Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Do without
This was a popular ditty during the Depression era, when pinching pennies was a way of life. It’s also a useful poem for consumers to remember as they try to shop in a more environmentally conscious way.
Use it up: This is self explanatory. Squeeze every bit of toothpaste from the tube, store detergent upside down to get the last drop, eat the whole apple. You’ll throw away less.
Wear it out: Don’t upgrade basic things because you can. Keep the same dishes, towels, sheets, and household items until they wear out. Drive your old car for another year instead of trading up to a new model. Stick with sturdy basics and reduce your consumption.
Make it do: This is the fun part of going green. Unleash your creativity and find new uses for old things. There are even television shows dedicated to showing us how to turn “trash into treasure”. Do you need to throw out soda bottles, or can you make funnels, green houses for seedlings, or birdhouses out of them? How else can you use a shoebox? Have fun while reducing your waste!
Do without: This is definitely not the fun part of going green. Yet, many people find that as they simplify their lives by buying and doing less, they actually gain more. More peace of mind, more time, and a better quality of life. Don’t purchase what you want; stick with what you need and you might find fulfillment in the process.
Ecological awareness and thrift are naturally compatible qualities. Whereas our forebears had to make things last and go without buying things, in our modern era we must make it a deliberate choice. Consuming less will make you – and the earth – happy!
