is necessary….

[@libraryfangirly]

Collection development librarian here (I buy all the books, doesn’t suck :) Thanks for saying those simple things about how you can use the public library. Booktok has taught me that folks do not know how to utilize libraries, so I appreciate that you took the time to learn 😊

[@freckledandred]

Its so hard to live zero waste nowadays because almost all modern hobbies revolve around consumerism and you really have to get creative

[@adhaincroi]

try embroidery, sewing, knitting, weaving, basket making. The more ancient the art the less likely you need new or complex items to accomplish it. Most of these were make do and mend types of hobbies.

[@Zoe-lv1rc]

Rockclimbing, bouldering, yoga, hiking, painting with plants, gardening, anything working with fabric where you can thrift the fabric. So many creative solutions.

[@Zoe-lv1rc]

Reading, cooking, baking, propogating and caring for plants, photography (so many second hand cameras), film making, learning a new language (not really a hobby but something to do without consumerism), putting rocks you find into a rock roller, picking up litter, learning a new instrument, rating films online, become a youtuber (again plenty of second hand gear online)

[@Zoe-lv1rc]

Sledding, skiing, bike riding, volunteering at an animal shelter or something like that, learning to sing, learning a dance, just simply sketching with pencils. If you need more creative solutions the internet has a million more

[@Zoe-lv1rc]

Skateboarding, long boarding, roller skating or blading, collaging with second hand magazines

[@NihilisticJawbreaker]

I am allergic to alcohol and people always tell me how sorry they are about it. My response is usually, I save so much money and get to keep all of my facilities - I don't see a downside!

[@SPYgirl199812]

Like all alcohols or just ethanol?

[@RachelJayne92]

Right! I’m allergic as well, and it’s never been something to even think about - even if I could drink - it’s bad for your health and wallet!

[@RachelJayne92]

@@SPYgirl199812like drinking alcohol

[@missgreece91]

I dont know people say sorry. Being allergic is a good thing. I wish i can be allergic to all junk foods

[@theartistrain1451]

I’m glad I don’t drink I think I had two drinks in 2023 tops

[@rjartpunk839]

On number 6: if you are looking to cut down on coffee pods but already have the machine, you can just buy a reusable pod and fill it with ground coffee you can just buy in a big bag! No need to get rid of a machine you already have!

[@faeriesmak]

That is what I do. It works well enough!

[@thatjillgirl]

Yep, this is what I do. I love my single serve coffee maker. My husband and I would pretty much never have enough coffee to justify using the pot (our pot only really sees use when we have guests). So it's nice to be able to use the single serving setting. But I hate throwing away piles and piles of those plastic coffee pods. We have one of the reusable mesh cups and just buy our own coffee to put in it.

[@katiebug_asmr]

Yeah I do that too!

[@i02605]

There are also inexpensive options for regular (non-pod) espresso machines that cost similar to a Nespresso. I've also seen used fancier espresso machines for sale on Craigslist and other websites.

[@elynorestar]

as a disabled person, i really appreciate the "because I am able" commentary. often times i feel like people say things and don't think about how that impacts people who *can't* do xyz. i accommodate myself as i need regardless, but it definitely makes me feel shitty and overlooked when people say something as if everyone can do that thing.

[@LucasSouza]

You can just ignore, you know 😱

[@oliviastromlund3439]

I noticed this as well while watching this video. As someone who struggles with severe depression, most of the time it's a miracle if I'm able to get out of bed during a depressive episode- let alone chop vegetables! Sometimes buying convenience items simply to survive is completely okay- not everything is so black and white :)

[@christinec2625]

@@LucasSouzaso can you 😂

[@LucasSouza]

@@christinec2625 and so can you 💁🏼‍♂️

[@staceyjones5372]

I just bought a Keurig. I resisted for years because of the waste and expense but my 18 year old daughter has arthrogryposis and I had an epiphany that buying one could allow her to make her own coffee and it DOES. Sometimes those "wasteful" items are great for handicap accommodations.

[@celinepope]

I thought most people at least UNDERSTOOD this concept, but my shopaholic neighbors literally dont. They asked why i would shop at a thrift store when i could just buy brand new. Smh.

[@NihilisticJawbreaker]

You must be neighbors with my in-laws! They are the same way and constantly get my son crap for every occasion.

[@dichang3]

​@@NihilisticJawbreaker Many boomers are like this. They were raised on second hand things and hand me downs. So the idea of buying second hand blows their mind.

[@Serenity-Hedgenettle]

My neighbors throw new and gently used items directly into the dumpster.

[@alexiepfeiffer145]

Why do you care ..mind your business?! People are so weird

[@MNeathway]

@@alexiepfeiffer145In their comment, it’s the neighbours who are questioning OP’s choices, and not minding their business

[@larissatom6910]

It’s good to be reminded that just because these items exist does not mean you need them. However I do think a commercial cleaning spray is necessary occasionally, or after the family has been ill. Plus, while I respect the decision to not own any streaming services, I have seen and heard many great documentaries through those services this past year. Life is really too short to restrict everything.

[@jessicabates2649]

Yes I agree...I love a good documentary

[@sunarixeli4229]

Did you know the inventor of Keurig (and K cups) regrets his invention due to the huge amount of waste created? Great video as usual, and happy holidays❤

[@BrittanySoroka]

Not enough to stop producing them lol

[@SunriseSpaASMR]

At least he regrets it ):

[@poisonkatz]

@@BrittanySoroka no but they do have a reusable keurig pod and have for 6+ years. i was gifted a keurig for a holiday (I didnt ask for it) and bought a reuseable pod to use all throughout college and would compost my grounds at my schools organic garden. the other thing is even if keurig stopped producing them, other brands NOW do. unfortunate but at least he tried to help a little bit (not excusing his choices/behavior at all)

[@larissapaut1909]

Water picks don’t replace floss! Coming from someone in the dental industry, please floss and take care of your gums you really don’t want to deal with the consequences later in life :(

[@rachelrachel3214]

Good to know!! Thanks! 🦷 Are there sustainable floss brands?

