#mindfulshopping

[tmarshconnors]

The Pointlessness of Black Friday

Introduction:

Black Friday, the day that has become synonymous with frenzied shopping, long lines, and steep discounts, has become an annual tradition for many. Retailers lure consumers with promises of unbeatable deals and savings, but is the chaos of Black Friday really worth it? In this blog, we'll explore the notion that Black Friday may, in fact, be more pointless than we realize.

Consumerism Run Amok:

One of the primary criticisms of Black Friday is its contribution to the rampant consumerism that plagues society. The day seems to encourage a "buy now, think later" mentality, leading people to purchase items they may not need simply because they appear to be a good deal. This unchecked consumerism not only contributes to environmental issues but also fosters a culture where possessions are valued over experiences.

The Illusion of Savings:

While Black Friday may seem like a bargain hunter's paradise, the reality is often quite different. Retailers employ various tactics to create a sense of urgency, such as limited-time offers and doorbuster deals. In some cases, the discounts aren't as deep as they appear, with some items being marked up before the sale, only to be discounted back to the original price or slightly lower. Consumers may end up spending more than they intended, lured by the illusion of significant savings.

Overhyped and Underwhelming:

The hype surrounding Black Friday can lead to inflated expectations. Consumers anticipate massive discounts and incredible deals, only to find that the products on sale are often outdated or of lower quality. The pressure to make quick decisions in crowded stores can result in hasty purchases that buyers may later regret.

The Human Cost:

The scenes of chaos that often accompany Black Friday, with shoppers rushing into stores and sometimes engaging in aggressive behavior, raise questions about the human cost of this consumerist frenzy. Retail workers are often forced to work long hours under stressful conditions, with some stores opening on Thanksgiving Day itself. This raises ethical concerns about the impact on employees and their ability to spend time with family during the holiday season.

Online Alternatives:

In recent years, the rise of online shopping has provided an alternative to the chaos of in-store Black Friday sales. Cyber Monday, the digital counterpart to Black Friday, offers many of the same deals without the need to brave crowded stores. This shift raises the question: if the same deals are available online, why subject oneself to the stress and potential dangers of in-person shopping on Black Friday?

Conclusion:

While Black Friday may be deeply ingrained in modern consumer culture, it's worth questioning whether the chaos and frenzy associated with it are truly necessary. The rise of online shopping, coupled with ethical concerns and the environmental impact of unchecked consumerism, invites us to reconsider the value of this annual shopping extravaganza. Perhaps it's time to shift our focus away from accumulating possessions and towards more meaningful experiences that truly enrich our lives.

[epicstoriestime]

Nourishing Well on a Budget: 5 Essential Tips for Healthy Eating

Nourishing Well on a Budget: 5 Essential Tips for Healthy Eating 🥦💰 Eating healthy on a budget? Absolutely! 🍎🛒 Join me on a journey of mindful eating and financial wellness as we explore essential tips for maintaining a nutritious diet without breaking the bank. 🌱 From meal planning to embracing seasonal produce and mastering the art of batch cooking, we’ll unlock the secrets to nourishing your body while staying within your budget. 🍽️💪 #HealthyEatingOnABudget #MindfulEating #BudgetFriendlyNutrition #NourishYourBody

  Welcome to a journey of nourishment and financial mindfulness! In a world where healthy eating is often associated with high costs, let’s embark on a exploration of essential tips for maintaining a nutritious diet while staying within your budget. By embracing these tips, you can make mindful choices, prioritize your well-being, and enjoy the benefits of a wholesome lifestyle without breaking…

[patyutalksabouttheworld]

Sustainability is an extremely popular buzzword these days. If we contextualize the word within the story of our dying planet, sustainability is the goal of making sure it survives for as long as possible. It’s difficult to achieve because we humans consume resources like it’s unlimited. We procreate like there’s enough food for everyone, we build like we’re never going to run out of land, and we use items as if there are always going to be minerals to extract.

