10 Things I Don't Buy Anymore in Order to Live Zero Waste

1. Soap dispenser

I’ve had this plastic soap bottle for three years. I just refill this bottle from a big jug. It’s plastic, it’s still in great shape, so I have to keep it, but I won’t buy another plastic bottle.

2. Salt

I bought a large box of salt a few years ago. I want to buy pink Himalayan salt for its nutrients but I can’t do that until I finish this big box of salt.

3. Matching dishes

I’d love to have cute matching dishes and we use jars as cups. But we don’t need all this stuff. I will donate them to a thrift store. But my dishes are still in good shape, so unless I break all of them, I can’t buy new ones. If they break, I will use them in garden pots for drainage.

4. Flip-flops

I may have to replace my flip-flops this year. I’ve had these for five years but they’re so worn out but they haven’t broken yet. There are no holes on the bottom, either. But they are awful for landfill since they don’t biodegrade. When I replace them, I’ll buy biodegradable ones.

5. Rainboots

I love rainboots, and I have this pair that’s in great shape but I rarely wear them. I don’t love them. They are too short and they don’t have a liner in them to keep my feet warm. I can’t justify getting rid of them. There’s nothing really wrong with them.

6. Rain jacket

This poncho is like a big giant piece of plastic. It doesn’t rain often here. I never use it. When we move, I may need a better, warmer rain jacket since it’ll rain there all the time. Maybe I’ll justify replacing this poncho when we move.

7. Nail polish

I have a huge bag of nail polish and some are so old. They don’t go bad if you keep them in a cool, dry place. Add a little acetone when they get thick, they work well. I have plenty of them, so can’t buy new ones.

8. French press coffee maker

We have a tiny French press. Chad likes to take a big thermos of coffee to work, but he uses this tiny press. He makes it really strong and then adds water to the thermos. So, we both agree there’s no point in buying a new and bigger one right now.

9. Bunny hugs

Bunny hugs are hoodies. I have way too many of them. Where I grew up, it’s normal to have them. I would love a brand-new bunny hug, but I have too many to justify a new one.

10. Mattress

I really, really, really want to replace this but it’s at the bottom of our priority list. Our current mattress is my old mattress. This mattress is 30 years old and it’s in great shape! It’s been taken really good care of. It’s not bad, but I’d love a new mattress but we need a lot of other things first. We need to save up for an eco-friendly one.

Things I don't buy

What about you? What are some things you can't buy anymore? How do you justify living without those things? If you have recommendations for eco-conscious companies that offer these products, please share them with me in the comments.