[@xTashleyx]

​@@rachelrachel3214I have seen bamboo floss on the earth hero website.

[@Scinasari]

Fake plants are my unnecessary thing (like travel and nail polish). I've tried so, so many times to get into real plants, and everyone thinks I'm joking when I talk about how I can't keep ANY plant other than green onions alive... no, it's true. I always try my hardest and end up staring at a dead plant for months because I feel miserable about it and can't bear to admit that it's gone. So... yeah, fake plants. (As for the "why": my mental health improved DRASTICALLY once I started having more fake plants in my home. No, they don't have the environmental benefits re: oxygen/CO2; still, the visual effect of having something that looks alive, green, and thriving is HUGE for me.) Maybe it's silly but hey, we all have to decide what things we value enough to keep doing. The fake plants I get to keep for years are mine :)

[@LouciferFlump]

I love gardening and have loads of wildlife friendly plants outside. However, my home is old, cold (no central heating) dark (I’m a Goth) poorly lit (why waste energy on loads of lighting?) so real plants die. I have fake plants that I’ll keep forever. They bring me joy. Studies show that the sight of greenery in your home, real or fake, is good for our mental health. Don’t feel bad, be happy. Judgy people have something wrong with them.

[@HalfOfLifeIsIf]

It won't work for everyone (obviously) but one thing that has helped me transition away from paper planners/calendars and toward digital calendars was to put up a whiteboard calendar that I can reuse to have a visual reminder of what I have coming up. Then everything goes into my digital calendar and I erase and re-write the physical whiteboard calendar every 3 weeks or so based on whatever is in my digital one. Hopefully someone else gets some benefit out of this method too!

[@thatjillgirl]

I also got a whiteboard calendar for the same reason. I love not having to acquire a new calendar every year. Just wipe it down and start it over each month.

[@DracoTriste]

It’s so much easier to share and collaborate a dry erase board calendar than a digital one with little kids in the house too… and adhd. Having it constantly visible and not on the distraction robot is a godsend.

[@mia.e.morrison]

Yes! Chalkboard calendar above the kitchen sink. It's helped me transition fully to Google calendar to keep track of daily/weekly stuff, and the month on the chalkboard for a wider view & coordination in the household. I'll still use a bullet journal occasionally for brainstorming/vision/purpose or goal setting type planning - or collaging ideas. But the practical stuff is digitized and on the chalkboard. Throw-away or constantly shifting to-do lists or plans go in phone notes, iPad lists, or Google docs (depending on the purpose and accessibility / sharing needs)

[@depilou]

These videos are SO helpful for me! I seem to have fallen down a consumption rabbit hole since August and I really want to get a handle on my shopping. I've been trying to live a more sustainable life for several years now (so the shame of being a recent re-shopper is real), and when I watch your videos I can sense your passion and that then inspires & motivates me!! I greatly appreciate you and all the hard work you put into your videos & your platform as a whole. Thank you

[@mmp.2581]

Second this!

[@blissfulabundance]

I get so excited to read the comments from others who feel the same about over consuming. My fiancé and I have slowly begun transitioning to sustainable swaps but it is SO HARD to get our families to understand. We have items like the reusable dryer balls but mother in law will come home with dryer sheets and says “cause I know you don’t have any”. It’s incredibly thoughtful but… not having these things is the point.

[@shayne_has_landed2511]

I have 2 ideas on how you could work with a family that keeps getting you unsustainable things you don’t need/want. /nf 1. Tell them you don’t use those things. That you have a well-functioning operating system in your household and have all essentials covered. That those unsustainable gifts just won’t be used. (This sometimes gets better as time goes along because family picks up on the fact that those gifts just aren’t appreciated.) 2. Donate unsustainable items to food banks and essentials banks (avoid scary anti-homeless charities and shelters like the Salvation Army). For people without stable necessities, single-use items can be a godsend. In this case, they will be put to use by people who will actually greatly benefit from them.

[@emilyanschuetz8409]

@blissfulabundance same over here with my mom she will literally buy paper towels and leave them at my house when she comes to babysit because we “don’t have any.” She just left a bottle of water in the fridge today! I always return them to her house without saying anything now because she just won’t stop after many conversations

[@Smithpolly]

@@emilyanschuetz8409 If she comes over to babysit regularly and she uses the paper towels when she is there, it might be worth just leaving the roll there for her to use.

[@larissabrglum3856]

Oh my goodness, my fiancé's parents are the same way, they always give us plastic sponges and similar stuff.

[@aimee-made]

I have really sensitive skin and dryer sheets are a total no-no for me. Lots of reactivity. You could tell her that for health reasons, you can't use dryer sheets anymore (maybe a fib, but seriously, what is IN those things? It can't be good!)

[@Lizzy43645]

I am so proud of you for speaking on being sober! You got this. Could you do a video about local libraries and HOW MANY resources they have including digital items? I feel like so many people sleep on how great they are

[@SliceofSimple]

As a Starbucks barista.... Yes, fuck Starbucks, lol. I'm only working there because they're paying for my tuition so I'm able to go to school and get a really good degree completely for free, but as a company... Yeah no.

[@kdmoonchildsworld]

You are smart! Only I just do not like the coffee there at any price.

[@TurtleStormer]

Wait they’ll pay for your degree?

