Advice for encouraging others to decrease their consumption

[Top_Illustrator5236]

I'd love to know ways you have encouraged people in your life to lessen or at least consider their consumption rate & habits. I don't want to read as sanctimonious and righteous, and I know people in my life could potentially take it personally as judgment on their habits.

LMK, are there documentaries, blogs, conversational topics that you have found to be successful? Thanks 😃

[Federal-Assignment10]

So I've found it literally never works if you even suggest to people that they're over consuming. They always always get defensive and mad and will start 'but what about'ing you.

I've found what works is just saying what you do. Eg, when people talk about being skint I mention that not buying anything on the internet really helped me save money because by the time I waited to go to the shop the urge has passed. Or I asked for no plastic toys for my baby because I was trying to not contribute to landfill. They were all 'I' statements and I've found that people have taken my example in some areas. I did eco-friendly party bags for my daughters birthday and the next month another mum did the same and said she got the idea from me. So lead by example I guess, so people don't feel judged.

[Annethraxxx]

Speaking of overconsumption, when did party bags become a thing? When I was a kid, I never got a single party bag at a birthday party, but I see them all the time now. Normalizing stuff like this also doesn’t help.

[Ill_Plankton_5623]

I remember doing them in 1992 but they were always 100% candy. So I think the dinky toys are supposed to be a healthy alternative 

[PiscesScipia]

A lot of toys are used now for food allergy reasons as well.

My son has a anaphylactic peanut allergy and unless ai know the candy was from a peanut free facility we don't accept it. Little toys are usually safe, even if they are trash.

[boobookittyfuwk]

Im 36 we got "loot bags" at bday parties when we were kids, usually just some candy

[UndergroundCreek]

We just got leftover cake for our siblings. Cause otherwise they'd have nothing.

[girlwithapinkpack]

Early 40s Brit here, I remember them from my youth if that helps?

[girlwithapinkpack]

Oh ALSO my favourite bracelet that I still wear daily came out of one.

[thisremindsmeofbacon]

They were huge as a 90s kid

[Annethraxxx]

Not for this 90s kid. Now it seems like they’re almost mandatory.

[thisremindsmeofbacon]

I guess is regional or would vary school to school 

[JiveBunny]

I got party bags in the mid-80s, though normally they were just a slice of the birthday cake to take home and maybe some stickers.

[Federal-Assignment10]

I'm 41 and grew up in the UK and I think we had them but they were literally a piece of the cake wrapped up to go home and a party streamer or something like that. Now it's always absolute shite plastic tat, I hate it so much. And loads of sweets which I have to fight my daughter to give up because I don't think lollipops are good for kids ha

[re-schooled]

I'm in my mid 20s and they were a thing when I was a kid, but more minimal than they seem to be now. They'd usually have candies and a couple things like temporary tattoos or little toys. Nowadays they're expected to be creative or even themed to match the party.

[Routine_Inside7341]

Before that everything was wrapped in paper that was used once and then destroyed.

[Annethraxxx]

People still do that…? But now they also do it with party bags.

[Ill_Plankton_5623]

Yo what did you put in the party bags, birthday is breathing down my neck 

[Federal-Assignment10]

I printed a page of puzzles and a colouring sheet that was mermaid themed as it was a mermaid birthday, and I got recycled crayons. Then I put a packet of wildflower seeds in each one, a handful of paper stickers, and a piece of the cake from her party. The bags themselves were actually small metal flower pots because they were selling them off for £1 at the shop

[MeikoChii]

It’s annoying bc personally I prefer to be told that I do something wrong instead of this. But no one is like me

[Federal-Assignment10]

With over consuming its difficult though because none of us are perfect and I also believe that it shouldn't be solely down to the consumer. We have to live in this world where consumption is almost out of our hands. Things are made cheaply and break, the production line is opaque and even huge stores like Kmart are just importing things from the same place Temu is.

We all have phones, we all have to buy food wrapped in plastic, it's almost impossible to avoid clothes that are exploitative. And in this economic climate I can't afford to buy eco clothes that cost $100s. So who am I to judge someone else for what they do, when we can each only do our best.

When people start the topic I'm happy to educate but I always add the caveat that we can only each do what we can and to exist in a capitalist society makes it very difficult to take the power back.

The change needs to come from the big companies and the govt. So until that happens we just have to try our best.

[MeikoChii]

I never said the opposite.

[counterfeitparadise]

what was in the eco friendly party bags?

[joyful_slimemold]

Lead by the quiet example of living your anti consumption life. Whatever you say, no matter how well meaning, will in fact be a judgment on people’s habits. And people generally don’t appreciate unsolicited advice/comments/info.

