*To anyone wondering why I would "support" Sarah* - Please understand that I do not shut out any thoughts that do not align with my own. I've lived in a place where everyone around me believes differently than I do and that does not change my views whatsoever. In addition, the concerns I'm seeing about Sarah and her beliefs are things I had no idea about. As I said, I've only watched her off and on. Regardless, I encourage you not to participate in cancel culture nor to shut out any thoughts and beliefs that are not your own. We will never change the world that way. I was simply giving credit to the person I got this video idea from, if you do not feel comfortable supporting her I totally respect your choice.
I'm so glad to see this comment. I'm quite new to the concept of zero-waste and minimalism, but what I've been learning recently has made me much more mindful of the choices I make. Your mindset is what really made me look deeper into these movements; this is a place where we can all work together to do good regardless of our beliefs, ethnicities, gender, political views etc. It saddens me that some people don't see it this way.
I'm not a fan of "cancel culture" (which, by the way, Christians are no stranger to. I was one of them until 2 years ago and lived through the time when they refused to buy P&G because there was a rumor that the CEO literally worshipped Satan and when they didn't listen to Amy Grant because of her divorce...ijs maybe I dislike it so much because I was raised in it within the Church). ANY way, still I'm grateful whenever someone makes me aware of what someone chooses to do with their platform so that I can choose whether to support them or not. I think cancelling someone goes a step further when it condemns not just the person with that platform but anyone else in their audience as if simply watching someone's content is an endorsement of every idea they've put out. I don't like the toxic culture that leads to. But I also feel icky giving clicks and ad revenue to someone who uses that platform I support to promote harmful ideologies. You're right about needing to change minds, but sometimes unsubscribing is a form of self-care when you could get a minimal waste video in your feed one day and an anti-choice video the next. I just like to be aware of what I'm in for. (Edit for clarity)
I love Sarah mostly because she is a minimalist mama (and Im also thiriving to be one) and while I dont agree with some of her content in my opinon her videos are enjoyable and informative (second hand shopping, sustainable clothing, mostly plant based meals etc)
Thank you for your way of seeing things, and of course cancel coulture is not a good thing at all. In my perspective, I would just not like to support her not due to her beliefs, but because of things she has said that were innacurate and disrespectful. I think that respect should always be there when discussing controversial topics and especially sensible ones. Never shut out healthy conversations tho, that is what makes us see the world in different perspectives
For mascara : when you’re done clean off the wands and donate them to animal shelters / wands for wildlife! They’re used to remove ticks,fleas and bug eggs from animals and they can be used to help preen bird feathers.
update: as far as I know they don't want these anymore and mentioned that the wands to come will unfortunately be disposed of because they already have an enormous amount of them! Nevertheless, it used to be a cute way to reuse these wands c: instead of doing this, you can a) save it for brushing out your lashes/brows b) buy a wand-less mascara, for example in a small container and use your old wand(s) or c) make your own mascara, I guess there are recipes for safe ones? But I'm not sure
@@teeamabry i saw some today packages around just a paper or cardboard holder. I didn't look close as I was in a hurry but didn't seem to have any plastic at all
I think this sheds a lot of light on American consumerism, like who knew owning only one of all these items is ‘minimalism’ 💀 one TV? Are you for real?
When I was growing up, we had a tv in each bedroom, the living room and the downstairs living room 😂 Now I only have a "small" one (about 4 ft wide) that I got second hand and everyone thinks its too small and I'm crazy for not wanting another one for the bedroom 😅
I know you don’t like talking about your past life because it was “wasteful” but I’d love to see a video of you talking about wasteful things you no longer do now that you are eco conscious. For example, in this video you said how you had a phone case in every color to match your ootd. It’ll show what a long ways you’ve come in your eco minimalism journey and give people ideas on what they could possibly be doing to further help the environment outside of eco friendly swaps/consumerism. I for instance, used to wear my clothes only once before washing them. Now I wear them until they are actually dirty before washing them. Thanks!
I had absolutely no idea that owning multiple phone cases/swapping them out was a thing. Mind = blown. I can't imagine swapping out phone cases on the regular.
I always use ONE phone case, until (after YEARS) I buy a new generation phone. Still have my last two phones and cases just in case my actual one is damaged.
