Just moved and trying to save money on the things you need to set up you’re new space? Had a baby recently, and don’t want to fork out a whole bunch of money on things you’re baby will only need for a few months or even just weeks? Maybe the way you want to help the environment is to keep things out of the landfill? All of these are common reasons people have joined the Buy Nothing movement.
The Buy Nothing movement is a huge network made up of hyper-local groups. Neighbours collaborate to exchange new and gently used goods for free. Everyone in the group is welcome to offer up items or to put out an ask to the group for a specific item. It’s a movement that sprang from an acknowledgement of current society’s combination of financial struggle and tendency to overconsume.
There’s no doubt about it, we like our one-and-done, cheap products. No judgment or blame here, just stating a fact. With so many facing financial struggle right now, can you really blame anyone for wanting to save a little money? The Buy Nothing movement is an attempt to move the needle to a more cost-saving, mindful consumption, and environmentally friendly approach to living.
How does the Buy Nothing movement work?
Many of the thousands of Buy Nothing groups worldwide operate by way of Facebook. Joining one is just a matter of finding a Facebook group in your area and requesting to join. You’ll most likely be asked to answer a couple of questions. For example, you might be asked, “Do you agree to follow the group rules?” Another common question, because of the hyper-local nature of these groups, is “What is your closest major intersection?”
Once your request is accepted, you are free to browse what items people have offered up to the group. You can also post requests for specific items you’re looking for. Even if people don’t have the item, they may reply with a lead to where you can find it.
Alternatively, you can sign up for the Buy Nothing online platform, which is free for listing within a specified range from where you live.
Popular things offered in buy nothing groups
- Kids clothing/toys/supplies
- Books/magazines/DVD
- Crafting and DIY materials
- Household goods like utensils, decor, and….
- Services like tutoring, task help, and rides
- Misc items like partially used candles, fallen trees, and compost.
How did it start, and what’s happening with it in Canada
The idea of the Buy Nothing movement was born from Liesl Clark, a documentarian, and Rebecca Rockefeller, an outdoor enthusiast and stay-at-home mom. Both women approach life with a frugal and mindful consumption mindset. After a disappointing experience on a different Facebook group, they agreed that they wanted to offer a better way. Their new version took off! Within mere months, they had helped create almost 80 groups and had over 12,000 members.
There are now thousands of Buy Nothing groups and millions of users across the globe. According to the Buy Nothing platform, within 30 km of Toronto alone, there are over 6300 users.
Benefits
Mindful consumption
Clicking buy or using a debit card is a quick and easy way to get what you need. Using a Buy Nothing group can take time. Not only does the time lag give you time to consider if you really need what you’re requesting, but getting others involved in the process can also give you reason to pause.
Save money
The Buy Nothing movement saves you money because you’re not spending money on the items you get from the group. You’re also saving money because it encourages mindful consumption, which naturally leads to consuming less. Add to these savings any extra costs, such as maintenance of replacement parts, and you can save a lot of money taking part in this movement.
Help the environment
This movement has so many benefits for the environment. Reusing items avoids unnecessary manufacturing and the use of resources, and less trash makes its way to our landfills.
Community building
A great by-product of this movement is its ability to build community. Each exchange is a safe, positive, and low-stakes way to meet others in your area. Every time you use the hairdryer or dress your kiddo up in the clothes through the Buy Nothing group, you’ll be reminded about the kindness and generosity of the people around you. That’s a powerful way to build a strong and friendly community.
Try before you buy
Buy Nothing groups are a great way to try something out before you buy. Maybe you’re curious about learning how to sew. Before investing a lot of money into supplies, put out a request to your buy nothing group for a sewing machine and other supplies. You might not get exactly the machine you want, but if you find you really enjoy it, you can buy your own and repost the one you got to the group.
Common Buy Nothing group guidelines
There are a few fundamental guidelines Buy Nothing groups follow to keep everyone on the same page and the group true to its intent.
- These groups are about giving without strings attached, so the golden rule of every group is no selling, trading, or other form of exchange.
- Be transparent about the condition of the item you’re posting.
- To be fair, many of these groups try to avoid people being in more than one group at a time and should be the group for the area where you live.
- Be an honest, fair, and courteous communicator. That means being kind to the others in the group and responding to messages in a reasonable timeframe.
- Nothing illegal is allowed to be posted.
Wrap-up
While the Buy Nothing movement is not a full-fledged solution for the cost-of-living or environment challenges we’re facing, it’s a step in the right direction. Even if you don’t need anything, it’s worthwhile joining so you can offer up those things you no longer need.
If struggle with debt has inspired your curiosity into the Buy Nothing movement, we can help. During a free consultation, one of our Credit Counsellors will discuss your situation with you and then go over debt relief options available to help.