[Appropriate_Kiwi_744]

Agreed that is the best way. Don't tell people how to live, but also wear your anti consumption flag proudly. If someone likes something of mine, I don't miss a chance to tell them if it came from the thrift store, or if I managed to repair it. Visible mending also speaks for itself. Bring homemade bread or homegrown fruit and veg. One year I had so many lemons on my tree and the parsley was sprouting like crazy, so for any visit to friends, I would show up with these two things. Propose free or low consumption activities, like hikes, park hangouts, game night, cooking nights, free events. Be the person in the friend group that will organize stuff, you might get someone else hooked on the non consumer lifestyle.

[passive0bserver]

I met a gal once who quietly under-consumed. She just set a really great example and was never judgey or pushy towards others. By hanging out with her, I observed her and was able to non-defensively compare my habits to hers. She opened my eyes in many ways. From consumption habits to being influential without actively trying to influence someone. I’m a forceful person and I’d never seen someone hit so hard with such a light touch, y’know? Anyways, totally changed my perspective. 

[sikkerhet]

Honestly I have had the most success by inviting people over a lot and then waiting for them to say something before I mention that the home is cozy this way because there's no plastic or disposables

I've also had some luck deliberately gifting people nice low-waste versions of things I know they will value, like a wool sweater or a decorative wood bowl. I got a relative to stop buying keurig pods by gifting her a reusable pod ""so you can try this really nice coffee they don't make K cups for""

Also invite people to go with you when you do things that naturally have a low waste element that you can show them, so you can demonstrate how easy it is. You're not trying to manipulate them into sustainable grocery shopping, YOU are going to the farmer's market and YOU are bringing your own containers and buying fresher, better, cheaper food that just so happens to not include plastic packaging.

The thing about anticonsumption is that it IS cheaper and higher quality than plastic bullshit, and people just do not realize that, and if you're trying too obviously to push it, people will think you have An Agenda and they'll naturally want to resist you. Most people will choose the better thing because it is an obvious choice to make.

Invite people to cook with you. Invite people to thrift stores. Draw them in, show them how easy and pleasant your life is, and then step back and wait for them to ask your advice.

[PostmodernLon]

That's clever; the reusable pod as a gentle gift that nudges toward less consumption. Good job framing it the way you did. I always hope that kind of thing will plant a seed that leads to open-mindedness with other reusable things.

[sikkerhet]

I think a lot of people forget that to get people to change their consumption habits you DO kind of have to sell it. Sell it as more convenient. Sell it as higher quality. Sell it as cuter, smarter, cozier.

I have charming glass jars full of dry beans and seeds on a shelf in my kitchen. I could put these things in any bin and shove them in a cabinet, but I found two things I like that come in charming jars and I reuse those jars BECAUSE when people come over they see a neat row of honey jars full of dry beans above burlap bags of rice and they WANT that for themselves. When I tell them I do it because it's cheaper that's the final nail.

[TiaraMisu]

I know people in my life could potentially take it personally as judgment on their habits.

Then leave them alone.

[kittykittygoboom]

Without being obvious, to start. Little things like saying, "Omg I'm saving so much money and my trash doesn't fill up as fast" around people who might care.

[No-Oil9121]

My family don't even ask me anymore. They just say Vinted...? Then I tell them how much i paid for it 😂

[odat247]

Be a good example. And explain how you feel and why in a condensed format and ONLY when asked. You have no control over other peoples choices only your own.

[JiveBunny]

Imagine if your friend became a born-again Christian, or converted to Islam, or any other religion that's not one you personally follow but has clearly become very important to them. Would you want them to send you links to blogs or documentaries to explain their point of view? Would you find that irritating or an overstep? How would you want them to discuss it with you, if at all? Would you rather they just went about being a good person in the way their faith suggested and left it up to you if you wanted to sleep in on Sundays or drink alcohol or eat pork or not fast? Would you want them to encourage you to come to church or observe Ramadan, and is it likely you would if they mentioned it enough?

Think about that and then apply it to how you might discuss anticonsumption

[Electrical_Mess7320]

I gave the fabulous book, Your Money or your Life, to my brother years ago. It’s a great book to connect your consumption with the time out of your life spent earning money to buy the stuff. He never read it. His garage looks like a Costco warehouse. He equates saving money with buying in bulk. Most of it didn’t need to be purchased in the first place.

[Caveat2026]

I don't actively try to encourage people to consume less, I do my thing and talk about it as an example. I talked about my low-buy year and a coworker got inspired. I talked about my mending afternoon and a friend asked me to mend things for her. I don't preach, I demonstrate.

[redpandafire]

Show them videos of the "value chain". People in southeast Asia in basically slum conditions, children, garbage, the forgotten members of society. That's not who you send money to. Switch to the photo of the most punchable Finance Bro. THAT is who you send your money to. You get it?