Looking at my carbon footprint has been eye-opening. It’s much higher than I anticipated it to be. I am consuming two more tons than what is ideal. I thought that I was a pretty sustainable person because I always turn the lights off before I leave a room, I live right next to DLSU so I never need to commute, and I use a menstrual cup. However, it’s clear now that I need to do more to bring my carbon footprint down to what’s suitable – from four tons to the ideal two tons.

Reducing my current carbon footprint by 50% won’t be easy, but I know where to start now, thanks to this assessment by AWorld. The area in my life that needs the most urgent change is shopping. I will start by buying clothes less often, as well as exploring the use of second-hand clothing. I also commit to reducing my usage of online shopping platforms, as there are a lot of unnecessary plastics used to wrap the items for safe shipping. It’s better for the environment if I go to stores physically to buy things and use a reusable bag to carry them home.

I should also try eating a plant-based meal every once in a while. I had no idea that eating meat was indirectly contributing to more greenhouse gases. Steak is my favorite, but because cows are a big contributor to GHG emissions, I’ll actively restrict my steak consumption so that I only eat it at most once a month. Because of its impact on the environment, I am now aware that having steak should be a luxury and should only be eaten for special occasions. From now on, I also plan to order a plant-based meal once a week. 

Let’s see how my plans turn out!

[bungatelangmartani]

#Repost @rahsa.nusantara with @make_repost ・・・ Jeng & Mas sedang menunggu paket Sari Series sampai di rumah masing-masing? Semoga aman dalam perjalanan, yaa! 😊🙏 Yang masih berencana mendapatkannya, mulai hari ini s/d 14 Desember 2020 bisa mengikuti program Meaningful 12.12 bersama kami. 🌿 Semoga sesuai dengan rencana #MindfulShopping-nya! Link di bio kami 💛 #SariAsamJawa #SariSeraiTelang #SariKunyitAsam #SariSeries #NaturalSyrup #rahsanusantara (at Bandung) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPX9BNrLzFC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nanuness]

Tropicfeel slippers

Loving my new Tropicfeel Havasu Living Coral slippers, made with ecofriendly algae foam.

Get a 10€ discount on any Tropicfeel order above 60€, with this code qcyzyq-pcbdwr

[beajarenojewellery-blog]

Correct! Small businesses can not give you huge discounts for Black Friday but we can give you top products handcrafted in London using quality materials and individually sourced gemstones. . A great customer service and free postage! In fact we are giving you free postage for a month from today in all your purchases at the online shop simply enter GRATITUDE at checkout, additional to this sign up to our newsletter for a 15% discount in your first online order ❤️ . . Are you shopping ethical products this year? For your community, your family, the Earth and yourself, we are! . You will be surprised! Check out prices of independent businesses before you shop 🙏🏻 and beware of businesses claiming to be sustainable & ethical, ask before you buy, how is it produce? the materials used, where is it handcrafted? is your jewellery hallmarked according to the UK regulations ? the big discounts are always a bad sign….Just saying! . . . . . #beajareno #beajarenojewellery #beajarenojewelleryonlineshop #shoponline #ethicalbusiness #jewellerymaderight #lovelifeloveyourjewellery #jewellery #shoponlineforjewellery #dotherightthing #ethicalliving #mindfulshopping #madetolast #qualityproducts #madefullyinlondon #handcraftedfullyinlondon #handcraftedjewellery #earrings #bracelets #necklaces #rings #allyouneedisethical #london #ladbrokegrove #bewareoffakes #askbeforeyoubuy (at Ladbroke Grove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWcpRtxImLb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[shopanon]

The Problem With Shopping - The Environment (Part 2)

I stumbled upon a bit of inspiration this week. At the 2020 Oscars, the lively actress-activist Jane Fonda made a strong statement on fashion and its impact on the environment when she rewore a dress that she’d first donned for the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. She paired the dress with a red coat that she’s declared would be the last article of clothing she’ll ever buy. Why? Because she recognizes the harmful effects of fashion on climate and she wants to do something about it, starting with her own consumer habits. She’s walking her talk.

