Day 270
The thing about consumables, which we can buy this year, is that they often fall into a bit of a gray area.
Primarily because many items manufactured to be consumed are not actually necessities, like paper napkins and paper plates. In fact, we’ve been using the old-fashioned-wash-and-use-again varieties this year.
I know, crazy right? It actually makes me a bit smug. Although, anytime I have an overnight visitor of any kind, they typically can’t stand it and go buy paper napkins and then I’ll use them, because I would hate for them to go to waste.
As an aside, there are scores of cloth napkins available at thrift stores usually in odd numbered quantities like three and five. My theory, based on personal experience, is that they’re all wedding presents registered for in a fit of scanning mania.
“Honey, Honey, these will our match our everyday dishes, let’s get six so we can have a dinner party.”
Then sometime early in the marriage one will catch fire in a fondue pot accident (also a wedding gift) and the remaining five will eventually get donated.
Back to consumables
So candles are consumable, right? And prior to The Simple Year, it was a rare evening at home that I didn’t have a scented candle burning. I have even been known to stand outside the Yankee Candle Store peering in longing for the olfactory delights of Clean Cotton and Home Sweet Home. But, I decided that consumable or not, and since it’s no longer 1893 and I don’t need them for light, they were a luxury we were going to do without this year. Incidentally, I do buy light bulbs. I’m modern like that.
Food falls under that heading, of course, medical supplies and personal care items like soap, toothpaste, razor blades. You get the idea.
But, here is where that gets a bit sticky.
For my husband, his grooming needs are pretty cut and dried and fit in the little black dopp kit he has had since I have known him. The kids are also pretty simple and would actually prefer we cut out the whole bathing process anyway. For me, however, there are all kinds of options for make-up, hair and nice smelling products out there that are technically consumable. And, while I wouldn’t say I am particularly high maintenance, I would also say that I am no stranger to the cosmetic aisle.
So, I have had to make some decisions. Do I need lotion? Yes, but perhaps not a designer fragrance. Do I need toothpaste? Yes, but maybe not teeth bleach. I DO need mascara, but probably not the lash boosting serum—even though it’s on sale—and I really think I would enjoy the “fortified; nourished; strengthened” lashes that the package avows.
It’s a fine line, and wrinkles, I’m walking these days but well-intentioned.
I have switched to non-disposables in a lot of areas in my life. I love cloth napkins, and (except for a couple cat messes) I haven’t needed paper towels and can instead use a regular hand towel for kitchen spills and cleaning. I even switched to reusable feminine hygiene items (not as gross as it sounds, I promise). The sheer amount of waste I was producing on a regular basis was astonishing.
When I spent a week at my mom’s over the holidays, we produced about a bag (your average “kitchen size” bag) of garbage every one to two days. Food scraps (I compost), empty packaging (I recycle), and disposable plates and cutlery (I don’t even think about buying them). It was so nice to come home after that, where I produce about one grocery-bag of trash every two to three weeks.
I also stopped using all makeup and hair products, and I use baking soda instead of toothpaste. I save a lot of money and space and effort! I know not everyone can take “green” to that level, and that’s fine.
I really admire your dedication to cutting back on consumerism even if you’re not a crunchy granola hippie. I learn a lot from reading about your challenges and successes!!
As I sit here reading this in my nearly all thrifted outfit – I am nodding and ‘go, girl’ to you with cloth napkins and the like but when you got to cosmetics I was like ‘whoa, wait a minute – no need to get all crazy! Ha-ha!’ I could definitely not cut that out but I do try to only replace what’s really used up rather than browsing the cosmetics section ‘just to see if there’s anything new I might need’. Yes, until recently I think I may have actually convinced myself that it was a need. It’s a journey, to be sure!
We use mostly reusable items as well and I’m super crunchy… So here’s my thoughts on candles…
While they may be a gray area, I say, if you can find them local, handmade, using recycled materials or at least green in some huge way, here’s nothing wrong with getting one when you run out. Yankee Candle, maybe not. I buy them made in recycled containers like mason jars and old tins using organic wax and oils. To me, the comfort of a candle adds to the warmth of your home and not to mention, the relaxation of mama. I say, go for it. 🙂
I can’t believe your guests buy paper napkins! Ive never had that happen. We have a whole stash of cloth napkins, because I was too cheap to buy paper napkins. Everyone’s been fine with it and it’s actually only my American guests who notice that we don’t have paper towels. I think they just aren’t as popular here in Austria. Sure people have them, but not everyone. I use rags or kitchen towels.
As for makeup, I went through all of it and threw out everything old and anything with nasty chemicals–i had an eye pencil my mother had had from the eighties!!! Then I spent sometime looking for a replacement that I could feel ok about. I bought 1 foundation, 1 mascara, 1 lipstick and the best thing 1 eyeshadow with 4 colors (2 blues, light tan, brown) in it. I then realized after a few weeks that I really needed lip gloss so I got one. I always figured if I needed more I could get it. I never have.
It’s been absolutely great!! For those days I wear makeup the only decision is eye color and lipstick and/or gloss.
I love your blog! I am British so some things slightly lost in translation but am slightly flummoxed that using throwaway cutlery and crockery seems to be the norm. Also that using cloth napkins would seem ‘cheap’ compared to paper ones. Here it would be the other way round.
I have been very much enjoying reading all your posts in one go – got laid off at work yesterday so the economies and simplifications been meaning to make are now imminent. But have been laughing out loud at your posts.
Thanks for the note, Sally. Glad you like it. I do think we are pretty focused on convenience at all cost here with the whole paper napkins/paper towel thing. I have now been using cloth napkins regularly for about two years and it actually seems easier to me now. I would not have said that years ago. Sorry to hear about the downsize…I hope it opens better doors. Cheers, Kerry