The following is a guest post by Brooke McAlary of Slow Your Home.
“Bottom line is, if you do not use it or need it, it’s clutter, and it needs to go.” —Charisse Ward
When was the last time you were given something for free?
It may have been a gift with purchase, a deal sweetener, or an added bonus at no extra charge. You may not even be aware of it, but I can almost guarantee you’ve received at least one free item in the past 12 months. I know I have.
And aside from adding to our collection of Things We Didn’t Want or Need, what is the purpose of these freebies? They are designed to get us to buy.
More specifically, these giveaways are designed to rope us in to buying something we may or may not need, just so we can score a free doodad that we definitely do not need. They are designed to make us feel as though we’ve come out winning.
How often do you gratefully accept these freebies, only to toss them out months later because, strangely enough, it wasn’t what you were buying in the first place and, shockingly, you have no use for it?
Me too.
Recently I decluttered my bathroom cabinet. In there sat my well-used travel toiletries bag. Next to it were two brand new toiletry bags I’d been given as promotional offers. For free. Of course.
Needless to say, they were added to a box bound for the charity shop, but they left behind a sinking feeling. Donating these items and ridding myself of their burden will not help anything if I keep accepting the freebies.
Maybe you’ve seen these free offers before. Maybe you even have a few of them floating around your home. Maybe even more than a few:
- Beer glasses
- Key rings
- Pens
- Drink bottles
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Tote bags
You’ve probably been handed these free items at the checkout, or when redeeming a coupon. You may even use these items regularly.
So, what’s the harm?
The truth is, these items are not free.
There are, of course, the resources used in their production, money spent on the marketing campaigns and wages to pay those who sell the actual products you’re buying.
But there is also a major cost to you.
Sure, you paid no (extra) money for it and you may even make use of it. But did you need it in the first place? Was it necessary? Or is it simply contributing to the clutter that stresses you out?
At some point you will have to pick it up and decide where to store it or how to rid yourself of it. And to be honest, I think your time is more important than that. Your well-being is more important than that.
The status quo will not change and marketing campaigns will continue to include these freebies, unless we start sending the message that, “No, we don’t want this.”
So next time you’re offered something for free, try saying no. See how it feels.
That’s what I did recently when I was buying some make up, and the result was… interesting.
Shop Assistant: “And you get a really nice tote bag for free.”
Me: “Oh, no thanks. I don’t need another bag.”
Shop Assistant: “But…it’s free.”
Me: “Oh, I know. But I don’t need it. Thanks though.”
Shop Assistant: “But… it doesn’t cost you anything. I can give it to you right now. You could give it to someone for a gift. It’s actually really nice. And it’s free.”
Me: “Uh, no, thanks.”
Me: “Can I have my make-up now?”
Now, as I’m two years into my simple living journey, I have cleared out, decluttered, de-owned, sorted, donated, and thrown away thousands of items. And looking back, I find myself wishing I’d said no a heck of a lot more.
What are your thoughts on accepting freebies?
***
Brooke McAlary is the founder of Slow Your Home.
Image: Vincepal
Mel says
I usually turn to the person next to me at the counter and ask them if they’d like the free item as I don’t need it. They’re usually really happy … And so am I. Win-win.
Mary Ann says
I believe that accepting freebies is fine, as long as it is purposeful, such as in the instance of the reader who accepts tote bags and t-shirts to donate to a specific group. The freebies are then going out into the world to do good, instead of sitting in a closet or warehouse. We can see the free items as opportunities instead of possessions. Fill the tote with groceries and drop it off, anonymously to someone in your neighborhood who is in need. Offer the perfume samples to a single mom on a limited budget, who never buys anything for herself. These opportunities can be a lot of fun.
I believe it is hard not to accept something that is given with the hand. Our social conventions equate refusal with rudeness or disingenuousness. So when the sales woman offers a tote, we feel bad saying no. I found that saying something such as “I am already so blessed, would you please offer the tote to the next person you see who could really use it?”
This past fourth of July, our family attended a town celebration complete with free games and small novelty prizes for participating. My children played many games but c only chose one prize each to play with while the adults socialized. No lectures or prompting from me. Conversely, one boy, also present, was bragging that he had collected 27 prizes and was going to get to 50 by the end of the day. This proves, I think, the great influence we have over our children in regard to stuff.
Karen @Journey towards simplicity says
I tend only to accept what I can use or re-purpose. Professionally, I work with many who are homeless and in poverty and those free tote bags, pens, tee shirts and water bottles are much needed – so I take them into work. I can see your point however as I do have some of the “junk” freebies that I need to rid my home of and like you say be more selective of what “free” items to accept. I tend to rarely if ever turn down free food but I suppose I could be more picky about that too. I wonder about your thoughts on “freecycle” programs and other modes where people just give stuff away to whomever takes it (i.e., Free to a good home…) Thanks for the insights.
Ally says
There is a vibrant Freecycle group in my town. I recently gave away a centrifugal juicer that we hadn’t used for a year (and was in full working order), and a wooden toddler-sized table and chair that my kids had outgrown. I am happy that these items went to people who would use them, rather than to landfill. A cynic (realist?) may say that the juicer is just clogging up someone else’s kitchen cupboards and will end up in landfill eventually!
Teresa Forrester says
More stuff costs us time, energy and money. Time: We get it; put it in the car; and then carry it in the house. Then, we put it somewhere. Energy: All of this carrying it around stuff, deciding where to put it, moving it out of the way and at some point (hopefully) getting rid of it. Money: We pay rent/mortgage to house this mess, then we air condition it (all of these things must stay cold or they’ll die). If you can’t tell, I’ve come over to the “use it or loose it” attitude. I’m tired of the clutter controlling my time, energy, and money.