Ms. Fonda’s sentiments echo and find resonance in my own brain, even if I’m still struggling to fully manifest them in my own life: “We don’t really need to keep shopping. We shouldn’t look to shopping for our identity.” Especially when doing so makes such a negative and lasting impact on our environment.

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the impact of my own shopping habits on the environment. So it was amazing to see some of that impact actually quantified in Hasan Minaj’s Patriot Act episode on “The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion.” In the episode, Minaj breaks down the staggering water, emissions, and waste impact of clothes purchased at fast fashion retailers such as Zara and H&M. I don’t shop at H&M, but I do occasionally shop at Zara, and I’m sure many of the statistics shared also apply to clothing purchased at my favorite non-fast fashion retailers, which include Anthropologie and Madewell. After all, non-fast fashion clothes don’t simply grow on trees in our own backyards, and they don’t evaporate into thin air once we’re done rotating them through our wardrobe.

Here are some of the statistics that stuck out to me:

In 1980, the average American bought 12 new articles of clothing per year; now it's 68 new pieces/year. And of those 68 items, half of them are worn 3x or less. (I’m not sure how I measure up on this stat - I don’t think I buy that much, but we’re often terrible estimators of our actual behavior. You can trust I’ll be keeping track this year though - so far, my count is at 13. I do think I’m pretty good at wearing things more than 3 times. My Stylebook app will eventually help me keep track of that too.)

Viscose is made up of (on average) 33% ancient or threatened forests. 70% of the wood harvested for viscose ends up dumped after processing. Yikes! 😱

In 2015, the greenhouse gases from textile production were more than the emissions of all flights and maritime shipping combined.

The average American throws away more than 80 lbs of clothes each year.

And donating clothes doesn’t seem to be a much better alternative. In June 2012, Slate reported that one Salvation Army in New York alone generates more than 18 tons of unwanted waste every three days. The clothes that aren’t trashed directly by charities are often sold by the ton to buyers in developing countries like South Africa or Kenya, where most of them end up in landfills anyway.

The cycle of fashion production, distribution, acquisition, and disposition is far from benign. Knowing this makes me want to be so much more mindful of the clothing I choose to invest in. As an almost 34-year-old, I don’t think it’s realistic for me to adopt Jane Fonda’s commitment to never buy another article of clothing in my lifetime. But I’d at least like to minimize and optimize what I do purchase. Can I buy clothing that is more sustainable so that it’s creation is less impactful on the environment? Can I buy clothing that is higher quality so that it lasts longer, perhaps even for decades? My mom has many pieces in her closet that date back as far as the 1980s and still look good. After all, it seems if fashion does recycle one thing, it’s the trends of yesteryear that always seem to come back around eventually.

Sometimes I get discouraged though that even if I’ve awoken to the reality of fashion’s environmental harm and change my habits, I’m only one of billions of people on this planet. Will the changes I make even move the needle if no one else makes the same changes? We need massive, population-level behavior change if we hope to make a meaningful difference. But at the end of the day, I can only control what I do and trust in the good in that. I know there are others doing the same, even if it’s not all, or even many of us yet. And that’s really okay. We have to start somewhere, and like Jane Fonda, I’m starting with myself.

[theycallmedada]

Our tail-less mice (because prototypes and I could not/did not have enough time to decide in time if tails were needed!) drawstring bucket purses have all sold out, thank you!! Now we are just staying positive and keeping our fingers crossed about the production delays over at our Philippines workshop. Second photo is suppose to be my sad face, but I guess an angry buyer's face is apt too 😬 But I am so glad many of you have gotten in touch with us to place your reservations for the new mice bags range, to launch by end-February, in FIVE different colours! 🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹 Exactly 10 MORE DAYS till our website's relaunch special ends! Code : RELAUNCH20 - to enjoy 20% discount storewide 😘 🎈www.littleoddforest.com🎈 . . . . . . . . #littleoddforest #naturetheme #leafart #foundobjectart #artiseverywhere #shophandmade #supporthandmade #slowfashion #supportsmallbusiness #veganfashion #veganfriendly #handmadelife #mindfulshopping #fabricgoods #womenbusiness https://www.instagram.com/p/B7kC-EWJyY5/?igshid=1lary4u16zu7i