[@JudiL-f4v]

So what you’re really saying is that you’re taking advantage of a company you hate? Good job!🙄

[@Eze-j3p]

​@@JudiL-f4vgirl let people live you have to engage with unethical companies sometimes it really isn't that deep

[@JudiL-f4v]

@@Eze-j3p I guess I have something rare called a “conscience”.

[@8pookiebear]

The water bottle one got me. Living in an area with CONSTANT boil alerts, water contamination etc. There are so many places in the US that have horrible, damaging water supply and cannot be consumed. Flint, Michigan has had unusable water for years.

[@TV-nc1bd]

I lived off-grid, with no running water for a decade. Just got those large blue 20 Gal water containers, and filled them with tap water (from friends/family/at work/campground). Now I live in the city, but save glass bottles and fill them with tap water, to take along, or in case of emergencies...

[@MMar715]

Im a dental hygienist, you 100% should still be using floss and proxy-brushes. Water flossing is not an alternative to flossing it is an addition.

[@LouciferFlump]

Waterpick flossers are utterly utterly useless. They just need to make floss and TePes and the like from more sustainable materials.

[@gigglesandhugs5690]

my basic goal for 2024 is to be better each day. Being aware of what i am "purchasing" both mentally, emotionally and financially . Meaning work on joy in the small things. Everything has a budget and try to lower the outgoing in anyway i can while staying healthy. Doing away with any social media that they show they are never happy with what they have.

[@shayne_has_landed2511]

The reasons I’m shopping sustainability are: -personal health -to support human rights in conflict areas -to support indigenous values -to decrease the amount of pollutants I put out -to support a better economic system -because secondhand things that were made 20 years ago are so much cooler anyways, man. Even though I’ve only watched a couple dozen of your videos, the information you’ve provided on shopping sustainability has changed my shopping habits. I question myself over and over and over when I want to buy things new until I decide I don’t need them anyways. I used to shop excessively at thrift stores because I got caught up in consumerism, and I’ve calmed that down a lot, which has honestly decreased my stress. I’ve noticed how important our consumerism is in human and worldly issues, and I became upset at my consumerist actions. With the human rights issues Amazon participates in and the BDS boycotts, I’m moving everything on my Amazon wishlist to links on secondhand shopping websites or small business alternatives. I’ve told my family not to shop at unethical companies. I also was suddenly made aware of how actually dangerous the substances put in US foods are, and am holding out on purchasing certain foods until I can find non-toxic and vegan alternatives. I live in the dairy state and my mom buys groceries for the household, so the journey to quitting cow milk has been a rough one, but I’m hoping to switch to a more ethical alternative in 2024. I’m working on a “no buy list” of brands for my family to reference in hopes they’ll have warning bells going off in their heads when they see unethical brands on the shelves the way I do. I’ve been putting an excessive amount of thought into replacing my dying computer, and with the BDS boycott, DRC emergency, and poor ethical ratings of tech companies, I’ve decided to buy refurbished, even if it’s hard. I’ve also decreased shopping in general, and that has helped my mental health. I get so overwhelmed with sensory input at stores that I would fine myself not questioning products I grabbed off the shelves because I didn’t have the energy to review them and think about if the need outweighed my values.

[@Merryyy203]

I loved this comment. Thank you so much for what you are doing. Especially for working on a list of bad companies to let your family know which ones should be avoided. It will probably not work out straight away or at all but that is out of your control. How have the last 8 months been? Have you managed to replace dairy? I personally love oat milk. Hope you sre ok. Greetings from Spain 😊

[@croakiex9873]

The Tiktok store is driving me absolutely insane. I try so hard to just quickly scroll and ignore it, but it's like every other post. I agree with a lot of these things. I have saved so much money switching from tampons to a reusable menstrual cup! This year we had someone move in, and it really opened my eyes to the rate at which some people consume things. Our waste has basically doubled since he moved in (one singular person). It's been such a hard balance. I think going forward in 2024 I am going to stick to only buying things we *need* and if our new roommate feels like it's not enough, he can buy it himself. I don't feel like we can stop him, other than just trying to open his eyes to how much he burns through and hoping he gets it, but at the very least I can stop contributing to his excess waste and carrying that on my shoulders.

[@introvertraven6655]

About toothbrushes I'm a dentist and bamboo brushed are a constant conversation in the medical community. Due to a specific structure of organic fibers it is more likely for them to store debris, which will cause microorganisms to grow faster. Not really a good thing for both your gums and your teeth. That's why I personally still use plastic brushes, but to reduce consumption at least a little bit after changing my toothbrush I use an old one, well, like a regular brush. Handy for cleaning something small or complicatedly-shaped.

[@SustainabilityWithMaddy]

I love watching this around the holidays when we are so pressured to overconsume. It is refreshing to hear! Thank you!

[@user-cm4pw9om2l]

i HATEEEEE tik tok shop! i do NOT want the unbrush, GO AWAY

[@life_outside_the_lines]

LOL I’m a neurodivergent human- and I have had favorite pens for yeeeears. At this point, I REFUSE to use anything other than a Pilot G10 Bold. I bought like a 6 pack a while back and have been purchasing the ink refills since so I can keep reusing the pen itself. It’s not the *most* sustainable, but it’s the best option I have found so far. 🙂

[@introvertraven6655]

SAME It's a nightmare for me not to have a specific type of pens. I'm at my last year as a student and I need to write tons of texts. There's not much ways to reduce pens, but buying just ink is saving a bunch of cash for me and a bunch of plastic from the environment.

