Is a Recycled or Upcycled Gift Tacky?
On Postconsumers, as well as on many other websites working to promote the idea of reducing consumerism and reducing waste as a result, you’ll notice that there’s a certain amount of buzz about giving upcycled or recycled gifts this holiday season. Many people, perhaps even you, shy away from this idea because the concept of giving a previously-owned gift seems tacky or cheap. We’ll be honest: There are situations and people where [...]
Upcycle and Swap With a Simple Web Search
You’ve probably read a number of blog entries on Postconsumers where we’ve suggested that rather than buying something new you can upcycle or recycle. We usually suggest a thrift store, swap meet or even eBay or Craigslist for that activity, but recently we were made aware of a great online search engine that allows you to search instantly through forty-five different online sources to find items that are available to be swapped [...]
A Postconsumers Quatrain by Stephen C. Rose
What a surprise, thanks Stephen! Let's be postconsumers all The world is changing as we speak Growth best be in mind and art Consuming is well past its peak
Five Ways to Keep Your Office Party Eco Friendly This Holiday
We talk a lot about how to reduce needless consumerism and waste in your homes over the holiday, but there are a number of ways that the same goals can be applied in an office or work environment as well. Bringing the holiday spirit into the workplace is (we think) important. It can raise morale, help people reduce their stress level and generally create goodwill among employees. However, it’s always nice to [...]
Holiday Traditions Based on the Religion of Consumerism
Almost without fail, every year around this time there will be two common refrains and debates starting and taking over in the public eye. The first is the endless debate about whether it’s appropriate to have a nativity scene, a menorah or any other religious symbol displayed publicly. The second will be about how all of the “spirit of the season” (religious or otherwise) has been stripped away and replaced by consumerism. [...]
First Black Friday. Then Cyber Monday. Now a Week-Long Event.
Sometimes, it’s best to simply say what you feel. Black Friday is a horrible idea, as evidenced by the needless amount of waste generated, the almost mind-control-like rushing of consumers to the stores and even the actual deaths associated with crowds attempting to get into stores on the big day. Then, as though that weren’t bad enough, Cyber Monday was added. That day allowed Americans to spend even more money on more [...]
Unclutter. Make Your List of the Hundred Things You Need to Live.
Recently in the news, David Bruno’s “The 100 Thing Challenge” has been getting a significant amount of airplay. What’s the one hundred thing challenge? Well it is, quite simply, what it sounds like. It’s a challenge to live with a hundred things or less. David Bruno himself has done it, and if you read his blog you’ll see that he’s found it, like most things, to be challenging at first and then [...]
Four Socially Responsible Holiday Gifts
It’s about that time of year when people will start asking you what you want this holiday season. If you’ve had the time to browse through our free guide to spending less and celebrating more this holiday season, A Very Postconsumer Holiday, then you know that one of the techniques we suggest is that you offer to have people donate to charitable causes for you this holiday rather than give you tangible [...]
Dr. Sherry Ackerman’s New Book Inspires Postconsumer Society
Ever wonder why it's so hard to soothe that little (or big) voice of dissatisfaction that is rolling around consumers' heads all the time, egging them on to always want more? If you read the new book by Dr. Sherry Ackerman, The Good Life: How to Create a Sustainable and Fulfilling Lifestyle, you'll find out! Rather than keep you in suspense (but please read the book), I'll tell you right now that she [...]
Quote of the Week: Oprah on Being Thankful for What You Have
As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, we wanted to dedicate some quote of the week space to quotes about being thankful. The idea of thankfulness is particularly apt in the quest to become a postconsumer and find the satisfaction of enough. It’s the idea that you can never have enough that has led to our consumer-driven culture and the accompanying media messages regarding consumerism. However, learning to appreciate and be thankful for what [...]
