Ashlee Piper Talks #NoNewThings Challenge

Imagine going a year without buying new things. Sustainability Expert, Ashlee Piper found that it was beneficial in her life and she’s sharing tips. Ashlee joins California Live’s Danielle Nottingham and Jessica Vilchis to talk about her new month-long challenge, #NoNewThings, where individuals forgo spending on new items in order to save time and money. Learn how Ashlee was able to save thousands. -Ashlee’s Tips to #NoNewThings: 1. Make a “Need Note” – Write down all the things that you are going to need during the month and then categorize into things you must buy, could find secondhand or free, can borrow/rent, can use up/repurpose and other items you can hold off on. 2. Join a Buy Nothing Group – a sharing community where people exchange goods at no cost either on Facebook, Craigslist, NextDoor or via another platform 3. Unsub, Unfollow, Mute – Unsub from promotional emails that tempt you to buy stuff you don’t need; remove notifications from sites and accounts from your phone; unfollow and mute social media accounts that make you feel less-than or tempt you to acquire stuff you don’t need. 4. Delete On-Demand Apps – Did you know? On demand apps (looking at you Doordash and Uber Eats) account for $57.6 Billion in spending per year. Considering half of Americans are in debt, this is a great time to remove these temptations and focus on cooking instead. And those sites that have your credit card info stores so you can purchase at the touch of a button? Well, it’s been proven that this “at your fingertips” approach makes us spend more. You don’t need to delete completely, but take them off your phone for the challenge so you’re not tempted. 5. Spruce up your Stuff – Americans toss 80 pounds of clothes per year per person into the landfill and a lot of times, it’s only because something needs a tiny repair. Same goes for our furniture, decor, appliances, etc. Instead of tossing items you have that are otherwise useful with a few tweaks, consider making a ‘To Repair’ list. Sew loose buttons, polish shoes and handbags, take clothes that need more major fixes to the tailor, take a few minutes to shore up screws on your furniture if its wobbling, defuzz your couch, etc. These small fixes are a great way to honor what you have and keep your items looking and performing well for years to come (and out of the landfill). 6. Bring Back Borrowing – We are arguably more disconnected than we’ve ever been thanks to the pandemic, and borrowing is a sweet way to get what you need without cluttering your life – and interacting with others. Post ‘In Search Of, or ISO’ in Buy Nothing groups, FB/IG networks, or on Nextdoor. Need a fancy outfit for a special occasion? Does your kiddo need a graphing calculator for class? Do you need a weedwacker for a day? No need to run out and buy these things new. See if your neighbors have them and, in turn, if you have something they might need. For instance, in my Buy Nothing group, folks will routinely ask to borrow a standing mixer and in return, will give the lender some baked goods they made. 7. Make a “Love List” – all the things that bring you joy and cost you nothing (i.e., walks outside, naps, hot baths, great phone calls etc.) 8. Groom Your Grooming – Take 10 minutes and go through what you actually use and determine if excess items can be “ethically offloaded” in Buy Nothing groups, to friends and family, sold on Poshmark etc. You’ll be left with a more streamlined grooming and beauty regimen that will save you time and could even make you a bit of extra cash. 9. Think Secondhand First – Armed with your ‘Need Note,’ aside from borrowing or making do with what you already have, if you need something, go the secondhand route first.