Many of us like to get a jumpstart on our holiday purchases. Now is the time to start strategizing: planning what we’ll buy, how much we’ll spend and where we’re likely to shop.
It’s also the perfect time to think a bit more critically about how we’ll handle the big sales coming our way, for days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. How can we resist their influence, and make our shopping greener?
Consider these tips to help you minimize your impact on the environment while managing to find everything you need for the holiday season.
The big squeeze
For many of us, money is tight these days. Deloitte Canada just released its 2023 Holiday Retail Outlook, which reported that many are feeling squeezed by rising interest rates, inflation and housing prices. As a result, holiday spending could be about to hit a five-year low.
If this resonates with you, know that you are not alone. Many Canadians are planning to spend less this holiday season, with spending expected to be down about 11 per cent from last year. All the more reason to be thoughtful about how and where you’re spending your hard-earned money.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can certainly help stretch your holiday dollar. You can purchase clothing or items on sale and are more likely to be able to stay within your budget.
Why not also make this an opportunity to shop smart, by only purchasing pieces that are high quality and sustainable? Stay away from fast fashion if you can, because the environmental cost is so high. Instead, get to know your local independent businesses and support them. To help get you started, search the directory at Sudbury.com.
Local businesses offer great deals and incentives too. You can:
- Follow them on social media for the latest updates.
- Walk around downtown to see what’s available.
- Look for the many local small businesses who choose to give back on Black Friday.
- Reduce the need for excessive packaging and GHG emitted by shipping.
When you’re ready to shop, opt for high-quality items that will be well-loved for a long time. Try to buy from more sustainable companies. Good on You is an informative site that can help you learn more about sustainable clothing and ethical, responsible fashion.
Shop smart
Think critically about your purchases and try not to get caught up in emotion. Here are some tips that can help:
- Draw up a list and stick to it.
- Decide in advance how much you are willing to spend on an item and don’t make excuses or exceptions.
- Evaluate the deals being offered and scrutinize the quality of the items.
- Avoid overspending on many little things.
Some of the added benefits of shopping on Cyber Monday include the ability to avoid big crowds and reduce the chance of getting sick.
Consider celebrating Buy Nothing Day
It can be hard to resist the siren call of all those epic deals and flash sales, especially when marketers have been working hard to get your attention for weeks. But is that euphoric shopper’s high worth the very real negative impacts to the planet?
Black Friday has significant environmental and social consequences in the form of increased emissions, resource use and landfill waste, as many consumers throw out the old to make room for the new. This craze for shopping also adds to the global issue of sweatshop labour and worker abuse and often threatens shoppers’ mental health through overconsumption, overspending and impulse buying.
Instead of shopping on Black Friday, why not celebrate Buy Nothing Day? This day of protest was conceived of by Canadian artist Ted Dave in 1992, as a protest in which participants pledge to buy nothing for 24 hours. The goal is to raise awareness of the negative environmental, social and political effects of overconsumption.
On Friday, November 24, 2023, celebrate Black Friday the green way. Say no to buying new and find ways to enjoy the stuff you already have. Here are some ideas:
- Give your things new life by mending, repairing and giving them a good clean.
- Organize a swap with friends to exchange an item you don’t need for one you do.
- Explore minimalism, a tool for restoring clarity and value in your life, by understanding your relationship with things. Minimalist experts Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus offer guidance through their books, blog, podcast and other resources online.
- Instead of adding to the world’s waste problem, do the opposite! Join a cleanup event in your community and donate clothing, books, toys, etc. to people who are in need.
Shop local and submit a photo for a chance to win!
Village Media is running a fun photo submission contest this season. Readers can submit their favourite recent local purchase and tag the store where they bought it. The winner will receive a coupon to local stores that is valued at $413. Enter here.
If you have a project that you would like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].
You can also follow EarthCare Sudbury on Facebook.