Consumption Checklist

Seven super strategies for spending

The other Saturday morning, I was in a bit of hurry and had forgotten to sort out a present.  Thankfully, I could drop my son off to jump out of the car to nip in a local specialist shop to get what we needed. I didn’t think much of it. We’d driven just 1.5 miles. We could have walked but I ran out of time. I could have remembered and ordered ‘cheaper’ on line.

He took longer than we expected since there were new staff in the shop, being trained. We wondered together that the store was preparing towards a busy 6 weeks ahead of Christmas. I presumed that perhaps the business might take a huge portion of it’s revenue in this period.  How important our purchase might have been. But I admit I used the store for connivence rather than ethical values.

The best way I can ensure this ‘good’ business is there on mornings when I need them, is to use them even when I don’t.

It got me thinking. Using my buying power as a business can be a good marketing exercise.  I can say I work with other local suppliers, aligning myself with their quality and use their profile to increase mine. It’s a pretty cynical way of looking at ethical consumption but we can PR-wash too as a business.

I get pretty cross that business have to constantly remind us why ‘their product is good’ or as a consumer, the onus is on you to choose right. I don’t think Organic suppliers or Passivhaus builders should have to work quite so hard to prove they are doing good when others can slapdash a product that is cheaper and harmful to people and planet in the name of profit. Make that make sense please? Shouldn’t suppliers all have to be ethical for people and planet? Shouldn’t they have to demonstrate why it is ok to cause harm rather than certified proof they are doing good?

I found this quote the other day, over 200 years old but still holds up -

“When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.”

― Napoleon Bonaparte

I learnt recently that the #1 most impactful act one can make is to check how their money is invested by banks and their pension.

According to the campaign group ‘Make my money matter’, greening your pension is 21 times more effective at reducing your carbon footprint than going veggie or giving up flying. Forever! That is something we can all do yet we are curiously attached to our banks. Which seems crazy!  Knowing my banks were some of the worst for investments, I switched my accounts; one account, I’d had for over 30 years. Imagine the impact if everyone reading this did the same.  Have a look here and here.

Money might not have intrinsic ‘values’ or principals but it does have soul. I do believe business an be a real force for good and ahead of ‘Black Friday’ and all those tempting deals, consider the energy of yours.

So to help myself I came up with my own ‘consumption checklist’. (You know how much I love a list*). It’s a ready reckoner to review when buying something.

Some of the items are objective, or perhaps subjective. I’m sure you can decide for yourself whether you really need something, or where it comes from. Some of them might not need reviewing every single time. But where is the harm in reminding yourself of the good your bank is doing? The point is to think. Social media sites and apps make it way too easy to buy something, that an hour later, you might have forgotten all about. The next day, it’s on your doorstep.

I love the idea of community libraries of ‘things’ instead. I’ve seen them popping up across the country. Borrowing items when you need them rather than having cupboards full of stuff that you never use. I’d much rather reuse something or lend it out myself among neighbours and friends. I love second hand tools, handles that have soften with use and the edges of spades rounded over the years.  In the 90s, I remember we’d proudly display all our CD’s and DVD’s, collections of things. I hope times have encouraged us to head the opposite way and proudly display how little we need.

The checklist reminds me to consider whether I am able to buy from a company that really does care about doing good, or one that puts profit before people and planet.  There are some easy ways to determine this - employee owned business, cooperatives, B Corps, charities and social enterprises. It’s a pretty powerful feeling knowing that one can choose who gets the attention, who gets that sale.

I left off ‘going local’ from the checklist - it isn’t always better but it definitely is worth cultivating those relationships. Especially as a business. I can trace back most projects or collaborations, even sales to a local beginning. From standing on the market square through to meet ups, talks, opening evenings and events. I love creating alliances with other businesses. It can be lonely being self employed but also lifting and giving visibility to other businesses is a service to customers that might not know of these opportunities.

And finally, journeys. I am uncomfortable with excessive deliveries - both that I make and I request. Small parcels delivered in vans screeching over the country doesn’t seem good to me. I offer delivery rarely now, and when I do, I bundle journeys to make use of that vehicle time.

To run a small business is to be effective and efficient. I have learnt through a lot of trial and error. I know my time, my customers time, energy, material and money is precious. A moments consideration is priceless.

Stay strong this week ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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*I think the first one was more of a prayer or poem, desiderata, on the inside of a kitchen cupboard door. It’s a really good one and really stood the test of time. Then there was this one that I loved. It was on a Harley Davidson ad, I ripped it out of a magazine and had it on my walls for years. I recently shared these Rules and then made my own for growing.