The Quick Facts: Parents and caregivers are bombarded with advertisements that may make them think the more “stuff” the better, especially when preparing for the birth of a child. Some products save you time and make life easier, and those are generally welcome. However, stuff adds up, and less can mean more in terms of saving money, helping the environment, reducing clutter and stress, and spending more quality time with your family.
In the phenomenon, commonly called “keeping up with the Jones’”—many parents and caregivers feel pressure to compete with what their neighbors have to live life to the fullest. This pressure, as well as that from savvy marketers and companies, is overwhelming, especially when preparing for the birth of a child. (Writer’s note: This article focuses on a quest to reduce “stuff” while preparing for the birth of a first baby, but the information and ideas can be used to reduce stuff and clutter in general. See also article “Showered with Love.”)
Wanting “Stuff”
We are a consumer society — we buy, buy, and buy. Often, we measure the value in our life by how much we consume. According to “The Story of Stuff,” a 20-minute online video about our consumer society, the average person in the United States consumes twice as much as a person did 50 years ago. In the U.S., we have more stuff than ever before, but polls show our national happiness is declining. While we have more stuff, we have less time for things that really make us happy, such as friends, family, and leisure time.
The challenge with stuff is that while we may want more, many of us are on a limited budget, have limited space, and want to be as eco-friendly as possible. Often, we do not realize the environmental consequences of our buying habits. According to an article on GreenBiz.com, most of us do not see firsthand the roughly 120 pounds of natural resources extracted from farms, forests, rangelands, oceans, rivers, and mines that go into the products that are consumed each day. In North America, an astonishing one percent of the total materials required are still in use within six months of purchase (source: “The Story of Stuff”).
“The Story of Stuff” describes how extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of our stuff contribute to environmental degradation and resource exploitation. Extraction permanently removes finite resources; production uses chemicals and creates air and water pollution; distribution requires energy and fuel consumption; consumption creates waste; and disposal creates additional environmental challenges. Americans create 4.5 pounds of garbage per day; this is twice what each American created 30 years ago. For every garbage can of stuff put to the curb, 70 cans of garbage were created. This waste fills landfills, feeds polluting incinerators, contaminates the air, land, and water, and contributes to global climate change.
Unquestionably, most new experiences (such as expecting a new baby) lead to the need for “new” stuff. In the case of a new baby, expectant parents and family, friends, and caregivers dole-out huge sums of money for “stuff.” A 2000 report by Market Research says the infant/toddler/pre-school market is worth $20 billion dollars in the United States alone. In contemplating the many choices for gear and “stuff” for an expected first baby, one comes to realize that there are necessities that accompany having a child that you cannot avoid, and other items that are helpful. While a woman is pregnant, family, friends, and co-workers provide advice about gear and stuff for baby. From preparing the baby’s room, nursing and feeding, clothing, playing, to getting baby from here to there — it is overwhelming. How much of this “stuff” do we need (and want)?
Reducing Stuff
It costs money to get stuff, space to store it, energy to transport it, and your attention to deal with it. Overall, by reducing the amount you consume, you have less to throw away; by reusing existing products, less new products are consumed; and by recycling you can create a new product from products or materials that have already been in use. Thankfully, there are some simple, common sense ways to say “enough is enough” when it comes to “stuff.”
