Things I don't buy and buy less of
In my autoethnography, I often say that there are many categories of products and services that I exclude from my consumption. This allows me to live my life more authentically and to direct my limited financial resources towards those things that matter to me. In sustainable living circles, it's become normal to say that a sustainable lifestyle is not necessarily more expensive. This is because to live more sustainably, one doesn't need to buy all kinds of new products marketed, for example, as zero-waste, green or natural. Moreover, on their sustainability path, one can become more attentive to, and use, libraries, swap shops and other alternative organisations, which are either free to use or using them is much less expensive than buying new things and services. And yet, I believe that a more sustainable lifestyle is more expensive in many ways. This is also how I experience it, at least here in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I live. Organic food is more expensive than conventional food. Shopping in farmers' markets is more expensive than shopping in a supermarket. "Natural" personal care items are more expensive than conventional ones. Buying clothes that satisfy many of my criteria (made from organic cotton, made in Europe, etc.) are more expensive than buying fast-fashion. Using public transport is expensive, and travelling by land and sea is more expensive than flying. I consume these products and services because I exclude many other products and services from my life, and limit the amount of products and services in some categories. If I simply practised a normal (here in Denmark) pattern of consumption, and replaced each part of it with a more sustainable option, it would undoubtedly become an expensive mode of living. In fact, it would be unaffordable. Naturally, I cannot list all the categories of products and services that I don't buy, so I will focus on more conventional ones, something that fellow humans would probably expect me to have or pay for. Importantly, me choosing to avoid these products and services is not an indication that fellow humans should do the same.
Products and services I don't buy
- Home décor and seasonal home décor. I've never bought home décor. I much prefer simple, empty spaces. They nourish my creativity and create a sense of tranquillity. To decorate my home, I use stones, shells, twigs, and flowers from nature.
- Makeup. I've not used makeup since my early 20s.
- Nail polish. I've not used it since my early 20s. Neither do I get my nails done by professionals.
- Skincare apart from soap. My skin feels its best when I use only soap and occasionally vaseline/balm. I live with an autoimmune skin condition, and the less I put on my skin the better, in my experience. My partner and I do use sunscreen. We started buying one at the pharmacy to distance ourselves even further from "skincare" and "beauty" stores, even from those ones selling natural products. It helps me to see my skin as an organ, and unless my doctor prescribes something to me, I will not use anything extra. No creams, face washes, toners, serums, lotions, butters, and other products. The same goes for my scalp and hair care. I only use shampoo.
- Hair styling products. Throughout my life, I've heard this phrase very often: "You need a product". I have naturally wavy and frizzy hair, the texture of which I love. In soft water areas and by the sea, my hair transforms into curls. Every time I had some product in my hair, my hair looked conventionally good but I felt uncomfortable. I wanted to wash it out immediately. I could also see and feel that the natural texture of my hair was altered. It was smoother, more defined. I didn't like it. Other animals' fur would not be more beautiful if it was covered in gels, mousses, creams, and other products. I believe that the same thing applies to me.
- Perfumes and scents. I've not used perfumes since my early 20s. In my case, they cause headaches. Every now and then, perhaps once in a few years, I want to invite a lavender essential oil into my life. But this happens very rarely. I don't use scented products for my home.
- Specialised cleaning products. We use soap, baking soda, vinegar, citric acid and leftover limes and lemons to clean our home. For our laundry, we use only unscented laundry sheets.
- Pregnancy-related products. I decided not to buy anything specifically designed for pregnancy. Before stepping on this path, I never knew how large the market targeting pregnant persons was. To me, this market felt alienating and even predatory. I'm over 25 weeks pregnant, and I'm happy with everything that I live with. I feel no desire to buy anything extra or anything special. The only pregnancy-related item I bought was medication in the first trimester. I lived with hyperemesis gravidarum until around week 16.
- Baby-related products until he is born. I believe there is a plurality of ways to navigate this magical chapter of a person's life, expecting a baby. Yet, so far, my experience has been such that preparation (which often entails buying many items) is the norm. Buying items before my baby is born feels uncomfortable to me personally, so I decided to shed society's expectations and buy nothing. I don't want to own items that I might not find useful or right for my baby and me. And I certainly don't want to spend my time on contemplating various ways to say goodbye to these items when the baby is born.
- Fashion and special occasion clothes, shoes and accessories. Every day, I wear the same outfit. I wear it for all occasions, even for special occasions.
- Jewellery. The only piece of jewellery that I have is my engagement ring. My partner and I don't have wedding rings. I've tried wearing jewellery in the past. My ears were pierced without my consent when I was around three years old. Over the years, I realised that jewellery was not something I personally liked to wear. Even my engagement ring (a very simple, undecorated band made from recycled gold) I wear only very occasionally: not for special occasions, just whenever I want to.
