I buy secondhand as much as possible. Kitchen gadgets, clothes, anything that isn't intimate or consumable, I try to get secondhand

I buy from a local thrift store and keep a running list. I don't find all of my list at the thrift store at any one time, but it's good to always keep an eye out. I try to go once a month to check out any inventory turnover. I put things that need to be replaced on the list as soon as I notice it so that I have a good cushion of time before I need to replace it, and I try to get the sturdiest things possible. Right now, I'd like a few more soup ladles, but I haven't found one that feels nice in my hand.

I make my own where I can. I've learned sewing and basic leatherwork. I make storage out of recycled cardstock layered with glue, then painted or covered. It's custom to me, and it's actually pretty solid!

I substitute when I can't find the right thing. I have no brand loyalty. There are brands I avoid whenever possible ( r/FuckNestle ) but I don't have any particular brand preferences as long as the ingredients or materials are sound.

I plan ahead so I don't run out. I practice first in, first out with my consumables. I have an extra toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc. When I'm almost out, I buy a new one and put it behind the backup. The first-purchased one gets used up first so nothing expires, but I still have a cushion of time to find the exact thing I am looking for. The only emergency purchases I have to do are when I fail to follow this method.

It's a little bit more effort, but I built this up slowly over time. Now, it's just normal to me.

Harvester has about 70,000 stores across the U.S., and growing (unfortunately not available yet outside of the States).

I called it "Harvester", as that's the machine that is known in forestry to be felling and delimbing trees in the Amazon rainforest.

Let me know what you think and how it can be improved to be more convenient than shopping on Amazon!

[UPDATE 11/7/24] Unfortunately, I had to shut down Harvester because I couldn't monetize it enough to keep it running. I might crowdfund something later in the future with the data I have, but for now it won't be online.

I'm sure a lot of people subscribing to this subreddit are familiar, but Bookshop.org sources your purchases from your local bookstores, it's a great service that helps support local businesses that are otherwise struggling with online competition and e-books. For today and tomorrow they're offering free shipping to compete with Amazon Prime Day. There's a book you can contemplating, it's a good time to snatch one up