u/robotscantrecaptcha

If you have a free five minutes today, consider spending some time completing an anti-consumption mini action. These are little things we can all do (or assist others in doing) that help us live a less consumeristic life. I'd love for us to continue having discussions on this sub of working together to reduce consumption.

Un-fun fact: Nearly 45.6 percent of all e-mails worldwide were identified as spam (such as unwanted advertising), this number is thankfully decreasing but is still a huge problem.

Mini-Action Options:

1. Take a quick look through your inbox and unsubscribe from promotional emails. Receiving emails about sales is a huge trigger for unnecessary consumption.
2. Set up a faux email account to use with companies when you do need to buy things, that way all their spam promotions will go to that email
3. Delete retailer apps from your phone so you won't mindlessly scroll and buy things. If you keep an app, turn off push notifications

On a recent visit with an older parent, I helped them clean out their email inbox so things would not be so clogged up. If these mini-actions are things you've already done, consider talking about it kindly with a friend or supporting someone else in taking these steps too.

Highly recommend the book No New Things by Ashlee Piper. Consider getting a copy from your library or locally owned bookshop.

Started making vanilla extract a few weeks ago so it will be ready by December. New embroidery project is in the works as well.

Are folks already planning for their frugal / DIY holidays? I always love the posts in this group where people share frugal gift ideas and projects. Last year, there was a great thread on signature frugal gift ideas and it always seems like there are so many Autumn posts about navigating the holidays.

Would love to hear what people are making or planning

https://preview.redd.it/7bk24egcdrjh1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e59817153376e3f60758a31127caa2aa52786e37

Just finished the book No New Things by Ashlee Piper and thought others would enjoy it as well. The book is 1/3 conversation about capitalism, 1/3 plan to reduce personal consumption, and 1/3 decluttering guide. It is separated into 30 different topics such as building community, mending clothing, unsubscribing from corporate shopping emails, and exploring secondhand options in your area etc. I think the book is great for people new to the anti-consumption lifestyle and those of us who have been puttering around awhile. Importantly, although the title might suggest otherwise, it's not a 'no buy' challenge, but rather focused on reducing consumption through rethinking values, upcycling, and engaging with the secondhand market.

From the book description:

>The book follows the rise of what Piper calls “conditioned consumerism” and how it sneakily hijacks our time, money, and mental bandwidth, as well as harms the planet. From there, readers follow customizable daily action items that bring about the ease and richness of a life less bogged down by spending and stuff, without compromising on style, convenience, or fun.

Consider getting a copy from the library (or a locally owned bookstore). If anyone has other book recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

Was recently reading about ReTuna, a famous secondhand mall in Sweden. The mall is entirely filled with retailers selling previously used or donated items. Unlike typical giant thrift stores, each retailer curates the items in their shops. The initiative is supported by their local government and residents can drop things off for donation through their city's recycling program.

Do folks think that something like this could work here in Cincinnati? We already have the Recycling and Reuse hub that takes a lot of items for their reuse store; something similar and expanded would be amazing. Maybe it could be part of the city's climate plan that the NYtimes was recently writing about (that someone else posted about a few weeks ago).

Some more info if people are interested:

https://www.retuna.se/english

>ReTuna Återbruksgalleria is the world's first recycling mall, revolutionizing shopping in a climate-smart way. Old items are given new life through repair and upcycling. Everything sold is recycled or reused or has been organically or sustainably produced.

https://theconversation.com/how-swedens-secondhand-only-shopping-mall-is-changing-retail-260459

>ReTuna was established in 2015 as part of Eskilstuna’s climate and waste reduction strategy. Built alongside the city’s recycling centre, it includes a dedicated drop-off point called The Return, where residents donate unwanted items. These are sorted and redistributed to the retailers in the mall, creating a low-cost, low-waste circular system.

https://www.retuna.se/english/about-us

>The mall opened its doors in August 2015 and is located next to the Retuna Återvinningscentral recycling center at Folkestaleden 7 in Eskilstuna. It is easy for visitors to sort materials they are discarding into the containers and then drop off reusable toys, furniture, clothes, decorative items, and electronic devices in the mall’s depot, called “Returen”. In the depot, staff from AMA (Eskilstuna Municipality’s resource unit for activity, motivation and work) perform an initial culling of what is usable and what is not. The items are then distributed to the recycling shops in the mall. The shop staff then perform a second culling, where they choose what they want to repair, fix up, convert, refine – and ultimately sell. In this way, the materials are given new life.

