Q: Hello! My job takes me to many events and places across the country. At these events, almost every vendor has something free to give away. Something as small as a sticker or pen, and things as large as a bag or some sort of door prize.

I’ve taken these free things at almost every chance i’ve gotten because, well, they are free. And free things are awesome!

Recently I’ve been thinking about all this free stuff that I’ve accumulated over the years. I’ve given some of it away, some of it sits in a drawer, some of it has been thrown away, and a very small percentage of it I’ve actually used. And even fewer things where worth using.

Most of this “free” stuff has been, debatably, useless and has ended up as trash. As I step back and look at this and go through my life one tiny step at a time, I’m not so sure taking these free things is worth it given what I did and did not do with them.

What are your thoughts on FREE stuff? What free things do you take given your sustainable life goals?

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A: Ugh! FREE Stuff! I hate it! It’s all junk!

Knee jerk reaction out of the way, let’s dive deeper…

I’ve been in your situation in a previous life: FREE stuff?! I’ll take it!

But, as I’ve moved along through different versions of myself, I’ve had similar thoughts as you; All this free stuff just accumulates, and almost all of it is junk. Why do I need all of this?

Plus, I didn’t need more things with some random companies name on it that I do not care about. I didn’t want to promote them…whoever that are. Especially some random drug company. (So many crappy pens!)

As these thoughts progressed, and as I moved one tiny step-by-step into a more sustainable mindset, I decided that if I couldn’t use something, I would not take it. Especially if it is free.

Given that mindset, I almost always refuse anything and everything that is free, not just at events as you’ve mentioned. But free gifts when buying something, free samples of items I didn’t ask for, free plasticware, business cards, any sort of company flyer or pamphlet, free stuff of any kind.

If I can’t use it, it’s just going to become junk, or worse, trash. Thus, I refuse it in the first place.

Every now and again there is something that is being given away for free that I know I will use. But it’s rare as most things that are free are either cheaply made to be junk promotional items, or are seriously used to the point of much needed repair.

I will also take things for free when I know I can move them along to some place else. Such as to a person, a donation center, a reuse center, if it is broken and I know it can be fixed, or some amalgamation in-between.

Free stuff isn’t FREE at all. It has a cost. And I’m mot speaking financially. Every single “Free” item had to be made somewhere, with resources that could have been put to better use somewhere else, or not even used at all. Then transported to where it is to be given away for free. Not to mention what happens to it when it does get given away.

In the end “Free” stuff just isn’t worth it to take if you absolutely do not have a use for it. Be respectful, decline the item, thank them for offering, and be on your way.

Got a question? Drop us a line at www.zieros.life

Free Stuff Is NOT Free!

Greetings! My name is Marty, and I’m a sustainable life advocate & practitioner with over 17 years and counting of focused experiences (success and failures!) in the never-ending quest of living a more sustainable life! And this is an advice column for zero waste and sustainability! 

www.zieros.life

Free Stuff Is NOT Free!

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