As a European, I sometimes shudder when watching your videos. I do not understand how it's possible that there are people out there who think it's normal to earn multiple cars PER PERSON and a TV IN EVERY SINGLE ROOM??? 90% of the items you mentioned in your video are perfectly normal for me to only own one of and I've never even thought of owning more.
I’m from Finland and while I do agree, growing up we always had 2-3 cars at a time. The reason why was because we live in the country side, my dad had a metal working business + agriculture business so he needed a bigger car for moving things, materials etc. and we had one smaller car for everyday use. Also we have two wheelchair users in our family so we needed another car that was accessible for and could fit all of us. It was still sustainable though, noone in my family has ever owned a car that wasn’t atleast 5-10 years old, some of them were even bought from a demolition site and driven until they literally fell apart. I think with cars there’s a very big difference between wants and needs, if you just collect cars for no reason it’s an issue, but if you have a need for several cars then I think it’s okay. Plus, driving alone in like a mini bus 100% of the time is not very sustainable because the bigger the truck the bigger the emission. If you have the ability to have a smaller car for shorter trips I’d say it’s actually more sustainable than having just the one car. It’s actually kinda the norm here on the country side to have a small car for work or grocery trips because so many people have big trucks or vans and they take way too much gas for everyday driving.
though it's weird for u, don't u find it interesting how different cultures can be but at the same time how far people can go to change their cultural habits?
I think its a cultural thing. Where I grew up, it was a luxury to even own a car. I still don't and honestly I don't want to either. Same with TV ( no one I knew growing up had more than one TV), phone cases ( didn't know people owned multiple phone cases let alone match them with outfits until I started watching TH-cam) and I didn't own a suitcase until I had to pack when I moved to a different country (till then we've always borrowed those from some family or friend when we needed them just like how we lent family and friends the stuff we owned and they didn't) . People are influenced by their surroundings (and now media). I'm glad that minimalism and sustainability have become more or less trends now. Of all trends we have had come and go, these are the best ones
my mom and my aunt have thick curly hair, and this is the criteria they've developed for hair ties: no metal clasp and no glue, either sewn closed or seamless. they figure out somehow if the elastic inside is plastic or fabric, and choose always fabric. most of the time, they end up buying scrunchies (they gave me one, and it is this tiny scrunchie that is the size of a regular hair tie)
I would love to see a video on how you fit eco-minimalism with pet-owning. I know it's one of those industries that is sometimes unnecessarily wasteful so it would be cool to see your take on it (also I just wanna see your cat more).
If anyone is wondering, the hair tie is most likely scuncii hosiery brand. They work pretty well. You could probably find a more sustainable brand though.
I think it's important to contextualize the need for a car depending on where you live. In most American cities the public transit system is horrible. And in the South West cities are usually built wide rather than tall. With everything so far apart (and summer temperatures being what they are) it can be really difficult for a lot of people to not have their own car.
We have been a one-car family for 10 years. We have FOUR kids and my husband works full-time. Honestly, it's miserable. I am extremely extroverted and feel very stuck at home. We also have very limited time to get errands done and we're always racing around so that my husband can get to work on time. Since I have to go grocery shopping and to kid's appointments, extracurricular activities, etc when I have the van, we are always feeling rushed, stressed, and stuck. I bike around my town with all of my kids in tow either on their own scooters or bikes or in my bike trailer. It's not always easy and if we could afford it we would absolutely have a second vehicle. It would completely change our lives for the better.
I'm so sorry it's such a struggle. I totally understand. I am not sure how my husband did anything because I would take our 1 car the whole week to school and I came back on the weekends. If he needed to go somewhere he had to walk. In the rain and snow. Its miserable. Luckily I'm done with school and he takes the car now and I walk to work. We will definitely be getting a second car soon.
When my husband and I only had one car I would sometimes drop him off or pic him up from work. A few times he also carpooled with a coworker when I needed the car. If work isn't too far maybe you could consider. I also have a friend who worked night shift while his wife was on days to share the car.
I love that you use your bike to get around! Since this is already an option for you, maybe look into cargo bikes. There are lots of different models. I personally prefer the 3 wheeled with a large box in the front models. We use it to drive our 2 larger dogs around and do the grocery shopping. It fits more than a regular car trunk and I don't need to find a parking lot. Many of them also come with benches for children.
