23 Comments
Aug 11Liked by Brooke McAlary

Happy Sunday 😁

I would say my biggest hack is asking myself "how can I make this work with what I have?" I ask myself this whenever I feel like I need to buy something to complete a task, achieve a thing or to store something differently. You'd be surprised how often I can move something or repurpose something and it does the trick. I fell into this habit when I volunteered for not for profits and didn't want to waste hard-earned donation money on anything but the most important thing and it's followed me into the home and every workplace I've been in. It's probably my only form of creativity 🤣

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Oh I love this! There's no replacing that sense of satisfaction is there? Creativity, problem solving, money saving, resource saving - the best!

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It’s amazing how often I forget this simple hack. I have a basement and small attic full of little things I don’t know what to do with. Little bowls, enamels pots and picture frames. It’s fun to shop the house first.

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Shop the house first - I love that!

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Aug 12Liked by Brooke McAlary

I heard the term 'This is nature' from Joseph Goldstein, as a noting exercise to say to yourself and reconnect to the present moment. I apply this when I am feeling pressured to buy or consume something. I say: 'This is marketing' : -)

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My shoulders just drooped in relief reading that — "This is marketing." What a powerful little tool to keep in our pockets. Just a reminder that something is being done at us and we don't need to play along if we don't want to. I feel better just reading that, thank you 💚💚💚💚

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Aug 11·edited Aug 11Liked by Brooke McAlary

My hack was to really understand that what I own does not define my worth as a person by really deeply feeling that I am enough. When possessions became just things that I need, with a few wants thrown in too, overconsumption stopped being a path that I was being diverted to.

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I feel this right to my core Diane, and I think so much of what we all feel compelled to want is tied up in that not-enoughness. As you said, once you recognised you were enough, things were just things, no longer solutions to problems. That's so powerful 💚

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This is such a powerful skill Diane. I realize as I age that I buy less and most of my spending is functional or on experience.

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No longer following influencers, limiting my time on algorithms and places where I’m advertised to a lot, not following brands (even ones I really like) and unsubscribing for emails all really helped me! Removing the temptations as much as possible, out of sight out of mind.

Also never adding something to my cart just to reach free shipping or another perk - I realised these were always wastes of money that I never actually used. A small but significant mindset shift for me. Just because it’s free or cheap (especially because half the time you are still spending the money!) doesn’t mean I should have it.

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These are so good Jennifer - and hard agree on free shipping! I think once you're able to make that mindset shift, you begin to see all the ways we're being sold to or upsold to. It's relentless! Opting out of as much of it as possible is a huge tool. 💚💚

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The free shipping is such a scam. Living in a small rural mountain town makes it tough to shop so I end up shopping online more than I want. I try to wait until I can lump things together that I actually do need.

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Aug 10Liked by Brooke McAlary

G'day Brooke !

Well it may be Sunday where you live but for us here in Toronto it's Saturday (my how time flies, eh?).

I use a few different "hacks" to try to keep my email inbox level to just "enough" (now where did I last hear that word mentioned lately? Oh yes, t'was here!) 😏

Anyway, I use both Outlook as well as Gmail for my email correspondence. Besides yourself I tend to set up email filters. I also use whitelisting and blacklisting of email sources. Another hack to consider, although I personally haven't as yet needed to use it, is the use of email aliases. All of these work well in both Outlook and Gmail. Without going into a lot of techie details here (which is way more than, ahem.., enough), I'll let you (and perhaps other interested readers) google for the usage details as well as pros & cons in using these tools.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Hi Rob! I love all the sharing about email hacks. I tend to be old school and unsubscribe from each one that I no longer want. 🤣one of these days I’ll learn how to do more automation. 😊

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Hi Rob! I hope your Sunday was lovely once it arrived! And I really like these email hacks. I have started using email aliases with things I have to sign up for but know I'll end up on unwanted mailing lists, and they seem pretty effective in keeping a lid on the spam. It seems like such a minor thing, but an inbox full of stuff I don't want does take up mental space, it's nice to reclaim some of that isn't it?

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Aug 12Liked by Brooke McAlary

I have found that if I think about the resources involved in creating an item it changes my mindset. Every item needs a massive amount of resources; the materials are in some way extracted from the Earth causing damage and pollution, more materials are needed for the packaging, then it has to be transported probably multiple times.

I've decided to always try to find things that I do need secondhand or borrow from someone else (and I love Buy Nothing groups for this).

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It's pretty sobering isn't it. And yes - the satisfaction of finding a second-hand or borrowed solution is so good!

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Aug 10Liked by Brooke McAlary

Where I usually reside it’s Saturday (New York-upstate), however happily at the moment, I’m here in Australia visiting family in QLD and NSW, so, yes, it’s Sunday! I remember It’s a Squash and Squeeze! Good one! Now heading to have a lovely coffee with my 22 year old son, who lives here and who it is sheer delight and joy to see in person! Happy Sunday, all.

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I hope you're having the best time Ellen! Tie with family is the best thing ever isn't it? Enjoy your trip and your Australian coffee! (It really is good) 💚💚💚

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Enjoy your time together ❤️

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I continue to pare down the amount of input from outside influences. I’m not interested in adding more to my home or life unless they are functional or beautiful. I’m adding small elements from local artists or the natural environment. I continue to use what I have. The jars that I store my food primarily came from old jars. I love the challenge of finding new ways to use what I have. ❤️

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I think that shift - towards not being interested - is a big one too Blythe. For me it's coming more every year, just wanting to do what works for our family rather than what outside influences tell us to want. And I have to say, I really love it! And yes to the jars too - we have a cupboard of them under the sink and use them for everything!

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I was just a teenager when I realized that buying stuff was not only hard on the world, but hard on the pocket book. I rarely buy anything just for fun. Usually things I really want will find there way to me. In my early 20s I really wanted a set of magnetic poetry, and just a few years ago someone gave me a set. I only had to wait for 20 years for them to walk through my door. ha.

My big problem is that I also have a hard time getting rid of things, my house is pretty full of mostly junk I got for free.

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