“Borrow Before You Buy” & Other Sustainable Living Tips

Continuing with our Sustainable Living Tips, we’ve come to phase 2 of the Sustainability Pyramid (see Phase 1 here).  If you can’t use what you already have, the next step is to borrow.  Before you even go to the thrift store, and definitely before you buy retail, here are some situations in which you should try to borrow something before you invest in it.

Borrow before you buy

If you are unsure if you want to buy something, but you know you want to try it, this is a case in which borrowing would be beneficial.  Its good for you so that you can “test drive” the item, and its good for the earth because you won’t be buying something that you potentially would not use very much.  Items that can fall in this category for me include the latest vacuum cleaner, a cricut or a silhouette machine.  These things are big investments, so buying them on a whim could be very wasteful if you end up not liking the product, or if you end up not using it as often as you thought you would.  Save yourself the money and save the world the harsh impact by testing things out before you buy them.

Borrow if you won’t be using extensively

Are going on your first camping trip to see what it will be like, or taking a summer getaway to Galveston and want to cruise the streets?  Instead of buying a tent that may later end up on craigslist, or buying a bike and rack solely for a weekend excursion, ask a friend to borrow theirs.  I did!  When I traveled to Galveston a few years ago (see more here), I borrowed a bike from my friend and it came in so handy.  I was able to explore such a unique city by riding a bike instead of driving everywhere.  It was amazing.  Also, since I don’t use a bike here in the DFW, I didn’t have to invest in one that would just sit in my utility closet or garage!

Rent it!

Another way to borrow is to rent.  This works for larger things, such as cars, power tools, or a tent for a backyard event.  If you live in a big city where owning a car is not feasible due to traffic, and you regularly take public transportation, it would be more economical and eco-friendly to rent a car when you need to go on trips out of town.  There is a rental service for almost everything these days, you’d really be surprised what a google search for renting something that you only need for a short period of time could yield.

Borrowing before buying, borrowing if you won’t be using something a lot, and renting are 3 ways that I borrow and practice being sustainable at the same time.  What are some ways that you borrow instead of/before buying something?

Check out the rest of the Sustainable Living Tips series (Phase 1), and follow Old World New on social media!

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xoxo, dolls & dudes