Interesting the difference in American culture... living in Britain I feel like it’s completely normal to own one of each of these and definitely not a talking point?
C Kirkwood It is normal to own only one of those items in America also! I have watched multiple TH-cam channels making these “I only own one” videos lately. It seems to be a trending video right now, but stuff they list in the videos is stuff most normal people own only one of.
C Kirkwood I agree. If I worked from home here in a town in UK I wouldn’t get a car at all. And in fact I commute to work by bus and it’s normal to me. A car is a huge expense and impact on the planet resources and pollution. I get it if a family lives literally in the middle of nowhere or in the countryside and needs it to go to school and work but one should be enough for a small family. Unless people don’t want to save money and the planet. But each to their own. This is just my opinion.
ericatouahri The thing is, you could actually reasonably take the bus to get to work. I live in a fairly good-sized city in the US south. It takes me 20 minutes to get to work by car, but if I took the bus it would be a 1 hour 45 minute trip because the bus lines are so sparse. Now factor in having a spouse in a similar work situation, and you’ll see why many US families have 1 car per person. I wish public transit in the US didn’t suck so much lol
For all confused Europeans: The European Union has 350 million people in 4.4 million km/sq. The USA has 310 million people in 9.8 million km/sq. The USA is just really big and everything is REALLY spaced out, and public transport isn't that good yet.
Yeah, my house growing up was a 45 minute car drive to a grocery store- there is no public transit option and getting rides from friends/neighbors that far was pretty rude... that being said we had no more than 1 car per person old enough to drive and 1 truck for all the gross/rough jobs that the other gas-friendly cars couldn’t handle
Olga S-Cruz it’s not so much the country being big as the way the cities were designed. A lot of US cities/suburbs were specifically designed for cars whereas most european cities were already established before cars became common
After watching this, I guess I’ve been doing a version of eco-minimalism for a lot longer than I realized! 🙂 I only own one of every single thing you mentioned in this video. Same goes for a lot of other things as well. Also, I think the fact that you and Madison each have a car makes perfect sense. I think for most people, and in most places in the US, one car per person is sensible and often necessary.
I kept my really old ratty shoes and threw them in the trunk of my car so that if my car breaks down and I'm in sandles/heels I have tennis shoes to walk somewhere or work on the car
I do the same and lucky I did because just last week I forgot to put sandals on before work... Drove an hour and parked before realising. Spare old sand shoes saved me!
Seriously though, the morning after I first watched this video I was walking to work and saw a hairband on the floor. It was still dark out so I couldn't see it very well but I picked it up anyway. Not something I would've usually done but I had your video in my head. Got home and cleaned it up - I swear it's the exact same hairband as you've got! And yes, I already love it! 😍
Hey Shelbi, this is my first TH-cam comment ever! But I wanted to let you know that I relate to you a lot and I love what you're doing for sustainability. I'm also a 20 something girl living in Texas (Galveston) and have a master's degree in wildlife ecology and biology and have always been into living more sustainably. I dont use other social media and just recently got into watching TH-cam videos when I was recommended a video of your channel I watched pretty much all of them as well as your other channel with Madison (you guys are so cute and funny!). I appreciate both channels because I have learned a lot about transitioning to a lower impact lifestyle without having to be this picture perfect zero waste person. I've been implementing a lot of changes in my life to live more consciously and minimally based on videos like yours and other research I've done. Thanks so much for doing what you do, I know it's a lot of work but you really are making a difference in people's lives which in turn affects the planet. Keep at it girl!
I really feel like having multiple TV's is an American thing.. I don't know any people in Belgium with more than 1 TV tbh... I don't know.. do other Europeans feel this ? Same with multiple cars per Personn- unless people are just ricchhh!!! but maybe it's because cars are cheaper in the US ?
I'm European and I've never known anyone who has more than two TVs, but I know a lot of families who have multiple cars, usually one for each partner, because they work in different parts of the city and have different schedules and sharing one car is not practical.
Definitely a US thing. I've seen 2 in some middle class households, like having a second older TV in the bedroom or kids' room, but even that isn't common. And for my generation or younger (I'm 27), I feel like it's not even that unusual to not have a TV at all, unless you're a console gamer. Many people just watch series on their monitors/laptops.
