Obsessions with Free

Industry has influenced panic like reactions in consumers by changing habits with media and social engineering that can manifest wasteful behaviors. This linear focus and influence on consumer habits, aka a one way economy, makes many of us are ravenous when we see or hear "free."

"Free" stuff is seen as items that you may never see again or you will never have because you may never buy it.

Is this the truth?

Other examples in which industry says "Free", but in fact you may end up spending more and create more waste or clutter:

Buy one, Get one Free

2 For 1 and such

Point Systems - the more you buy, the more you get

Giveaways

Contests

At stores to conferences to races to events, we will chase down the "free" stuff, sometimes even becoming wildly upset when the "free" stuff disappears! We act as though we have won the special prize, earned the item, or found the golden key and then walk away with a sense of accomplishment or entitlement.

What is driving us towards these thoughts and actions? What is driving you?

Perhaps replace the thoughts and actions with creating "the stuff" with items already on hand from scratch, work with your community to manifest "free" items or repurpose something you already own.

So, is that item really "free"? What will you do with it? Will it sit around or be thrown away and just end up in the dump or as trash outside? What is the lifecycle?

Questions to ask yourself before diving into the next pile of "free":

What do you already have that can do the exact same thing?

What will you do with this item within the next 5 years?

What are the recycle, repurpose, reuse possibilities with the item?

Can you eat it?

Why do you really need it?

And, if you do really need it; use it, gift it, repurpose it, give the item a long life.

At Terrever, we want to help change consumer habits. Rethink the way we interact with each other, our daily lives and the Earth. Transition to a more circular economy, one in which can support each other with jobs, purpose and fulfillment.