SEE it to buy it

As with all products I buy before I make a purchase, I ask myself a few simple questions: Is it safe? Is it economically feasible for my family? Is it environmentally responsible in it's production?

So, began the SEE it to buy it mentality. The SEE part is an acronym for the questions above. Is it Safe, Economical (in feasibility), and Environmental ( through conscious production)? It's also a literal question. Can I see me using this? Can I see my my family benefiting from this product? 

If one of those answers is no, then I will almost never buy that product. Occasionally, that may mean spending more on another, similar product or doing without. The is step one for me in conscious consumerism. Decide whom you wish to support with your dollars. Decide what values matter to you and your family, and then put your money where your mouth is!

While I can judge for myself and my family whether or not a product is economically feasible based on our family's budget, determining whether or not a product is environmentally responsible takes a little more work. When it comes to researching products, I start with Better World Shopper. Their rating system helps me know whether or not a company is doing more harm than good for the environment. I also try to use B Corp Certified companies whenever possible. Lastly, I shop locally and seasonally. I have individual posts about  Better World Shopper, B Corp, and shopping locally and seasonally. But that's a good start to help you decide if the products you're buying are worth the investment. 

When I began to look at my money as an investment rather than something to be spent, my whole paradigm changed. My family of three lives on about $2,000 a month. I can't afford to be frivolous or wasteful, but I won't be apathetic either. Yes, there are times when the product is safe and environmentally responsible, but I just can't afford to invest in it. Wasteful spending is still waste in my world. Even  if I can afford a product that meets all my criteria, if there is a cheaper options that ticks the same boxes, I go with that. No waste whenever and wherever possible.

One of the problems, I have found with this whole hipster movement is just more consumerism masked as "waste-free" or "greener options". Seriously? I am not paying for a case of lunch sized Mason Jars when I go through a jar of peanut butter a week. I am selective in the kind of peanut butter I invest in, meaning that even the packaging it comes in needs to meet the SEE it to buy it criteria. I end up with good, reusable jars that I didn't spend any extra on! But kudos to the guy who knew that 20-somethings would spend more money on glass jars in order to look like they are saving the planet. That dude is making bank off their vanity, not their conscious consumerism.

Conscious consumerism according to hipsters: $0.50 bar of soap + $8.45 funny label 

But the glass is recyclable. Yes. So is plastic. Waste-free doesn't mean I don't use products that are disposable. It means I dispose of those products in an environmentally conscious way. It means when given the choice between a one-time use product and a multi-purpose or multi-use product, I choose that product. 

I don't suggest anyone just go and overhaul their homes looking for products that they need to replace with SEE approved versions. The key to sustainability is small, consistent changes. They add up! When you run out of dryer sheets, invest in the dryer balls. When it's time to pack your lunch, make it at home and use containers you have on hand. Start by replacing products as you need them. Simple steps towards a more environmentally and economically conscious lifestyle. 

SEE it to buy it!

And when it doubt, fling it.