[@Duhhhhhhhhhhhhh.duhhhhhhhh]

Funny thing- probably at least half the things you mentioned I also won’t buy… ironically YOU were the one who taught me about many of the sustainable swaps we use at our house. Your content is so helpful and practical! Thanks for all you do❤

[@sofiaventura2200]

I think it would be easier for most of you to not consume social media… I feel like my eco anxiety reduced so much after I uninstalled instagram (tiktok wasn’t even a thing). Obviusly ther are content creators like Shelbi that try to advocate for the planet but the aim of the platforms is to make you a product, and that the brands convince you to buy things that you don’t need. We should get the bigger picture and see them as what they actually are… but thank you Shelbi for your content!

[@anni3805]

Honestly I'm okay with everything except tissues, handkerchief era led to some nasty germ spreading, also dealing with a cold with only a few cloths sounds like a nightmare. I don't need tissues often, but when I need them, I NEED them. So I would just buy them and keep them around

[@lexyeast4896]

When I discovered your channel (probably over a year ago now), I dove deep into your backlist of videos and these videos in particular were very helpful to me. After awhile, I felt like they got a little repetitive, but that was my fault for how much I was bingeing them, but this one felt different enough for me to appreciate it again. Your videos helped me finally get out of debt because I realized what I didn't need to be buying anymore. I changed a lot of my consumerist habits because of you, so thank you very much for that! I was wondering one thing: I know it might be impossible with the layout of your house, but is there anything you can do that might possibly dampen the echo in these videos?

[@stephaniebateman2637]

This year I am not buying food that I don’t have a specific plan for. I am working on lessening my food waste! And actually eating my leftovers…Maybe I need to become a better cook so my leftovers are more appetizing 😂

[@AlicedeTerre]

Sauces and spices are important, also you can remix leftovers into things like fried rice, sauces, omelettes, soups, basically breaking down the food to be mixed up as ingredients in new dishes.

[@thatjillgirl]

One idea with leftovers is to make things that freeze well so that you don't have to keep eating the same thing in one week or whatever. You can freeze it to have it later when that food sounds interesting again. This works particularly well with soups.

[@21earlthepearl]

I love to see our generation talking about community involvement. I feel like that's kind of unusual in a time where everyone is thinking about individual self improvement and consumption, to be thinking about how our presence can make an impact in our communities. I recently moved from a big city to a smaller town, and have gotten involved in various community garden projects as well as joined a church, and it has been really meaningful.

[@laurasmith-ls6pn]

Appreciate the mention of public library! SO many resources depending on where you live.....free streaming, games, tools to borrow, events/classes for adults and kids. Check out your library!😊

[@margauxbride1908]

Love this! Consumerism can kiss my ass, here's to a 2024 freeing ourselves from it :)

[@BB-bx4dp]

Am I the only who thought people were dressing up as pirates when she mentioned "eye patches" 😂

[@abstractforest4546]

no same 😭

[@CarleyGoshaw28]

When you said “eye patches,” my brain immediately went to pirate😂💀 Additionally, try growing luffahs next season in your garden! 😊 my mom & I are going to try (we lost our seeds last season!😂)

[@mythicalmim]

SAME 😂

[@LynsAlteredArts]

I immediately thought of a pirate also, probably because I’ve never used the other kind. Maybe I should, my under eyes are horrible.

[@Serenity-Hedgenettle]

Same! ☠️

[@chaneyywalker]

in my recent environmental science class we tested for fecal coliform bacteria and i found the bacteria present in bottled water. of course, i was only able to test one bottle, so I can’t revalidate that statement but I won’t touch water bottles with a ten foot pole unless i absolutely have to now 😭

[@sharkshannon]

in the inverse, i read a study that linked increased micro plastics in fecal matter to drinking from plastic water bottles!

[@jamjamb123]

Is it the reusable ones ??

[@sharkshannon]

@@jamjamb123 no, single use plastic bottles

[@clumsyninja1172]

My top goal is to have the confidence to bring my own to-go containers to restaurants so that I use fewer disposable containers. 1:27 4:30 I just started using a Moka pot and I LOVE it. Highly recommended

[@victoria9432]

I was just thinking about this the other day. Why is it so awkward to bring your own container to restaurants for left overs? It feels like it's not allowed.

[@Siures]

Do it. They’ll look funny but I was never told not to!

[@brittanymcdaniel6408]

Hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at my house was eye opening about how different my life is even though i’m not a sustainable queen. So many family members were confused why I didn’t just offer them a bottle of water but instead gave them a glass of water… like seriously y’all still buy water bottles?? I also had a lot of people shocked that we used real china and not paper plates… what is the point of owning all of my great grandmother’s china if I can’t even use it on special occasions?

[@lorimcbrayer8431]

Exactly

[@ashleyh6407]

Second comment! Washable reusable dog pee pads!!!!!! My senior dog passed in October 😔 he was 16 and having lots of overnight accidents. I invested in CoolShields Washable puppy dog pee pads. They are a great quality! I temporarily passed them on to someone potty training a puppy. They don't stain, don't smell, hold a lot of pee, and have stood up to probably 40 washes already! *these can also be used on kids beds over sheets that still have accidents as well*

[@AnnabelFayAnnadorabel]

My husband says he can taste the silicone baking sheets! Makes the food taste kind of plasticky. I've swapped to uncoated baking paper from the zero waste store (so a good company) but would love to try again

[@catsandlashes]

I can too!! I wanted to love them but it makes whatever I cook taste so icky 😭

[@jamjamb123]

I have copper ones try them out

[@kthearcher3357]

Oh yeah, gotta get good ones. Ask your local bakery what they use.