- Seasonal clothes. My fellow humans are often surprised when I say that I don't have different wardrobes for different seasons. Here in Denmark, it is cold in winter and warm in summer, yet I wear the same clothes all year round. In winter, I wear shorts and sandals at home, and layer my clothes when I go out. In summer, sweatpants and a large woollen scarf are still useful, as evenings can be cold.
- Swimwear. Here in Denmark, it is legal to swim without swimwear. When I'm with the sea, I want to connect with it without any barriers.
- Sports clothes. I love jogging (not during pregnancy though) and yoga. Many years ago, I used to invite sportswear into my life. Then I observed that I didn't actually need any specialised clothes for the types of activities I was performing. I could jog in simple sweatpants and barefoot shoes.
- Rain clothes. I've lived in some countries where it rains a lot, such as England and Denmark. I've realised that I love rain, and for me the best approach is to protect my electronics (laptop and phone) and a change of clothes (if I'm going to teach, for example), but not hide from rain myself. In summer, I would often even take off my shoes when it rains. Rainwater feels very nice on my skin and hair, too, and I enjoy immersing myself in the rain.
- Car. I have never owned a car and never will. It's a product that I'm not interested in at all. Fellow humans in my social circle often assume that I don't drive because I'm a sustainability researcher. But I decided not to drive prior to becoming a sustainability researcher. I walk everywhere, or use public transport. Some fellow humans associate a car with freedom. For me, living without one feels freeing. Having said that, I understand that others might live in less walkable cities.
- Flights. I stopped flying in 2013. Then, around 2019, I flew once again, from England to Finland (and back). I haven't taken flights since then. While I initially stopped flying because of flights' impact on nature, now I don't feel any desire to fly. I much prefer travelling by trains and ferries.
- Apps and subscriptions. I try to use technology as minimally as possible. I don't pay for apps and subscriptions.
- Classes and courses. I strongly believe that education should be free, and all classes and courses subsidised by governments.
- Gym. I much prefer exercising outdoors or at home. I went to a gym once, when I was still a student, in my late teens. I came to the realisation that I did it because others did it. And I cancelled by membership.
- Books. I borrow them from fellow humans and from libraries.
- Restaurants and take-away food. Since the beginning of 2025, my partner and I have avoided restaurants. We still visit local cafes occasionally though. But we much prefer to cook at home, to invite fellow humans over, and to accept their invitations. In the picture above is gammeldags æblekage, a Danish old-fashion dessert that my partner made and I arranged in my own way.
- Zero-waste products, or rather, products marketed as zero-waste. In the beginning of my journey I bought many more products that were marketed as sustainable and zero-waste. Many of them were unnecessary for me, such as produce bags for various types of produce, metal straws, conditioner bars (I don't use conditioner), even reusable water bottles (I'm happy with a food jar). I don't buy food containers (I use plates, food jars etc.), kitchen cloths (I use old kitchen towels) and so on.
- House plants. I used to buy more of them, but these days I prefer to receive a cutting from a fellow human. Recently, we got an olive tree as a gift from our family members (who regifted it to us, which is wonderful).
- Bras. Early in my life, I decided not to wear bras. So I don't and never plan to.
- Supplements. I only buy a supplement when it is recommended by my doctor or my midwife.
- Things I can easily borrow. Examples include a hat, a multi-tool, and a razor that I borrow occasionally from my partner.
- Things I already have. For example, these days it's very sunny here in Copenhagen, and I wear sunscreen every day. To remove it, I use grapeseed oil and soap. I don't need to buy grapeseed oil because I use the only I have in the kitchen. It was sold as food and was very inexpensive.
Products and services I buy less of
- Technology. I try to use only the most necessary devices, such as a phone, laptop, vacuum cleaner and washing machine (though I lived happily without both of these in Finland). And I buy these devices very rarely. I don't use a dish washer, food processor and don't ever plan to invite into my life baby-related technology such as a baby monitor and a white noise machine.
- Hairdressing services. I cut my hair once a year or once in 2 years. I try to find an expert that uses natural and unscented products.
- Clothes. I live with a small number of clothing items, between 10 and 20, and I wear the same outfit every day. I don't follow fashion trends, and only repurchase the items that I genuinely feel I need.
- Shoes. It works for me to live with 2 pairs of shoes (sandals and comfortable walking shoes). When I was in my teens, I thought I needed to have more shoes for various occasions. I don't think so anymore.
- Medicine. When I used to use more conventional skincare, I would often see my doctor who would prescribe medication to un-do the irritation I would get from conventional creams. These days, I use only soap, occasionally vaseline (or another balm) on my skin as well as sunscreen. I don't need medication because my skin feels better. I also live with low blood pressure. I was advised to simply eat more salt and drink more water instead of taking medication. I always make sure to ask doctors about simpler ways of addressing a concern before consuming medication.