Lisa says
I have the same every time I shop for clothes or shoes (I have kids – they grow) and say no thanks to the bag they want to stuff it into. I always carry a backpack so I just put everything in there – without extra bags. Now, the thing is even more interesting because I live in Luxembourg where all shop staff are French, speak only French and think they must have miss understood me since my own French is pretty much non existing :-)
Slackerjo says
Wow, I thought Europe was hard ass on the bag thing. You would think “J’ai un sac” would be pretty clear?
Maria says
I live in Barcelona, and it´s always tricky when it comes to bags. Some shops like Primark even “force” you to use theirs, at least ´til you leave the store (crazy, huh?).
I´ve never really liked freebies, but most of the time whoever I´m with wants to keep them. I guess some people love free stuff even if it usually ends up being junk around the house!
Since our social system is so protective, I´m not sure it works the same way here in Europe , but what a great idea to take things down to a shelter!
Tom says
I think you raise an important point. When you hear people talk about living a more sustainable live style it is often the same people that have a house full of stuff they don’t need or use.
The argument I usually hear is always the same: “You don’t know when you will need it.”
What’s more concerning though is that these free items are generally made of very low quality. As a result they will break and be discarded a lot sooner than the better made version that people pay money for because… well, because they actually need it.
Ree Klein @ EscapingDodge.com says
Ah, I’m visualizing my own drawers of unused samples, tiny lipsticks, and empty bags. I don’t know why the heck I keep them?!?!? I suppose it seems like they don’t take up that much room and maybe, just maybe, I’ll turn into someone who likes to experiment with products.
Truth is…I’ve never been interested in experimenting with products. I like my tried and true items and stick with them. Hmmm, time to go clean some drawers!
Vanessa says
If your toiletry/makeup samples are unused, I’m sure your local women’s shelter/refuge would be very happy to accept them. A lot of women escape abusive relationships with absolutely nothing, and while it seems silly, a lipstick could really cheer someone up, especially since it won’t be a priority to spend money on while she’s setting up a new household.
Kelly Stottlemyer says
Vanessa,
Great idea. I think, too often, we get rid of things in a very unsustainable way. Everything in the trash as we’re just desperate to clean. Think I’ll take a few things down to a shelter soon.
GoddessMel says
That’s an awesome suggestion Ree. I recently donated a bag of work clothes to an organisation that specialises in getting women of limited resources back into the workforce, but I never though of organisations like shelters. I know exactly where my ‘gifts with purchase’ are heading :)
Michelle says
My husband’s work has a drive for the local shelter a couple of times every year where you can turn in things like the travel shampoos, etc., so I have a bag on a hook in the hall closet and all the samples of things like that go in it and then go to the shelter. If there is something like that around you, it’s a great way to pass things along.
Pet supplies are great for the local humane society.
Stacie says
I have done this before, said no to a sales girl trying to stuff freebies in my bag, and got a similar reaction. Although it caused an awkward moment, I felt so light walking out of the store with only what I went in for. I also shop from a list pretty much everywhere I go. That prevents me from just browsing the store and finding tempting items that I don’t really need. I save money and time that way.
Christy King says
I accept the free things I know I’ll use (like trial size toiletries, for carrying on the plane when I fly).
Back when I used to accept all the free stuff, it quickly became clear that not only do you end up with stuff you don’t need, but the free stuff is often junk. All of the free drink bottles we ever got leak, for instance.
Vincent says
I’ve always been too logical I think. When asked if I want something for free, whoever is with me jumps and wants to answer for me. Then they hear me say, “No thanks, I don’t need it.” This gets everyone crazy and they ask why anyone would turn down anything FREE.
You’re right. It may free with no extra charge to you, but that’s one more thing to keep track of, one more thing to have to own. Why take something I’ll make no use of?
Right now I’m on vacation in California and I miss my home back in Arizona where my room had only things I wanted to be there. I’m borrowing a room that is cluttered with so many things and looking around I see a stack of papers that we got for free (which I’ll never read,) a free pen, a free cd, free computer monitor, and a few other things. I’m grateful for the room, but I’m aware of how different it is. The “free” items are not stored anywhere but instead they’re lying around in places where I need to actually put things (like my laptop to write.) Ah, the cost of free.
greenminimalism says
Ah yes, this typifies the problems of “free” gifts – the freer something is, the less you want it! Whereas when you save up to buy an expensive item, it leads to you valuing the purchase even more. I think I’ll write about this effect some time, it interests me!
–Eric
Sabrina says
I agree that the “free” stuff really isn’t free. If you wouldn’t have liked it enough to purchase it, chances are, you will not really use it, and it will be just one more item to have around the house.
When my in-law’s passed away five years ago, I had to go through a 48-year accumulation. She was an only child, and he was a college professor. You cannot imagine the “stuff” in that house! We donated more than 7,000 books to the local library. Towards the end, my husband still brought a large amount of it back to our house and stored it in our garage and basement to go through “later.” We are just now, FINALLY getting through it, and again it is falling to me to do it. He thinks I should “sell” everything, but it is so much easier to just donate it.
This has truly cured me of the need to hang on to things. I have found that my older children are really not very sentimental, so I need to STOP hanging on to things myself. As much as possible, I’m scanning or photographing things to remember, but that is all!