[@findingthebroom]

i'm gonna try not buying as much stuff this upcoming year. partly bc of the sustainability aspect, but also my mental health + i'm in debt. i really want to feel like i'm in control of my money, rather than my economic situation just being a big chaos n also i wanna be more intentional overall in life

[@gooseberries608]

Great video! One of my goals for 2024 is to touch grass a little bit more. I think the more I’m on social media the more I end up buying things I don’t need. And it’s not good for my mental health either as the algorithms always end up leading me down really negative content- which also makes me buy more things because I feel bad and I want a short dopamine hit…

[@lizclearman]

The *only* reason I buy single use water bottles is during hurricane season (I also buy and reuse the bigger jugs) and during our ridiculous freezes here in Texas (I'm in Houston) since we have had pipes freeze sometimes. However, I'm now thinking I could fill up mason jars and water bottles I already have as well, so this has me thinking, although I might still buy a few here and there. I love your channel; I'm an eco-minimalist to the best of my ability and I do a lot of these things already!

[@siearc115]

Hello! Question about paper towels: I also prefer reusable options 99.9% of the time, but as a pet owner there are some times where cleaning up after a pet would be challenging/unsanitary with a reusable option. Do you have advice for handling pet messes/accidents without paper towels? Thanks! 😊

[@ellenmelon23]

WhoGivesACrap sells paper towels made from bamboo! I keep them on hand for messes like that but don’t use them daily. 🙂

[@kaktuskukkarossa]

I use old socks that can't be worn anymore. Socks aren't recyclable in my country so I use them to clean up vomit etc and then throw them away

[@emilyjane3782]

I keep napkins, wrappers, and paper bags I get from restaurants without asking to use for extra gross messes.

[@tbunny711]

I recently tore up a queen sized sheet that was so old it had holes worn in it and wasn't really usable anymore. I was going to toss it anyway so might as well use it as disposable rags

[@AlicedeTerre]

It’s not an either or situation. If you had to have a roll on hand for those really gross messes but use mostly cloth towels, I think that’s fine. Also who gives a crap as mentioned.

[@TheStitchinWitch]

The one reason I buy paper towel still: I have a senior cat with health issues, and she throws up and pees outside the litter box frequently. I tried using rags for this for awhile, but honestly...? 🤢 It's too gross. The rest of the messes made in this house by animals and kids and adults alike, are cleaned with rags and Swedish dish cloths..

[@s_tree_frog]

i only use kitchen roll for cleaning up cat accidents too! totally understandable and glad im not alone on this 🥰

[@mistymountaintraveladventures]

Thanks for all of these ideas! We have slowly been changing our ways in our home, and I continue to run my travel business by booking clients at sustainable properties and teaching them about long stays if flying overseas. I hope your holidays are filled with joy and thanks for all your videos! You continue to inspire us!

[@thenonniche6657]

I've been watching my parents struggle in their retirement age. I've always known my dad will always work but he was working his body too hard. He has a less physical job now but 50 plus years of physical labor did a number.

[@Magpie.Pixie.]

I've been looking for a good swap for single use lint rollers! I have a mixed dog who sheds nonstop and a double coated cat. would love to know the one that you found that worked out well for you please! 😊

[@ember9210]

Not sure if it's her solution, but we LOVE our Chom Chom roller for our cat's fur (and mine...) getting all over the carpet. I've also seen people have good luck with those rubber scrapers

[@dichang3]

I just live with the hair. I have given up.

[@daisydog]

I just always change when I leave my house to something clean.

[@therealkuri]

I really wish coffee shops would allow reuseable cups. Most of the ones in my area stopped accepting them during the pandemic and never reversed that, even though we know now that the biggest Covid risk is from droplets in the air, not from surfaces, and reusable cups if cleaned are perfectly safe.

[@denden798]

Have you emailed their management if possible?

[@poniesandproteins]

The only thing with cleaning products I would suggest would be adding alcohol into the routine. Household vinegar is not strong enough to disinfect. I normally use vinegar and baking soda to clean messes and surfaces, but then once I wipe that up, I spray things like the toilet handles and sinks with 70% ethanol/isopropanol and let sit for a few minutes before wiping that up as well.

[@chemicores]

i wore period panties for a while but they always got so wet and smelled bad. is there a way to avoid that

[@amyward8861]

I've been feeling kinda bad about my consumption lately. But I'm doing about 90% of your list, so I'm feeling a little better now. Thank you! You've taught me so much and I've been missing your uploads.

[@karenlynn7008]

I refuse to buy anything from TikTok shop. If I see “eligible for commission” on a video I immediately keep scrolling.

[@abigailm9]

What reusable lint remover do you use? I’m desperate for one but I don’t want to buy one that doesn’t work and then have to get another one.

[@jessicadawson2353]

I don’t buy plastic bags anymore either, but I disagree that stasher bags are the best way to replace them financially. A sandwich size stasher bag is $12, and the larger ones can be 20+. I’d have to skip buying 5 bags of plastic bags to break even. That’s 500 sandwich bag uses for one stasher bag. Many people could go years before hitting that. And what if you lose it or someone takes it for leftovers and doesn’t return it? I tried to switch to stasher bags. My daughter came home from school the very first time and accidentally threw it away. For things that don’t need an airtight seal like sandwiches in a lunch box or crackers for a snack use cloth zipper bags. They’re great. And for for things that do need a seal we use the knock off version where I can get a multipack for the price of one stasher bag. They’ve held up just fine for three years so far.

[@susanruan3663]

My mom doesn't use stasher bags, due to her arthritis, she finds them difficult to open and close. She uses just regular ziplock bags, but she'll wash and reuse them all the time. I'm pretty sure she's still using the exact same ziplock baggies she bought pre-Covid.

[@sicilyamarismcraven]

notes on water from Michigan, we have lots of issues with clean water here, specifically flint still doesn;t have clean water, I live in Hamtramck, where we regularly have lead in our water. I personally spend money on an under the sink filter. Maybe more tips on cleaning water for hydration. Thank you for this list tho I am happy to see we do some similar things, but some areas I could improve.