I picked up my two handkerchiefs from the ground! I know it sounds vile, but after a wash, they were fine. I do own several hair ties several hair ties, but like you, I picked them all up from the pavement. Ditto hair pins. I don't buy them, just pick them up. My husband has a car. I don't drive so we only need one. Most families in the UK only tend to have one too. I get that in America, the situation is very different, not least because the country is so vast. We only have one television, but we're donating it soon. We never watch it. Was thinking about you, Sustainably Vegan and Greta today actually. We needed new soap for the shower (we've given up buying shower gel). I bought some plastic free bars from the specialist shop. Also, I needed a new black blazer (the one I had is too small). I was determined not to buy new and bought a second-hand one from a charity shop. And yes, I used my own bags for these. Our consumption is REALLY going down and it is largely due to watching your channel. xxx
UK resident :) I think owning multiple cars really also depends on where you live, what you use them for, and even who's driving them. We have 2, one is small the other big. I learnt to drive in the small one and now use it to commute. The big one is used for family trips mostly, and is far more comfortable! Cost doesn't play a big role, as they were both second-hand vehicules. It's overall far cheaper for me to buy petrol once every two weeks than spend out every day just to get to work by train - a sad truth!
Nicola H-H - I’ve been tempted to pickup hair ties from the ground but wondered if that was too weird. Now that I know other people do it, I’m going to start!
yeah, i pick up almost all hair ties I see on the ground when walking the streets... so I own a lot now. I don't even use them all 😆 I think I have to find new types of usage for them 🤔
I recently found your channel and I really appreciate you! A lot of sustainability channels made me feel like I was failing if I wasn’t doing everything perfectly. You encourage us to make better choices without making me feel like I’m awful for not being 100 sustainable yet. Keep encouraging people, you’re making a difference! And thank you for helping me make better choices for the planet. ❤️
Not a big fan of Sarah. She made a video about abortion in which she spread a lot of misinformation and did a few other things that made me too uncomfortable to continue watching her videos. Love your video tho!
Yeah, I watched some of her videos until she posted one stating that she's a christian mommy and whatever and that was enough to turn me off her content, so I didn't even watch this abortion one. Reading your comment makes me believe that my instincts were right...
I never heard of the abortion video but I watched her "why I'm no longer vegan" and she openly said she didn't care about animals and laughed when she put her childhood pet fish down the garbage disposal!!!
Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way...She just put out that video and turned off all the comments. I understand she has the right to her own opinion but for something as important as abortion it's important to be able to have conversation in the comments so people are getting accurate information. Since then I really take her opinions with a grain of salt and I don't watch her as often as I used to.
I didn't even realise any of these things people had multiples of (except the hair bobbles/brush) maybe we are weird in the UK? A lot of people I know don't even have a car, we just cycle/bus everywhere Edit: where I live we do not have good public transport and it is hilly, windy and there are very few bike lanes but we manage. I used to get a bus to my university that took 2 hours each way everyday but if you do things differently then great! but this is just how things are where I live.
Little Miss Blue In terms of vehicles, I guess it depends on how good the public transportation system is in your area. Here in my city in Canada, it’s terrible so mostly everyone drives. My fiancé and I also have different schedules so we need two separate cars to get where we need to go
I was surprised about this too (I'm from eastern Europe). Like, 5 TVs??? whoa. I've never seen anyone who has more than two, and most people who's house I've been in has either one or none. But it's interesting to see videos like this, it helps me understand how different lifestyle can be in a different part of the world.
I wish I didnt need a car 😭 where I live in the US, everything is spread very far apart, public transport is terrible and limited, rarely are there bike lanes, and some places dont even have proper sidewalks. It's also so hilly in some places that the sidewalk turns into stairs, so it makes biking annoying if you're not very fit or don't have the time to walk the bike.
My parents have always had a “backup” car growing up, so that’s my normal. I think it’s typically because we’ve always had crappy vehicles so if one needed worked on they could drive the backup in its place. I currently own two cars myself simply because I bought a newer car in September and haven’t sold my old one yet (because it’s too cold for me to stand out there with people and look at it lol Ohio weather).