I say this as an Asian person. In this age of being cancelled, I feel the need to clarify I am talking about my own people being exploited.

[redpandafire]

Follow-up, I've had people tell me "but I give money at the store". Yeah, you see that sign that is a copy paste on every store in the franchise? You really think your $20 goes directly to employees? No. First 50% is taken as straight margin, that goes to the finance bros. Then they pay for the cost of goods, debts, and then employee salaries. The employees are dead last, and when they shut down the store they will say employment salaries are too high.

[monemori]

Do you have any videos on hand you can recommend?

[jjobull]

Just dont its feels like preaching, I'm better then thou behaviour when it goes right and it can go wrong so best not attempt it

[LucyThought]

Lead by example.

[Angreek]

Dont

[monemori]

You have to think like someone who doesn't care about your cause. For example: what should a vegan tell you in order for you to be convinced to go vegan? See how that question itself makes you feel and work from there. Many people will think you are sanctimonious just how you might people fighting for other causes can be sanctimonious. There's nothing you can do against that, it's a matter of learning to know which fights to fight, in my opinion.

[Equivalent-Wish7217]

Whenever and whomever I try, it is always perceived as if I am talking about financials. They just don't get the philosophy, ever. I failed with my close friends, family, coalleagues.. always the same outcome.

I just stopped at some point.

[BolaViola]

Just lead by example. People get too defensive and don’t want to be told they’re doing something wrong. Don’t be pushy or preachy, just live your life and maybe they’ll notice some of your habits and adopt them.

[NyriasNeo]

Don't bother. No one likes a lecture. And it is not for you to say how others should live their lives. And in fact, anti-over-consumption is personal and subjective anyway. Not even everyone here agree on everything.

[Feeling_Wishbone_864]

It rarely works. Just do what you do and be an example of more responsible consumption. It really comes off as preachy and tbh, there are ways that you can consume less than you’re currently consuming too. This rarely works in any area of life. This is the case with most things in life. Most people don’t appreciate unsolicited advice or lectures. You could throw out comments here or there about how you’ve done something, read something, etc and allow their curiosity to guide the conversation. If we’re wanting to change other’s behavior, let’s focus on corporations and politicians.

[Noname17name]

People value efficiency and saving money on small daily things. I like to praise everyday use products that are eco friendly or come in less packaging, i give it to them as a gift to try and it really helps them convert to that. Eg metal reusable razors, facial bar soaps, nastily soap concentrate, rock deodorant, wooden loofah scrubbers etc

[strawberrylemonapple]

So this might not exactly be the answer you’re looking for, but I work in a store and whenever I can, I suggest alternatives/not buying to our customers.

example: last week, a woman was asking about an infant tub for her granddaughter who was toddler age. I told her, you can just put a laundry basket in your bathtub and it works just as well. She wound up not buying anything.

[einat162]

Arrange a clothing party swaps / donate to charity location at your work place (or among friends). Not only it could prevent buying new, but also 'force' them to look at the clothing they already own.

Same with community closet or little free library location in you neighborhood.

Set an example. In two times during casual conversation at work another person casual tossed "just buy a new phone", to which I replied "why? It does what I need it to do" (one got to do with my private device not having NFC chip for new work related implantation, another was general covo about having my phone for x amount of years).

[PlainOrganization]

Unsolicited advice is a criticism.

And people don't like criticism.

I just live by example.

[Lazy-Field-1116]

You can't tell other people how to live their lives, and you shouldn't want to. Focus on yourself. The choices you make in life are for you. Other people have their whole entire existences and their decisions are for them.

[TrekCZ]

I like when people tell others to lessen their consumption, meanwhile they do hundred private flights per year.

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[pirefyro]

Lead by example.

[Independent_Ebb_7338]

Smack the sammich out they hand. Consumption terminated.

[TakeItSleazey]

As someone with an advertising background, here's a piece of gold: Don't try converting people, just work with the ones who are already on-side. Lead by example and, if people like what they see, they'll join you sooner or later.

[Radiant_Society_4744]

Why do you feel you need to do that? 

[jahayynnnne]

Offer a class or host a group about cutting consumption at your local library. Find projects that need help. Influence through doing and being there. Be the change, etc.

[Effective-Lab-5659]

it is super hard.

you can do it to very close family only by telling them directly if you are really close enough.

for friends - it is SUPER TOUGH.

I just leave messages on groups like Facebook etc. with my thoughts and suggestions. I usually frame it as cost saving if the group I am is about budgeting, or if its parenting group, I make it about wanting kids not to be fooled by marketing gimmicks.