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Before You Buy

Reuse begins with the choices we make when we purchase items in the grocery store, department store and whenever we shop.

Consider the following tips before you purchase a new item:

Rent

Renting is a great choice if you only need to use something once in a while. Consider renting tools for home projects, lawn and garden equipment, party supplies, and camping and recreational gear.

Buy Used

You'll save money buying from a used goods store or consignment shop. Buying used helps the environment by keeping usable goods out of the trash and by reducing the resources required to manufacture and distribute new products. Check out the following directories: 


Visit a Library

Consider checking out a book or CD from the local Library instead of buying your own copy.

Shop Smart

By paying attention to the following concepts when you're shopping, you can purchase things that will last longer and are more likely to be useful to others after you're done with them.

  • Buy once, buy well. Well-designed and constructed products will last longer and usually save you money even if they cost more initially. Do some research before you buy and avoid impulse purchases.
  • Share your stuff. Many items are needed only for special projects or activities. Sharing can save you money and build relationships within your community. Offer to lend your neighbor your power rake for an afternoon in exchange for using their carpet cleaner.

Care for Clothes

There are many different options for keeping clothing out of the trash.

  • As mentioned above, consignment shops accept items from the public and sell them for you. Consignment shop items are generally priced at 25-50 percent of the new retail price.
  • Hold a garage sale or donate to a community sale.
  • List on the Twin Cities Free Market Web site. It is a great way to give or get free stuff.
  • Donate your clothes to a non-profit organization. When clothing is donated, generally the best material is pulled out, and sold or given away. The remaining clothing is baled and sold to a broker who sorts it into four groups: 
    1) Warm-weather clothing and shoes for underdeveloped countries;
    2) Cotton materials which are recycled into rags;
    3) Textiles ground into padding; and
    4) Wool and silk for sale to textile manufacturers.

That means that 100 percent of donated textiles can be reused!