We’re told that shopping is recreation; the things we own have become our way of expressing ourselves. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can save money and enjoy life more by putting the credit card away, appreciating the things you already have, and participating in experiences: play a board game with the kids, sing with friends, hike through nearby woods, picnic in the park, play fetch with the dog, or snuggle up with a library book.

All the stuff we buy, use, and discard requires massive amounts of energy and natural resources, contributing to global warming through energy use on the front end while creating pollution, choking sea life, and contributing to methane-producing landfills on the back end. The impact is compounded by packaging materials and the challenge of getting the stuff to us. The less we consume, the smaller our carbon footprint. To learn more about how our consumption habits affect the environment, workers, and other species, check out The Story of Stuff .

It’s not all up to us as consumers, either. Smart regulations, including producer responsibility programs, give manufacturers strong incentives to find more sustainable ways to produce goods and package them.

• Consider whether you need the new thing you’re about to purchase. What could you do if you don’t buy it?
• Research before you buy. Find the most efficient, least resource-intensive version of whatever you need, whether it’s a refrigerator or a new pair of running shoes.
• Buy quality. Things that last won’t end up in the landfill or need to be recycled as soon.
• Use, maintain, and repair your cellphone, tablet, computer, television, and other electronic devices for many years. These devices require rare elements, often mined in hazardous and exploitative conditions, and most result in toxic pollution when you’re done with them, sometimes even when you recycle them responsibly. Chances are good an older model will serve you well for several years.
• Join your local Buy Nothing, Freecycle, or other neighborhood sharing group. Give the things you no longer need or want to people who can make good use of them, and delight in the things others no longer want. If a group doesn’t exist in your area, start one!
• Try to repair things before tossing them.
• Buy fixtures and other home improvement materials from second-use stores. Often, items salvaged from older homes are of higher quality than newer building materials.
• Consider giving experiences, such as theater tickets or cooking lessons, rather than things to commemorate birthdays or holidays.