[@AkiAlchemicae]

I'm totally with you there for most of these things. However I do have cats who sometimes happen to throw up.. and I will only ever use paper towels to collect that and throw it away before actually going in with cleaning supplies. No one will bring me to pick up literal puke with reusable cloths 😐

[@ericawhitfield9289]

Yep, I use paper towels for dog messes and I don’t think I want to switch that out for reusable.

[@DracoTriste]

It’s also recommended to use paper for grease collecting if you fry foods or cook with meat. You do not want fats clogging the drains of your sink or your washing machine. If you have clean newspaper, that can work for the kitchen purposes, but who has that these days? I keep buying paper towels for that, but try to use it for almost nothing else so I buy them as little as possible.

[@abstractforest4546]

That’s fair. What my family would do is use rags - literal old clothes, towels, sheets etc. that are too old to use as their intended purpose - and just throw them away after.

[@nikitakrommenhoek4884]

I've recently replaced my phone after 7 years of use. Hopefully the new one will last just as long or even longer!

[@agnese16]

the first object i swear i dont understand why it exists. i live in italy and here ive never seen anyone use it

[@beckypetersen2680]

I'd say a lot of these things are quite unnecessary. I live in Poland and haven't seen one either.

[@sabrinatatalias4277]

I love this, I should look to see what bad habits I have and see how to save money/go more green. I think if more people used the library would be such a great thing. I have done it for years and most libraries have book, movies, museum passes, and mine specifically in my city has a “library of things” so you can get small tools, board games, craft supplies/items, cookie cutters, kids toys, etc

[@irene9062]

Will you be doing a “no buy month” sometime? I just found out about this challenge and I’m going to do it for January for sure! Others are doing “no buy year” and that’s super fantastic….hope to do that sometime too!

[@eileahfrye-edmonds413]

Loved this. I have been working on personally investing in my personal closet. I have had the mindset of clothes are clothes but now I am only buying quality and small business. So I guess I will not be settling in 2024 no more buying things because “this is good enough” or “this will work” if I am not 100% it is a no.

[@TransgenderGorl]

I already love her and everything she stands for but after the Elon comment I’m forever a Stan.

[@jennifershay8980]

Here's mine so far 1. Any clothes that I can make myself (including no bras or pjs) 2. Large eyeshadow palettes (Using up the ones I have, after that only singles or minis where I know I'll use every colour) 3. Blush (haven't bought in years, I use eyeshadow or lipstick) 4. Liquid lipstick 5. Holiday makeup sets (I never use all the products up) 6. Handcream (bought a bunch last year and only used up half)

[@Eze-j3p]

I don't think eye shadow is the best to use as a replacement for blush but lipstick could work.edit:lipstick can also cause skin issues like acne because of ingredients not suited for skin

[@tonkashysh]

In my country we have vending machines that refill your bottles with water. They became really popular, and even in my small town there are plenty of them. Its much cheaper than regular bottled water in the store and you also dont have to buy new plastic over and over again.

[@hanabeier7684]

When she said “f Starbucks” I immediately liked and subscribed :)

[@maud7470]

For a couple of years I kind of let go of the minimalism/low-buy mindset because of a lot of changes in my life. But I am happy that I finally refound this side of KZbin again and this year I am going to start being more eco conscious and minimalistic again 😊

[@charlottetomlinson8837]

Thank you for your reminder about botox and filler! It’s very expensive - for that reason alone it’s a no from me! 😂

[@SophieMcKenzie-Shaw]

Amazing! Love you Shelby! The no buy thing that trips me up is charity shops because 1. It’s cheap 2. It’s not new and 3.The money goes to a worthwhile cause ! So I feel like I’m doing good as I shop! I’m doing a no buy year which I’m so excited about! xx

[@FUNANIME100]

I remember wanting to pick up a large water bottle but i didn't find one I like only to find the one i like at the thrift store, this was before becoming more eco friendly. I still own it and i use it daily.❤

[@casondrastinson8525]

My cleaning products are: vinegar, bleach, laundry soap, dish soap, bar soap. Sometimes salt, baking soda, etc.

[@AnnabelFayAnnadorabel]

I tried a conditioner bar and I hated it, so I'm using it to shave with and use it up! Works great.

[@wanda_walker]

I'm glad to hear you're getting an e-bike! Mine has changed my life, and I'm fortunate enough to live near a trail that makes commuting to work via bike possible. You can take it any kind of weather without worrying about sweating, it's fun, it puts you in touch with nature in a way a car never will, and there's a great community around bikes and biking! It also uses only a tiny fraction of the rare earth materials that an electric car uses, and costs pennies to charge.

[@Hollenross]

The cupcake liners are so nifty. I bought them for my daughters lunch boxes but decided to see if they worked well, and they do! They work amazingly. I didn’t use paper ones to begin with, but it’s made it a lot easier to make muffins and cornbread.

[@AnnabelFayAnnadorabel]

Shelby would you ever do a video on how charity shop shopping/thrift still contributes to overconsumption? Loads of other good videos but would love to see your take.

[@makeupisamber]

I feel like these videos should be more about things that you do use that you want to stop using Not things you’ve already have no used for years and years

[@ericawhitfield9289]

Good idea!

