GUEST POST | More than 26,000 people have taken the pledge to say yes to less with the Second Hand September campaign founded by OxfamUK. For nearly five years, this foundation has encouraged society to participate in this movement to not only save our money but to save the environment from the projections of climate change.
As an American, I had no inclination of the #SecondHandSeptember movement but with further research, I quickly became intrigued. As a person who has been living a more intentional life with minimalism, I’ve decided this is the perfect opportunity to challenge myself to buy second hand items more often.
What Does Second Hand September Entail?
Starting September 1st, this campaign encourages all participants to purchase only second hand items for 30 days in the month of September. For more information and inspiration, be sure to check out the OxfamUK blog or search #SecondHandSeptember on Instagram.
How Will I Be Participating?
This will be my first year participating in Second Hand September. As a minimalist, I already live by the mindset of less is more and love sharing my thoughts on my blog.
Living more sustainably has always been my goal and I have not ventured into the second hand lifestyle as much as I would like until now. I have fallen victim to overconsumption of fast fashion, purchasing new items instead of old and just simply shying away from charity shops and thrift stores.
I’m excited to challenge myself and hopefully change the way I shop in the future. I would love to become more sustainable and be kinder to the environment.
Clothing Swaps & Thrift Hauls
I am an avid de-clutterer and try to maintain a capsule wardrobe. Having a select amount of items I wear and love instead of an overwhelming collection puts me at ease.
During this challenge, I plan to donate any unwanted items to thrift shops or swap with friends and family. And any items I wish to add to my closet will come from thrift shops or hand me downs.
I love the phrase, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” And I’m looking forward to finding some gems.
Little Free Library Hunting
As a lover of books, I’m always wanting to add more to my shelves / TBR. I’ve come to find out this can be a costly hobby if you let it and have quickly found free alternatives.
Public libraries, used book stores or free downloads are always great options. But I have grown to love the adventures that are Little Free Libraries. I will put aside any physical books I no longer want and drop them off at different locations.
To find LFL’s in your area, just download the free app on your phone. I love donating books this way because I always tend to find amazing reads to take home in place of the ones I donate. Not to mention a lot of LFL’s are just so darn cute!
Creating New Outfits With The Clothes I Have
Sometimes you don’t need to go out and purchase more clothing. All it takes is a bit of inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram and you can put together outfits with the items you already own.
For instance, instead of the typical white T-shirt and jeans, you can always add a funky blazer or jacket to spice it up. Shopping in our own closets can be a lot of fun especially if you’ve recently reorganized it.
Consider Antiques for Your Home
I love looking through antique shops for furniture or home décor. I think the mixing of new and old can look so nice.
Over the years, we have been given tons of hand me down furniture and household items from family which has really helped us save money in our first home as a married couple.
As a creative soul, I also love refurbishing items and making them my own. I’ve reupholstered old chairs, repainted nightstands & dressers as well as adding new knobs and accessories to fix them to my liking.
I also have taken tupperware, kitchen glasses and china from family members who want them off their hands. Having items past down gives a lovely sentimental touch.
Conclusion:
Second Hand September is the perfect challenge for those wanting to live more sustainably. As a society, we really need to consider how our shopping habits affect the environment.
OxfamUK has been able to shine light on this epidemic and encourage thousands to stand up and make a change. Are you ready to say yes to less and second hand?
About the author:
My name is Brittany and I’d like to thank Jenny in Neverland for giving me the opportunity to guest post on her blog. If you liked this post, be sure to check out my blog where I post weekly on intentional living, minimalism, decluttering techniques & the art of living with less. You can also follow me on Twitter.