My hair ties wear out so easily, I can’t wait to get through the rest of them and then find one like yours! I do keep mine within eye sight all the time though because I don’t want to get rid of or lose it before it’s totally beyond repair/overstretched
pinkstp I think the one she has is the same kind I use. They’re goodys brand athletica style. You can buy them at Walmart target etc. they feel like rolled up fabric! I’ve had mine forever!!!
I have the plastic spiral ones (a necessary evil for me). They’re pretty good! They last for aaaages. When they stretch you just shove it in the wash and it shrinks again! Plus better for your hair :)
You should guard your current hair ties with your life! Until they completely break like you said, you shouldn't try to use them up, they're probably perfectly good!
That my favorite type of hair tie! IF you should ever lose that one, an amazon search for non elastic hair ties will produce exactly what you’re looking for :)
Hey Shelbi, I just wanted to let you know that you are very beautiful, inside and out. You are making a giant impact in the lives of others and you should be really, really proud of yourself. I hope that you are doing well darling.
My parents (well, I should say my dad) have 6 cars, a boat and a camper and 3 of their cars don’t even run anymore but my dad “won’t get back what he payed for them” or “plans to fix them someday” and it drives my brother, mom and I insane! 😩
We don't own a car, just two bikes and that's it. But we live in Amsterdam and are able to take public transport or cycle everywhere. We both cycle to work and rent a car when really neccecary. My parents own one car and they live in the centre of Amsterdam, my mom wants to get rid of it though but my dad doesn't. A couple of years ago I was engaged to be married and my parents thought having a wedding was such a waste of money my dad even said 'don't spend money on that, buy a car!'. Hahahaha
I love Amsterdam. We looked into moving there (this was in the days before Brexit!!) but we just couldn't afford it. We have to content ourselves with visiting there when we can.
When you find one thing that has really good quality it can easily replace a lot of other things that are lower quality" This how I be feeling about my boyfriend compared to exes
I grew up in a family of 5. We only had one car growing up. And my parents changed it when it totally broke. I was so sad and now that we have another one, stills feel new to me after 10 years. I have only known 2 cars and is so weird to me when I hear people from the states talking about owning multiple cars or changing them after 3 years. Idk, just my opinion :)
I LOVE my Pela phone case! It’s so cute and I love that I’m helping the planet and I got it for around $13 a while ago on sale and I’ll definitely purchase another if I end up getting a different phone when this one breaks or if I want a second one. Highly recommend ☺️
I FOUND THE HAIRTIE! Ever since watching her video, Ive been researching rubber and plastic free hair ties. The ones that I've found that are almost identical to hers are from a brand called Ela accessories. They are called long lasting hair elastics. Even their packaging is plastic free. I found that they are sold online as well as in Walgreens! Hope this helps!
Listening to this I realise I've grown up with parents that are pretty screwed on with how they treat buying things, but I think it comes from a "we're broke" perspective rather than an eco perspective; we had 1 TV growing up, and I remember it being 5 channels and huge until I was like 12, then we upgraded to a flat screen with ALL THE CHANNELS when I hit secondary school (they still have the TV, I'm now 24) but only bc my grandad died so that's what the inheritance money went on. Dad also has an allotment so whenever I come home dinner has to be picked, there's a bucket of potatoes in the downstairs loo (rarely used), there's always some sort of preserve to be made it's like.. they're sorted for the apocolyse ngl
Super interesting video! Regarding the cars, I am from Puerto Rico and public transportation is limited, not efficient, and most things are too far away to take a bike, so there are 4 cars in my family (my dad has 2, my mom has 1, and my stepfather has 1). However, when I lived in NYC for 4 years, I almost always took the subway! In my opinion, that really depends on how efficient the public transportation system is where you live. But I also think a person having more than 1 car is excessive lol Love your channel!
One thing Sarah said that blew my mind was that she has ONE nail polish. I've got a frickin box of multiple colours and I've paired it down to one all purpose nude colour. And I don't ever think 'hey I miss that duck egg blue' to be perfectly honest!
