r/Anticonsumption • u/penny-fed-car • Jun 25 '24

Tell me your most boring methods of avoiding consumption Discussion

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As the title says I want you comment your most boring, mundane, unimpressive, absolutely not worth posting, methods of avoiding buying shit.

The key to our survival as a species has always been our ability to communicate and share knowledge. In the age of the pending apocalypse, every corner of the internet is packed with content telling us to consume.
The problem is that talking about how to make things we use everyday seems so rare, especially online. I think it's because the topic is seen as boring, compared to other posts that elicit an emotional response, so no one bothers. But in some ways not consuming is the only way we have of protesting the system, and we need to collectively share our methods of doing so - no matter how boring.

I'll start. I was going to buy salt water hairspray, but then my inner cheapskate didn't want to pay for it. The result was this me using this recipe; 1 cup water, 1 tbsp sea salt, 1 tsp aloe vera. I then put it in a super old spray bottle I never use and was considering getting rid of. That's it. I spent $0.

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240

u/Kev-bot Jun 25 '24

I save the elastic bands from broccoli, green onions, celery, etc. Haven't had to buy elastic bands for ages.

22

u/ElfjeTinkerBell Jun 25 '24

What do you use them for?

77

u/Kev-bot Jun 25 '24

Tying chip bags closed, tying up the flour bag, bag of open beans, open frozen veggies, sugar. Lot's of bags lol. Keep a burrito closed. Some of my tupperwear have loose fitting lids, put an elastic around it. Napkin and cultery for picnics or camping. Keeping the wrapping paper closed. Storing charging cables. Storing pens. I have all different sizes so i can usually find one that fits the job.

15

u/Fluffy-Village-1318 Jun 25 '24

I am also in suspense.

28

u/penny-fed-car Jun 25 '24

1.Entertaining cats, children, and maybe yourself?

2 put them around a jar and jar lid to assist in opening it.

  1. I have reusable plastic wrap that kind of sorta works but needs an elastic band to go around whatever is being sealed

14

u/ElfjeTinkerBell Jun 25 '24

Entertaining cats

Please don't do that. It's too easy for them to eat it and that can cause huge health issues.

children

Maybe, if they're old enough for it not to be a choking hazard. I don't have kids though.

9

u/penny-fed-car Jun 25 '24

I don't have kids or cats to be honest. I do have a husband I like to have elastic shooting wars with 😆

2

u/wutato Jun 27 '24

Yes, my cats love rubber bands, which I know because someone else occasionally leaves them lying around. I am very careful with rubber bands. My cat also likes to eat used earplugs, so that is stressful and gross. My boyfriend used a stick to check the poop in the litter box for a couple of days to make sure it passed through safely.

5

u/Cooperativism62 Jun 25 '24

Who cares! He's got elastic bands! When the sling-shot wars come Kev-bot is prepared.

2

u/cleanlycustard Jun 26 '24

The zip ties from lettuce, cilantro, spinach etc are nice for tying tomatoes in my garden, but also cable management

5

u/Scene_Dear Jun 25 '24

Not OP, but my dad did this and then used the rubber bands to kill flies in the house. He could shoot them out of the air.

2

u/CollectingRainbows Jun 26 '24

ive been buying asparagus every week for a couple months now and it always comes with two blue rubber bands. it just switched to purple rubber bands. my collection is expanding lol

3

u/bellboots Jun 25 '24

Wow does everyone not do this??

1

u/alexthebiologist Jun 25 '24

I wouldn’t have a clue what to use them for

1

u/bellboots Jun 25 '24

You never need an elastic band around the house? I use them to seal food packages, for one.

3

u/killerqueen1984 Jun 25 '24

Yes, those and wire bread ties.

2

u/aeb3 Jun 25 '24

Same, I use them to tie off the ends of garlic bunches when I hang them to dry in the fall.

2

u/penny-fed-car Jun 25 '24

Delightfully boring. You understand.

1

u/kmbrd Jun 25 '24

I do this as well, come in handy, shame that they do disintegrate after some some time

1

u/trickquail_ Jun 26 '24

I keep them for opening jars

1

u/russsssssss Jun 26 '24

Yes! Same here

1

u/Lldopej Jun 27 '24

I thought I was the only free rubber band hoarder