One of the hardest parts about decluttering is the guilt associated with letting go of excess belongings. We are psychologically predisposed to hold onto our stuff because of what we paid for it, because we own it, or even merely because we are exposed to it day-to-day. We also feel guilty about parting with items that have emotional attachment or sentimental meaning.
Sometimes the guilt comes because we’re not exactly sure where the item will end up. We resist throwing it away because we don’t want to contribute to landfill waste, yet we may be wary about donating to big box donation centers because we’re not sure whether the item will actually make it into stores to be sold. So it continues to clutter our space.
What if there was a convenient, guilt-free option that made it easier to bless someone else with what you no longer need? Your local Buy Nothing group is a great alternative to big box donation centers and has been the single most effective (and enjoyable) tool in my decluttering journey.
The rules of Buy Nothing are simple: “Post anything you’d like to give away, lend, or share amongst neighbors. Ask for anything you’d like to receive for free or borrow. Keep it legal. No hate speech. No buying or selling, no trades or bartering, we’re strictly a gift economy.”
Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Here are the five reasons why I love Buy Nothing groups (and I know you will, too):
- Buy Nothing groups are “hyper-local” which means that you are connecting with your actual neighbors, rather than people who flake out on you from other platforms (Facebook Marketplace, anyone?)
When I have made the decision to declutter something, I want it out of my house quickly so I don’t end up changing my mind. Depending on what the item is and how much I think I can get for it, I may try to sell it on Facebook Marketplace or another Facebook-based local yard sale group. But if the item isn’t worth my time or energy to try and sell, or I’m not successful selling it, I post it on Buy Nothing. My group is almost 800 members strong with the boundary only a few miles from my home.
I find that the hyper-local nature of the group means that people pick things up promptly and aren’t as likely to flake out on you, and it is easier to coordinate pickups from others when I know it will only be a 5-minute drive. It’s also a great way to get to know your neighbors. I now know some moms in my group that have kids younger than mine that would benefit from toys and clothes that mine will outgrow.
2. Buy Nothing focuses on abundance, collaboration, and creativity rather than the scarcity culture around us.
According to its website, the Buy Nothing Project is about “setting the scarcity model of our cash economy aside in favor of creatively and collaboratively sharing the abundance around us.”
A consumeristic society focuses on scarcity: “Buy now! Limited time offer! You don’t want to miss this deal!” We buy because we don’t want to miss out, or because it’s easier just to order something on Amazon and have it delivered right away. We are losing our ability, or perhaps our desire, to be resourceful because a “one-click” consumer culture doesn’t require us to be.
Buy Nothing groups give us a unique opportunity to express a need with no expectation, and watch with amazement when the community supplies it. I didn’t have to look further than my local group to see examples of this. They recently did something called #BigAskLittleAsk where people posted something small they were planning on buying, and then something big they never thought they’d receive. Almost 500 comments later, I saw both big and little “asks” being answered. It was so heartening to see people wishes literally coming true, without them having to buy a thing!
3. Group members are encouraged to slow down and let posts “simmer” for at least 12 hours. This makes the giving process less frantic and more enjoyable for the giver and receiver.
This may seem an odd thing for me to appreciate since I can’t wait to get things out of my house. But considering the way many people interact on “first come first serve” platforms such as Facebook Marketplace – pushy, persistent, and downright rude- it is a breath of fresh air to be able to post something and then pick someone at random the next day. (My favorite way to do this? I spin the Wheel of Names!) The giver can pick the recipient based upon need or just to surprise someone and make their day! The positive energy surrounding the giving process can’t be understated.
4. Buy Nothing groups allow you to live a more sustainably by thinking “secondhand first”.
Buy Nothing groups help you clear clutter and help others, but it also diverts items that would otherwise go straight to the landfill. It also has shifted my mindset to look to my Buy Nothing group first before Amazon or even Facebook Marketplace when I need something. This is true for items I want long-term, but also items that I just need to borrow for the short-term.
My favorite example of this is a chocolate fountain. My mom’s group wanted to use a chocolate fountain for a brunch meeting, and we were ready to buy one on Amazon for $25. Instead, I asked them to wait and checked with my Buy Nothing group. Someone responded and let me borrow theirs for the meeting, saving us money and also the clutter of an item that would likely collect dust in a closet.
Changing your mindset about what you own and consume means thinking creatively about how you can obtain what you need. Buy Nothing groups are perfect to support a sustainable lifestyle.
5. Generosity is a cornerstone of Buy Nothing groups. As you give and see how the things you give impact others, you want to give more.
Some of the best posts in Buy Nothing groups are Gratitude Posts. Once recipients use their gifts, they are encouraged to take a photo of the item being used and post in the group. Recently I gave away some hanging shelves that I knew I would never use (even though I had held onto them for over ten years). I gifted them and received a photo of the recipient’s son’s nursery. The shelves were being used to hold books, stuffed animals, and framed photos. It made me so happy to see them being used and strengthened my resolve not to keep things I don’t need in my house when I know they can help others.
If you haven’t joined a Buy Nothing Group already, I hope you are encouraged to do so. Although there is an extensive list of groups (and there are color-coded Google maps to confirm which group you belong to), you can always start your own group if there’s not one close by.
Are you active in a local Buy Nothing group? If so, I’d love to hear more about it! Please leave a comment below.
Experimenting with less is a great way to see what we can let go of and give to others (like our Buy Nothing Group community!) Check out my 5 Experiments for Simple Living to Overcome Overwhelm to learn more!
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