I love my all birds! My only gripe is it doesnt have enough arch support for me but that's just cause I have really deep arch and I haven't found a pair of shoes yet that supports it well so it isn't really a gripe
A way to change the look of your phone without having multiple phone cases is to get a clear phone case and cut out some fun pictures, colored paper etc to the shape of the back of your phone and put it between your phone and your case. I have a clear phone case and I like to repurpose stuff like old calendars, post cards, paper from presents I've received etc, a lot of it makes a super cute "phone case". (If I were to get a new phone/phone case now I would definitely consider getting a Pela one which obviously doesn't come in clear, but I've had my clear case since long before I knew of Pela, and also not everyone has a phone that Pela/other compostible case companies make cases for)
A good mascara that is eco-friendly (but a bit pricey I'll admit) is Bésame Cosmetics Mascara Cake, it's just a solid little brick of mascara in a tin and is amazing as a mascara and eyeliner and brow gel as well! Only problem is that the tin also comes with a tiny (and horrible to use) plastic brush wrapped in a little bag. The company offers refills of mascara in a tiny brown paper bag so you only buy one tin and one plastic brush. It's the most eco-friendly option of mascara I've found
I have a pair of fancy shoes that rarely get worn(funerals, interviews, site tours) but I buy one pair of rainbow hemp sandals per year and wear them every single day. Once they're getting worn and ready to break, I give them back to the manufacturer because they repair them and give them to people who need shoes.
My “also retired parents” own multiple cars too, and my dad have 2 motorbikes, I thought it was just my family! I own only 1 now though I used to own multiple cars in the past too. Ooh and I only own 1 phone case, it’s a body glove flip case and it came apart at one point so I fixed it, I had it since the day I got my iPhone 7 which is like 3+ years old but I have no desire to get a newer version, my phone works perfectly and still looks brand new. Had my laptop for about 7 years, keep it maintained and it still does what I need it to do, I’ve had the same canon camera for 10 years, perfect condition. I’m all about owning 1 great quality product to last for a long time. Bought every single furniture item in my house second hand (or was hand me downs) with the exception of my bedroom set, same goes for my mismatched crockery and cutlery, pots and pans (I purchased only 1 pot new, the others all came from somewhere and I’ve been using them for about 7 to 8 years. So my “stinginess” was always “eco-minimalism” and I’m only at the start of this journey! Looking forward to seeing more of your content! Keep it up girl! Btw, I’m South African but I lived in (Dripping Springs) Austin, TX on an exchange program in 2009!
I come from a 3 children home, and remember we had a shared television only in the living room when we were young. Then we grew up and teenagers became teenagers and suddently sharing isn't good enough. We got a television in each of our rooms and still in the living room (so 4 televisions overall) They were all either hand-me-downs or used later for something else, like a extra monitor. We also had 3 cars, one for mom and one for dad, one got used daily and the other one was used once in a while when the weather was really bad and my mother couldn't bike to work. the third one? Well that was my fathers hobby, so even though we had 3, I dont think it was really a waste. Now that I am at least mostly grown up, we once again only have one television (my boyfriend and I bought a good one that should last us years) and also only one car, because I need it for work. My boyfriend though takes public transport every day. Overall I don't really feel like it is wasteful to have "a lot" of stuff, it all depends on if you use it.
I’m not poor but i still practice frugality & eco-minimalism. I would rather work part-time and travel than give in to lifestyle inflation and work full-time. But that’s just my 2-cents
@@lovemorgan6690 no one said those cars and TVs were new tho. I'm at the higher end of poor and we had 3 cars and 5 TVs but the cars were pretty old and the TVs were only purchased at cheap prices and I've had the same tv for like over 10 years lol
I only have one hair brush too, and it's been the same one I've had for 18 years. My mom bought it when I was a kid, it happens to be made of wood and I LOVE it. And I do brush everyday.
Love this!! I just found you and am excited to binge your videos! You also really impress me on how you addresses cancel culture and how you have the attitude of love and respect everyone, even if you don’t agree on everything with them! 💕
I have lived without multiple vehicles for 2 years now because of health and financial issues. I don't work currently or drive without supervision/someone else so I thought it was pointless to have a vehicle sitting around, deteriorating, while I I can't even use it. I also wasn't about to be fined for having my car on the street, so I sold it to my dad for my little brothers. The car was a beater anyway but it was the second car I ever got myself and I loved it. I miss driving, but we totally make due with my fiancés vehicle. He lets me drive whenever I want and he always makes sure I'm comfortable enough to drive. 🤷♀️ one vehicle is definitely doable for young couples without kids, and older people, not so much the 8 member household I grew up in.