- Choose multi-purpose items
“Stuff” that serves several purposes is a plus. These days, some manufacturers realize that people are trying to minimize, or are forced to do so due to space (especially if they live urban or small apartment lifestyles). For example, for baby, companies now offer travel systems (car seat/carrier/stroller all in one), play pens with a bassinet features and attached changing tables, and space-saver high chairs that convert into portable booster seats. Buying products that serve multi-purposes eliminates the need for purchasing many other individual products. - Choose quality to last
They may not make products like they used to — to last a lifetime — but, with a little research in consumer information resources and consideration, you can ensure a purchase of better quality. For instance, if you can afford the extra cost, spend a little extra money to buy that dresser or piece of furniture that is made of all wood, rather than flimsy composite. Sure it costs more money upfront, but with a cheaper choice, you will not get the quality and you will likely need to spend the same amount again, if not more, for another one just like it to replace it. By choosing quality, you buy less and are able to use the item longer (for instance, for more than one child), thereby requiring the consumption of less resources and materials and saving you money. Also, manufacturers are responding to the call to being “green” and using sustainable wood for products, making the choice of quality even better for the environment. - Try to borrow or rent
Borrow from friends and family. If the item is to be used short-term, you can return it when finished. For longer-term needs, initially borrowing an item will allow you to see if you like the product enough to invest in one of your own. For preparing for a new baby, some examples of this would be a changing table and bassinet. If you are comfortable with borrowing, you may also be okay with renting. You can rent just about everything and not have to worry about storing it after its use. Of course, when utilizing borrowed or rented items, carefully check consumer reports and safety agencies to check product safety and recall lists. - Visit Antique/Consignment/Thrift stores/Yard Sales/Online Swaps
Antique, second-hand shops, and consignment stores are treasure troves of gently used (and sometimes new) “stuff.” Yard and rummage sales also feature items that can both help your budget and fill short and long-term needs. Also, you can sell your gently-used items to consignment stores to help you get rid of items and clutter, make a few bucks back, and provide an opportunity for someone else to make a “stuff-wise” purchase. Also, many websites that promote “swaps” of stuff or bidding processes to buy other people’s “stuff” (sometimes benefiting charities) are now available and ready to help you reduce what you buy and save space by getting rid of what you no longer use.By buying items from second-hand shops or online swap sites, you support reuse of an item. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Plus, it’s the ultimate way to reduce, reuse, and recycle!
- Let It Be Known That You Prefer Less
Let all the well-wishing gift-givers know that you are hoping to limit stuff. With preparing for a new baby, for instance, tell a trusted and close friend or family member that you prefer necessities (as you listed on your registry, if you chose to register for items) and want to limit extra “stuff.” Also, if you are looking for more eco-friendly items, express your goal (i.e., BPA-free items or items made of organic material) and ask your friend or family member to help convey your thoughts to those who may want to give gifts.According to “The Story About Stuff,” buying less may be the best option of all: less pollution, less waste, and less time working to pay for the stuff. Sometimes, “less really is more.” When preparing for baby, you’ll probably acquire a lot. But if it is “stuff” that fills a need, has multiple uses, and is quality, you’re pocketbook, living space, conscience, and the environment will be better-off.
For other related Real Mama Articles, see:
Party ëTil the Earth is Saved: How to Accomplish an Eco-Friendly Birthday Party
Recycling: Trash to Treasure
Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:
http://www.marketresearch.com/map/prod/218399.html (Market Research, “MarketLooks: The U.S. Infant, Toddler and Preschool Market,” last visited March 5, 2009)
http://www.enviromom.com/2007/05/best_way_to_red.html (“Best way to reduce waste? Buy less stuff,” posted by Heather on May 03, 2007)
http://www.jumbleaid.com/ (JumbleAID: Reducing Landfills – Helping Charities, JumbleAID provides a web based service for everybody to be able to reuse “Stuff” that might otherwise end up in landfill and to raise cash for their chosen charity. JumbleAID brings together 2 key issues of the 21st centuryÖ Landfill and Charitable Giving)
http://www.december.com/simple/live/ (Live Simple, a book subtitled “Radical tactics to reduce the clutter, complexity, and costs of your life,” by John December, last visited February 27, 2009)
http://www.sfenvironmentkids.org/4Rs/reduce/reduce_seven.htm (“Seven Simple Ways to Reduce,” San Francisco’s Department of Environment)
http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/12/22/taboo-talk-buy-less-stuff (“Taboo Talk in Green Business: Buy Less Stuff,” by Joel Makower, Greenbiz.com, December 22, 2008)
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/westkent/Transition-Tunbridge-Wells-meets-impact-stuffarticle-483530-details/article.html (“Transition Tunbridge Wells meets on impact of ‘stuff,’” Wednesday, November 19, 2008)
http://www.storyofstuff.com/ (“The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard,” The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. The website has recommendations, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and links to other resources.)
Tags: alternative shower, baby, earth friendly, reducing stuff, shower gifts, simplify
