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
sharonus says
My husband went to Home Depot yesterday. He asked a salesperson where he could find a hook. He was directed to an area where he found the hook he needed, but it was in a pack of two. He said, “Do you have a single hook?” and the Salesperson said, “No, but you get two for a dollar.” My husband said, “Yes, but I only want to buy one since I only need one.” The Salesperson retorted, “It’s only a dollar. If you don’t like it, go shop somewhere else.” !!!
Jim says
I’m guilty, I go to shows, and they are always giving things away. My wife dislikes it very much. Everytime I go to one, she tells me to not bring anything home. I started thinking I would let the grandkids play with the trinkets, but even they don’t play with them for very long.
Joy Perkins says
Great post – but PLEASE be polite and kind to the person giving you the freebie.
I’ve worked registration at a conference where some of the people declining the conference tote were obnoxious.
“Higher evolved” in green-sense AND kindness or you are spreading a different type of toxicity.
Rhonda says
So true! I have a bathroom closet full of makeup bags and sample make up and skin care it us ridiculous! I am going to say no from now on and not buy products I really don’t need because I get a free gift if I do.
Alicia Todaro says
You can clean out all of that by donating it to a local domestic violence organization. Many of them have shelters for women and their families. They often escape their abusers with nothing but what they are wearing. They can always use personal care products.
Jenny says
As long as they are unopened and not expired. I worked at a DV shelter and you can’t believe the loads of half used goopy bottles of shampoo, etc. we would get. No one likes sorting through other people’s garbage. We also received plenty of brand new clearance soaps from Target. As long as what you donate is in good condition, it is appreciated. If it’s garbage, it doesn’t do anything to help their self esteem. Also, many of those cheap freebies (water bottles, make up bags, totes) get passed up by the ladies… they don’t want low quality items either. So really taking the freebies to donate on just encourages the companies to keep producing the junk and creates a wasteful impact on our environment.
One cool thing is that everything the ladies didn’t take (mostly clothes) was sent to a thrift store where we received store credit for the clients when they needed something specific. If you want to donate something that’s always in demand, donate bras and new underwater. We never had enough.
LJ says
I love this post. I volunteered at a conference the other week, and I was that person who sits on the other side of the table of a non-profit cause. We just had a limited supply of 2 kinds of freebies (pens and notepads), many interesting booklets available to browse (and buy online), and a contest for a free daytimer. People were shameless, and I was embarrassed for my profession. People would walk directly down the tables with eyes scanning for freebies. They would ask what freebies we were offering, already with a mindboggling fistful of non-sensical freebies. A free pen is a happy score on the day I forget one, but how many pens does one really need? And guess what I noticed – a completely non-technical observance – the bigger the person, the more freebies in hand (or in freebie bag), and the harder to engage even briefly in our cause. Well, I carry about 35 extra pounds, and I started to wonder, am I in that category? I’ve been in the merge lane to minimalism the past few months, but do I grab/hoard/collect food in the same way I was watching people grab and prize stuff? I realized – with great discomfort – that I do.
CJ says
LJ, you hit the nail on the head with me! I also carry extra weight, and up until a year ago when the minimalist bug bit me, was the “Queen” of free/yard sale/ thrift store/bargains…it embarrasses me to think back on it…and yes, food….
I have been decluttering/de-owning, and making a lot of headway, just this week-end I started thinking about the connection with my weight, and trying to figure out how to apply the minimalist mind set to my diet. I would love to hear any feedback on that aspect if anyone has any. Thanks
Rebecca Mezzino says
Perhaps you could think of food the same way as possessions?
I use the “Need it, use it, love it” rule.
Does your body NEED the food? Is your body waiting to be refueled?
Does your body USE the food? Is it nutritious or just “filling”?
Do you LOVE the food? Or are you eating out of love or fear/anger/hurt/frustration/boredom?
Beth says
I have started to turn down the “free” offers. Its a challenge though since my whole upbringing was more like “if its free then its for me.” I turn down reusable shopping bags regularly it seems. They are the freebie du jour, I guess. But really, who doesn’t have one who really wants one?
Sam says
I can usually use most free things I acquire and if not then I sell it for really cheap to someone else and use the buck I made. Who could ever turn down a free t shirt? After doing summer activities like picking blackberries in the mud all day my t shirt looks like someone ran it through a shredder, I’ll take all the free ones I can get
marcelj says
You don’t really need all that makeup. Its the tv that is telling you how to walk talk dress etc. One of the first things I got rid of as I became a minimalist was the tv. When I get rid of something I make sure it can never be used again. I want to rid the environment of all the poisons that are in all the products. Becoming a minimalist was the most awesome thing I have ever done…wow!! I now live this amazing pure life!!
Morghan says
My free item was $5 in farmer’s market tokens.
Definitely useful.
Don’t really see that as I shop the farmer’s market and co-op, never go to department stores or the mall, so I pretty much only ever see the word “free” associated with shipping on things that aren’t available locally.
Brisbane bookkeeping says
Yeah, I see the point of it all… thanks for sharing :)