[the-wellness-institute]

[mexicaliblues]

Happy #GivingTuesday! It's SO awesome to see so many businesses dedicating today to supporting people and projects dedicated to making the world better. Did you know that EVERY day is "Giving Tuesday" at Mexicali Blues? We give 1% of all our sales, every day, to good causes here in Maine and all around the world through our Global Giving, Sharing Smiles program. 1% of every single thing you buy, whether you keep it or wrap it up for someone you love, is always gifted to people and organizations who really need it. We're proud to support world-bettering endeavors like building homes in Guatemala, safeguarding young girls in Thailand, rebuilding schools in earthquake-ravaged Nepal, supporting programs for children in Maine communities, funding arts performances, preserving natural resources, and so much more. When you shop with us, today or any day, you can feel proud to support these things too! Thank you! ❤ . . . #mexicaliblues #magicalmexicali #globalgiving #givingback #philanthropy #mindfulshopping #intentionalliving #doinggoodeveryday #doinggood #givingtuesday2019 #givingtuesday (at Nepal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5noiXSAxV5/?igshid=1uqlr8u2tl22g

[whoevermeganis-blog]

Check out Wholesome Culture! I’ve partnered with them to give you 10% off their entire collection! 

Click the link below! (link also in my bio)

https://mbsy.co/Bb7Bh

[themindfulgifts-blog]

Loving this elephant tote! Use coupon code BREATHE for 10% off! https://TheMindfulGifts.com #mindfulgifts #yogatote #yogabag #mindfulshopping #elephantbag

[holistic-life-by-kate]

Mindful spending means having control over your spending and make rational purchases. Let’s face it, the temptation is everywhere. Advertising manipulates our purchase choices and spending habits just like marketers compete to create artificial needs that have to be fulfilled immediately and at any costs which only encourages us to mindlessly spend our money. The easiest way to avoid that is to take a deep breath, think about if you really need this product or service and how it will make your life easier and more comfortable. And then ask yourself if you really want to buy it. Be attentive. Be in control.

[bluebeautifly]

#Repost @dearpeachesandgrace with @get_repost ・・・ . One of the goals I set for myself this year was to be more Mindful when shopping, specially for products that I’m putting on my body. I recently discovered my new favorite face- cleanser from @bluebeautifly Their cleansers are made with organic botanical infusions, aloe vera juice, and castor oil. With hydrating and conditioning qualities, they don’t dry or irritate the skin. They are 100% plant-based and free of sulfates and synthetic ingredients. Whaaat?! Yes NO harmful chemicals🌱 My skin feels super soft and fresh everytime I use it and I’m just loving it!. ✨How do you like to practice Self-Care? ✨ * * * #plantbased #sulfatefree #selfcare #GObluebeautifly #selflove #mindfulshopping #wellness #wellnessblogger #peachesandgrace https://www.instagram.com/p/BuVcmONBimM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ndrd28dyh3zi

[patiencesinners]

nicolesrow : Just over here enjoying snuggle season with the man, the myth, the legend.. Taco. He straight up thinks my bed is his throne... if you have a chihuahua you know what I mean. P.S. earth friendly @takasa.co sheets for the win! 🛏❤️#takasalife #ecofriendlyproducts #organic #mindfulshopping #gotscertified #fairtrade #knowhatyourebuying

[indulgexpress]

Review: The Conscious Store Handmade Collective in Hyderabad | Handcrafted Product Shop

Apart from being an outlet for handcrafted products, the customers are also encouraged to understand the process and stories behind everything sold here