[@luisa_4120]

I wont be buying bread in 2024 because I have gotten into sourdough and am constantly practicing to get the making of it second nature. I use the homemade bread for my croutons and garlic bread which is a family favorite. I plan on not buying pastas I can make at home using my thrifted kitchen aid as soon as I get the recipe down, Ill sign up a neighbor to help me with that. I wont be buying tomatoes, sweet potatos, yukon potatos or peppers because I am now growing them. My last harvest of sweet potato was 90lbs. Plant specific fertilizers. Mulch because i live on a golf course and clear out my neighbors trees for free in order to harvest their spanish moss 😅 everyone happy at the end

[@malissav8239]

I would LOVE to see your recommendations on how to get involved in your own community/how to find local advocacy groups to be a part of! I moved a few years ago and feel disconnected from my current local community with not many ideas of where/how I can fix that ❤

[@coliedolphinprincess5512]

I don't buy napkins either but that's because I get them for free at McDonald's 😂

[@carmyopteryx5919]

I bought a Misto and it clogged up constantly. My hunch was that because we live in a cold and dry climate the oil would get thick and congeal in it.

[@faeriesmak]

I had the same experience.

[@kthearcher3357]

Same, different brand though.

[@nicoletaelor279]

I’m getting married in 2024 and am trying to be really intentional about our registry. I know people are going to want to give us physical things, so we’re trying to only put needs and then things like gift cards for everyone else.

[@michelleisplanning]

You can ask gas gift cards as well.

[@jmchap3756]

The last couple of weddings we've gone to, the couple have had a website to help pay for their honeymoon instead of any physical gifts.

[@vcr6854]

My sister gets the plastic water bottles bc she lives in LA and their water smells/tastes like bleach. It’s awful

[@terrymorris740]

I’m really proud of myself because I love crocheting and recently I have decided to only buy yarn and hooks second hand. So far I have stuck to it and it’s way cheaper!

[@SPYgirl199812]

I just started 3 weeks ago My mom got me a starter set Didn't think about getting things secondhand 😢 Where do you find second hand yarn btw?

[@AcousticCaroline]

Hi, Shelbi! Have you considered buying a Framework laptop? You can swap out parts, so it's repairable. I understand you might need it to be portable so no standing desktop PC.

[@xcristinat]

1. I love my Misto! NEVER going back to those wasteful cans. 2. Definitely need to look into those silicone mats. Is there a temperature limit for using them? 3. Haven't used plastic wrap in years. Yay me 😊 4. Same with plastic water bottles. Steel water bottles and my Brita all the way! 5. Sparkling water is like maybe a 1-2x a year purchase lol...always glass bottle. 6. Not even sure what a coffee pod is tbh 😂 I use coffee grounds in a coffee maker or make cold brew. 7. Same with veggies for the most part, except if I get frozen veggies. And butternut squash cause that is just such a b!tch to cut 😭 8. Still guilty of using paper towels :/ though I'm trying to explore better options. The convenience is a drug, I swear. 9. Napkins too :/ gotta get back to at least tree-free ones. Got derailed when I moved. 10. Yes on the silicone bags! Though I got mine from Grove and some are refusing to close properly anymore. Very annoying. Wish I would've gone with Stasher. 11. Omg I loathe traditional sponges now! Yuck yuck yuck. Only use the natural sponges from Grove. 12. You have pecans trees??!!! That is next level!! I still get pecans from Natural Grocers in bulk, but trying to limit since they are pricey. Walnuts are much cheaper. 13. 💯 agree on alcohol. Any "benefit" is not worth it to me. Especially in this economy! Who has the $$ to just be wasting like that? 14. Pads are still a must for me :/ tried a tampon once and thought I was going to die so I can't imagine using a menstrual cup either. And I'm not brave enough to try the period underwear 😅 15. I thought eye patches were just something that existed in movies 😂 16. Am I the only one who finds sheet masks annoying? So dumb. 17. Invested in my beautiful rose gold steel razor from Oui a few years ago and never looked back 😍 only need to switch out the (single) blade. 18. Currently using Radius sponge floss. I like that there's no plastic, even the package. 19. Bought shaving cream once when I was like 14...horrible experience. Never again lol. A good scrub and my body wash does the job now. 20. Actually started using cotton rounds recently for toner cause I was wasting a lot of toner when I just used my hands :/ 21. Tissues is definitely something I need to work on getting a better alternative. 22. Never used makeup wipes, but I also barely wear makeup so win-win for me. 23. Never saw the benefit of nail polish. So wasteful imo. 24. Love my bamboo toothbrush! 25. Haven't used loofahs in years and even rags seem iffy to me (bacteria). If I want exfoliation, I'll use a gentle salt or sugar scrub. 26. Still use lint rollers cause I live with two hairy dogs 😩 I like the Scotch "greener" paper-based ones better than the traditional plastic. 27. Still going through all the matches I've had for years since they sell them like 500 at a time...but definitely want a rechargeable lighter when those finish. 28. Plastic tupperware is so lame lol. Glass all the way or use a silicone bag. 29. I don't host parties so disposable cups who? I have plenty of mugs and cups either way. 30. Yep, just got my mop with the washable microfiber pad on it :) 31. I've gotten concentrates from Grove and I love pressed tablets for the toilet. Need to use vinegar more but the smell is so strong. 32. Fast fashion can go straight to hell ☺ 33. Honestly who is out buying pens lmao. I still have pens from college when they were just giving them out like candy. You can get free pens from so many events. 34. Never liked cupcake liners so just never used them. I only make muffins anyway and those don't need liners. 35. Don't use nail files so...besides can't you just get a pair of clippers that has a file attached? 36. Fabric softener is horrible for laundry!! Even people who are not environmentalists will tell you this! I'm glad I never used it. 37. Love my reusable dryer balls! Never got dryer sheets from the moment I started doing my own laundry. 38. Same with scent boosters. I just want my clothes to be clean, I don't need them to smell like the inside of Bath & Body Works. 39. I do have 2 Enviroscent plug-ins but they are subtle and don't have toxic fragrances. Can't stand traditional ones filled with toxic chemicals. And then I have Azuna tea tree air deodorizers (refillable pods, not plug-ins) to help with odors in bathroom. 40. Febreeze = 🤢 41. I've just had to be brutally honest with myself and acknowledge that I won't use a planner or calendar consistently so there's no point to buy one, no matter how pretty they are or how much I wish I was the type of person who used one religiously 😅 42. Fake plants seem so pointless to me lmao. It screams, "I'm trying to convince people that I'm not failing at being an adult" 😂 43. I have a years-old dryer, straightener, and curling wand and I don't want anything else. I just have wavy hair and it has been exhausting to deal with. I'm so over it. The less I can do with my hair, the better! 44. Wow, finally I've heard of someone else who doesn't have a TV!! I grew up without one and have gotten used to just my laptop. My screen is 15 inches and that's big enough to watch stuff 🤷 45. I only buy books that I know I'll love or that I know I'll want to refer to again and again (books from therapists, educational info). 46. Impulse thrift buying is not an issue for me fortunately. I've learned to GRILL myself before buying anything to know if I really need it. 47. Definitely not someone who buys new decor every year. I got what I liked the first time and will keep using it. I have classic tastes lol. 48. I think 2024 is gonna be the year where both my laptop and phone will give out :/ but I will definitely buy refurbished and keep for many years. 49. Yeah, definitely don't have the money for an EV 😂 I'm pretty happy with my hybrid Prius I got in 2021 and still paying that off. And EV infrastructure is lacking, and also fck Elon Musk. 50. I have never, for a millisecond in my life, considered getting fillers or botox. Fck that industry, honestly. 51. See #47 Have a great 2024, Shelbi! 💚

