Yard Sales and Flea Markets are good for our Earth!

This spring weather has me dreaming of all the shopping I’ll soon be doing! You see, the warmer months are the perfect time for my favorite eco-friendly way to shop – yard sales! Not only yard sales, there are also flea markets, thrift stores and craft events all over the place when summertime hits. You may not think that you’re helping the planet when you head off to the local thrift store, but even this small step can have a big impact on our environment.

By purchasing, and selling, gently loved products, we are reducing our footprint. The items we sell in our front yard or buy at our neighbor’s yard sale will be put to good use for the “new” owner, instead of being added to the ever growing landfill heaps that litter our cities. Deciding to sell that old set of dishes or the clothes your kids have outgrown means that the buyer doesn’t have to go purchase those items new – which in turns means a few less products that have to be manufactured in those big factories.

One thing I do have to mention is that if you like to yard sale, then at least try to carpool with other family or friends and plan your trip to hit areas where several sales are being held. This will save you from using so much gas that it counteracts the eco-friendliness of it! So next time you’re hubby complains about all of your yard sale and flea market shopping, just tell him you’re trying to save the planet! Luckily, my hubby loves them as much as I do!

Besides planning and visiting countless yard and garage sales, there are other earth-friendly ways to buy and sell used items. Our surrounding towns have several different thrift stores that benefit many organizations such as The Salvation Army, local pet shelters and the city mission. Shopping at places like this does double duty in helping out both our world and those living in it with us.

Or, maybe you prefer to do the majority of your shopping online — you can still do it in a way that has a positive impact on the environment. Often times you can find very nice gently used household goods, farm and even commercial equipment on community sites like Craigslist.com. Our area also has a few different Classifieds sites that are dedicated to allowing people to list their items for sale at no cost. We’ve found garden plants, backyard chickens, furniture and lawn mowers at great prices using these methods. 

Another way we are making a difference is by taking the Scott Naturals 4-Week Test Drive this month! By making small changes in the products we use, we can make a big impact! When we’re out and about on our shopping trips, I’ll be keeping a tub of the new SCOTT Naturals Flushable Moist Wipes in the glove box. Without fail, we always seem to be eating on the run when we’re scouring the town for thrifty deals. Having the Ready Wipes handy will allow us to keep our hands {and faces!} clean and tidy before we get to the next stop!

We can feel good about using the wipes, and all of the other Scott Natural hybrid products, since they are made with a blend of virgin material and at least 20% recycled material in their products or packaging. The SCOTT Naturals™ flushable moist wipes use 100 percent virgin fibers from sustainable resources while the colorful tubs contain 30% recycled material. 

Join me by taking the SCOTT Naturals 4-Week Test Drive this month

The state with the most amount of pledges will receive $50,000 in conservation efforts to be used towards helping sustain forests and land conservation. Come back next week for tips on how to reuse and recycle some common household trash items!