Was able to get Paze as a payment option on a recent Macys online order after I made a Macy's account and selected for delivery. It didn't appear as an option for in-store pickup. Free delivery was available for orders $30+. An item of only $10 (for the statement credit) had a $10 shipping fee since it didn't hit the $30.

In the Chase app, it correctly coded as Paze for the 10x points plus a nice 3x boost for using the United Shopping Portal as well. That was a few days ago, and I haven't received the $10 statement credit yet although the others (e.g., Sephora) were pretty immediate.

Things fell apart today when the package was delivered in the middle of the afternoon. Apparently Macy's uses Doordash as their shipping / delivery partner. Since I live in a city, only USPS, FedEx, UPS etc. have access to secured apartment buildings for delivery. Consequently, Doordash left the package on the sidewalk in a busy downtown and it was immediately stolen. Macy's customer service let me know they could re-ship to try again but there wasn't a way to provide the Doordashers with delivery instructions.

The Doordash delivery was a big surprise, which makes shipping through Macy's unviable at least here, so something to consider if other folks are in the same position.

Edit to clarify: some packages are shipped via standard methods although there is no way for a customer to select which shipping method they want. It's all based on where the package is coming from (regional fulfillment center, local store, farther away etc). Maybe my title should have read "They use Doordash Delivery often rather than normal shipping"

UPDATE: Macy’s customer service emailed me to let me know that they are considering the package successfully delivered and will not be refunding or replacing it

Assuming a fully funded emergency fund and retirement is on track, should extra money go towards my mortgage (26 years left with a 6.75% interest) or into index funds?

The general advice is to pay off any 'high interest debt' then invest the rest, but my mortgage interest rate is pretty high.

I'd like to refinance it of course when interest rates come down but who knows when that will happen. A goal has been to pay enough of it off early so when rates do come down, I can refinance with a 15-year loan instead of 30. Everyone I've talked to IRL has a much different mortgage rate situation.

My retirement savings are on track (I think? but that might be worthy of a different post). I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

Demographics if it's helpful: single, almost 40 y/o, MCOL area, very stable income / career

My extended family is interested in doing a Princess cruise next year (the one that circumnavigates the UK). I'd like to book the cruise through Costco so we can benefit from the shop cards. However, the rest of the family is very nervous about not booking directly with Princess because "if something happens, the cruise line won't be able to help us and it will be harder".

We are new to Princess and to cruises. However, we've done two previous vacations through Costco and it has always gone well. Are there any downsides to booking through Costco instead of directly through Princess? (Or any other benefits to Costco?).

Any suggestions on where to buy vanilla beans locally? I'd like to make my own vanilla extract and am trying to avoid buying the vanilla beans online.

Houses here in the US have interesting things like AC and garbage disposals. I recently asked on the Ask an American subreddit what they like about houses in other countries. A overwhelming number of folks said Bidets, saunas, and German style windows (that open in several different ways and have shutters built in).

What are things found in houses in other countries that you wish your house had?

edit: Many folks have commented that there is air conditioning across Europe. It was just meant to be an example of something that was different across countries (full house central air v wall units). I’m just curious and interested in home design; I’m sorry the AC comment was offensive.

Many American houses have lots of cool things like garbage disposals and indoor dryers, but what are things found in houses in other countries that you wish your house had?

Hoping to make the back to school season a bit more affordable (and eco friendly). Does anyone have recommendations for thrift stores (or other places) to get secondhand back to school supplies?

Was pleasantly surprised to find out a recent Flashfoods purchased counted as 'online groceries' and received 3x points.

For folks not familiar, FlashFoods is an app where you can buy discounted bags of groceries and then pick-up in store. All groceries are typically at their 'best buy' date and the goal is to reduce food waste. In my region, they mostly do $5 produce bags with some discounted meats or deli items.