[@danielleb5076]

One small thing I did a couple years ago that has become a sustainable habit in my house is not purchasing any paper notepads. I like to physically write out to-do lists, shopping lists, notes, etc. on paper, but don't enjoy contributing further to single use waste. I like to use the blank sides of things like carboard food packaging, envelopes, and business cards to give whatever single use packaging I have more function before it ends up in recycling or in a craft!

[@cozying_up]

TikTok as platform for free speech while they silence Ukrainian and many other voices. math is not mathing.

[@leenadobouni5248]

Love this! inspiration to lessen the clutter...and YYEESSSS FUCK STARBUCKS!!!

[@ashleyperry1031]

Omg I love that you said Fuck Starbucks! That company is all around bad! Worked there for 6+ years and there is so many bad things to say, but the waste they make is HUGE. So disappointing.

[@thebarefoothobbit]

I just cannot use the silicone baking sheets. Every year they get disgusting and start tasting like soap.

[@lisadoes]

Thanks for boosting your local library! We need to keep these community treasures for the future.

[@julsca3738]

I’m a nurse. I don’t buy pens but I do come across pens. HOWEVER, I do have refillable pens from a website called jetpens def recommend. I lost one pen but I have refills and will def re purchase. I also have a 4 in 1 pen from the same website. I don’t buy new scrubs unless necessary. I only have enough for the two weeks I work. Or a week straight of work. None of my scrubs are fig either. I buy them from local scrub spots if I did. The only new things I do buy is hardware stuff. Especially making my space more spacious for my cat and I. But I came across the idea of dismantling the cat tree I have and using the steps on it as cat shelves. All I need to buy is brackets, screws, and wall anchors. Planners ! Please recommend a planner. I need a giant wall one that my adhd brain can handle. The white board won’t work for me because too many steps to erase and re write the month lol. So I gave in to a large wall calendar sadly but I will take alternatives! Paper towels: never buy but there is always some at my dad’s that I have taken two rolls. I only use them for cooking when I have something greasy. So please enlighten me. I have rags but they are microfiber rags and idk if they works well with putting an egg on it or French fries. Sometimes my hair will get stuck in the fiber and I mostly use it for cleaning. Kitchen: if you live in socal (Los Angeles) I have a subscription to goodlife organics where I pick up groceries from local farmers in a box that they even take back. I don’t get all these plastic bags unless it is certain veggies that need it. Because of this I only go to grocery stores for eggs and condiments or milk.

[@wormiekarma2563]

Hey just curious! Are you allowed to buy scrubs from thrift stores? Every time i go to the thrift i always see scrubs but I'm not sure if nurses or other health care workers are allowed to buy and use them

[@beckypetersen2680]

I have to laugh at your thinking TikTok is a good thing. Have to admit you are the first person I've ever heard say that. Ever.

[@esfont84]

Always love your end of the year video. Thanks for your content.

[@lisaschyllert2703]

My reasons for not buying some stuff is like you said: less clutter and cause it's better for the environment but also that I would like to have more money to spend on activities with friends and family. During my last no-buy period I felt more connected with the people around me because I could afford to join them for activities and cultural experiences. Definitaley made me feel more connected to the people and community around me

[@athenschica]

Also you can grow loofas! They are edible when small, but mature ones, once you dry them out make great sponges!

[@shylacogar1943]

My family STILL uses plastic water bottles. They have good well water. They can control the water and test it. I've gotten them water bottles. We use ours when we go. I've explained that they have to buy them and they are a significant source of trash. Still use them. WTF??

[@denden798]

What’s their reason why? Do they think the water is more pure? Or easier to do than fill a bottle?

[@shylacogar1943]

@@denden798 I honestly have no idea. That's what makes it insane to me. They've got good water, sometimes they drink it. Maybe it's convenience but seriously it's not that big of a deal...

[@ashleyperry1031]

Omg yes about Elon Musk and Fillers! Proud of you for not getting them. They are not healthy for our bodies.

[@lindagilmore2378]

I hear you about the fillers and Botox. Each to their own but it’s not for me and I’m 55