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?
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Brooke McAlary is the founder of Slow Your Home.
Image: Vincepal
Celina Luna says
Good, valid point. i say no to freebies unless it was something i really needed. For example, i was in real need of a makeup bag. so when i got a lovely little one as free gift with purchase i accepted it. Otherwise i say no, it’s more clutter in my life that i have no need for.
merlin sam says
Totally agree. Declutter, simplify your living space. It really helps and gives CALM.
Stephanie says
I recently ordered two Happy Meals in McDonalds for my children and requested the meals without the toys. The sales assistant was astounded and commented that “no-one has ever asked that before” (to her anyway). I had had a conversation with my boys before we went in. The piece of plastic was irrelevant to them, so I explained that we didn’t need to bring it into our home. They were fine with that and enjoyed their meals regardless.
Amanda says
I had a similar experience at the makeup counter. My brand has a recycling program where you get a free lipstick when you return a certain number of products. I don’t wear lipstick so I told them to keep it and the ladies did NOT understand. I ended up giving my freebie to one of the other customers standing in line who wanted it.
Lola says
Think also of the massive environmental cost to produce these “free” items, most of which are then tossed in the trash or kept around cluttering each home. There is a massive amount of waste in our society.
Thanks for the post.
Roland says
Oh yes, those pens… and those many, even unbranded plastic bags at stores and farmers markets that open up so easily to swallow your merchandise and swell your recycling bins after just one use.
We can turn this freebie giveaway thing around though and ask ourselves how do we make those people feel we are passing them over to, along with the burdens they represent, along with the same subconscious stress they create.
I know I have felt remorse several times when so-called gifting someone I cared about with the things I had received and never or no longer needed (for example because my principles changed, in the meantime I became more conscious of a consumer). In a way we help others by doing so, but rarely is it the case that we save that person from plummeting way under the bare minimum standards of a decent human existence.
No, more often than not we are just satisfying a “want”, perhaps of less conscious standard than ours.
It is keeping bad products in circulation, similar (unfortunately) to recycling, where we – despite our good intention – usually keep bad materials in (re)production.
Indeed, the solution seems to be to send as strong message as possible to the issuer that we do not want those unsolicited products or services in the first place.
And then, perhaps help in the creation of the good.
GoddessMel says
Yes, the burdens of ‘gifting’. My husband still has to argue with people who, when his birthday approaches, ask him what he’d like for a present; he tells them nothing, they insist they want to show their friendship by giving him something. He reinforces there’s nothing he needs or wants, or he’d have bought it for himself. The person inevitably ends up bringing him a gift that he no longer wants or needs but they think will be fun, then think him ungrateful when he doesn’t thank them or refuses to take it!
We got around it for his 40th a few years ago by telling everyone who asked that he wanted a gift card from a particular store, but not to spend a lot. All those $20 and $50 gift cards added up to almost cover the cost of a tool he’d been coveting and that he uses for his business. But generally he’d rather have nothing at all and have that friend come over for a beer and a chat sometime; they’re company his worth more to him than anything else they could give.
I understand many of you will be thinking ‘well why doesn’t he just say thanks and fake it, then pass it on; it’s a present, he should be grateful’, but it’s the same as accepting those freebies at the store. If you don’t want it and don’t need it, and you’ve let the person know that, I think it’s incredibly bad manners to have someone foist an item upon you in the name of social ‘niceties’.
Farnaz says
Lovely post, you’ve inspired me at 11pm on a Saturday to start another decluttering session
Northmoon says
The reaction of some people to turning down a ‘free’ item shows the unfortunate way our society puts a monetary value on everything. So of course you would take it if it’s free, no thought to the other implications.
Even saying just take it and donate it is not helpful. How many cosmetic bags do people need? Eventually all the extra cosmetic bags will end up in landfill that we pay for. Donate a t-shirt? The reseller market in clothing from donations has destroyed local fabric and tailoring businesses in third world countries. Better to tell the marketers these campaigns don’t work – refuse to take the items.
Ally says
Yes, good point! It is totally wasteful to produce items that people don’t need. I live in Australia, and each Australia Day one of the newspaper companies gives away a free hat with each newspaper purchased. They must makes thousands of these pathetic, impractical hats (that provide minimal sun protection) each year. This is just one example in one city of the world. When thinking globally about these ‘giveaways’, one can’t help but feel that it is a massive drain on precious resources.
Matthijs says
I find it fascinating to see the look on on a persons face when I say: “but I do not need it”. You can see them thinking about those 6 words, like it is something totally unlogical what I am saying. I find it amusing and at the same time a bit sad to see how much our brain has been wired for consumption.
GoddessMel says
I think that’s the rub isn’t it – people expect that if it’s not costing you cash you should just take it. My husband has a terrible ‘wombling’ habit and will often haggle for something extra when making a purchase, any purchase!! Hence the accumulation of building materials for projects he doesn’t have room to work on; more stubbie holders and caps than he can use in a lifetime; electronic equipment being stored ‘for parts’; not even contemplating the motorcycle rebuild that has been a decade in the making or the 2 partially demolished cars in the yard *sigh*.
I know a lot of it comes from having very little as a child – part of him doesn’t want to miss out and part of him is excellent at making do. I get it; I grew up the same way and when I finally had an income I spent more than I saved and now I’m regretting the waste. But we’re now at the point where the stuff is taking up the space he needs to do; I try to put my foot down but it’s hard for him to see he’s stuck in a cycle.
Weniki says
I am just starting on my de-cluttering journey. Part of my problem is that I have kept so many items as memories – I have such a hard time remembering things, that having them around helps. The other thing that is getting to me now is Pinterest. :) Seeing the possibilities for using all kinds of odds and ends makes it harder to throw out (recycle or donate) old wrapping paper, soda bottles, used toilet paper rolls, etc. But I am trying to stay strong, and keep going. I have already gotten rid of a lot of items, and am feeling so much better already! The more I get rid of, the freer I feel! And the more I can appreciate the items that mean the most to me. I’m so glad I found this site – It is giving me some much-needed inspiration and encouragement!
Jo says
Went with my daughter to an upscale dept. store where she bought some very expensive cosmetics. She got a “free” tote bag and some “free” make-up with her purchase. They then offered me some of the “free” make-up also. I don’t wear make-up and live a much simpler life style so I refused. Neither one of them could understand why I didn’t want it. By the way, my daughter gave me the free tote bag because she thought it was ugly. It has been sitting here for 2 months collecting dust. Time to send it by-by. lol