My family has three cars. My father went to work so did my aunt and mother and they worked in very distant places. It is really nice to hear your perspective on these things as a kid especially the antihauls. And your blog is also AMAZING
My family of 6 (2 parents, 4 kids) had 8 cars at one point. Each teenager had a car to drive, since we all went to different high schools, and parents both worked in different cities. The final two were "fixer-uppers" my dad was working on. I still cringe thinking about owning so many....
I like listening to your rants Shelbizleee, but every so often I find your content so... American??! I can't really relate to so many things you mention, it's like a radical ecological lifestyle in the States would be just an average one (environmentwise) in Europe
Well. She is American. If she relates to you, it'll turn off the American watchers, who will feel she's too extreme, and considering Americans are the ones that need to decrease their consumption the most, that wouldn't be very good, right?
Honestly I feel the same way at least when it comes to that the standard European lifestyle is already about as ecological as what she talks about here. Straws never really were a huge thing here, neither were napkins and shit just isn't as packaged here in general from what I have seen. I'm saying this as a German from a bigger city and even here it's super common not to own a car and use public transport and do your shopping by foot. I get why her stuff is so American centric, she is from the US after all
teh Czmych You’re lucky to live like that. Here in America her way of living IS considered extreme. The important thing is that we all are doing our best.
I use the same hair ties as your one and I cherish them for the same reasons you mentioned in the video. At one point I lost all of them... I think the problem is that you buy them in a set (of 5) so you may not take care of them as much if you know you have back-up. Mine found their way back to me eventually. They would hide in odd places at home or work. So I didnt actually had to repurchase them. Yay!
I have one car. I live with housemates but our job locations and hours are so different that carpooling isn't an option. I tried using the bus system in Santa Barbara for a while (my job offers to pay for that expense) but after being followed to work by some creepy man, I decided it wasn't worth my safety. (Literally had to run into our secured building and he only couldn't go in because he would need a badge to enter) I did not mind the inconvenience of having to walk a 1/2 hour to the stop + the ride (so an hour commute vs a 10 minute drive). But the being followed was where I drew the line and gave up. I wish we didn't live in a society where woman literally cannot do anything, like ride a bus, without men being gross and creepy, but that was my reality. My car was passed down to me and the peace of mind for me (and my family) has been priceless.
Stacey Cruz That is one of the reasons I don’t take the bus, and any time I could use public transportation it starts with a bus. Too much harassment, too many guys who think grabbing me is ok.
@@juniperraven1386 OMG I thought I was crazy and totally alone. I've taken transportation in SB, LA, Rio de Janiero, and some places in various countries throughout Europe. Between dealing with crazy people, getting robbed and now followed.... I like avoid it at all costs unless I am with another human.
I probably binged thru 80 % of your videos. And it really makes me happy to found someone who says, yeah it is okay to not be perfect at living ecological. Also this videos keep me motivated to do try a more and more of zero waste. :)
It’s hilarious how you found the hair tie on the ground hahahahahahahahaha but you love it so much. I wanna know what it’s made of!!! O Hairtie of Mystery, please reveal thy secrets
My mother also had a TV in the kitchen...even though you could see the living room TV from the kitchen. She also put one in the main bathroom. She used it to watch TV when she had to give my baby brother a bath. But realistically, that thing was turned on like twice a year. It seemed like more of a status symbol than anything else.
I saw that phone case recently and it is on my purchase list for my next phone. The one I have now has lasted 2 years and even though it's made of plastic I'm not getting rid of it till it falls apart. I also love how minimalism is different for each person. For me I need multiple hair ties because I am extremely forgetful and lose them very easily. But I always find them again when I tidy up my room 😝
Okay I’ve only watched the intro so far but just want to say your hair looks absolutely gorgeous and so healthy!! But I’m sure I’ll love the rest of the video because you’re my favorite and always have such amazing things to say!
I got a mis-monogram pottery barn suitcase. I have now owned it for 10 years. I only do carry on, no matter how long my trip is. It never gets beat up or thrown around. Good quality and it didn’t get thrown away ❤️
I only own 2 hair ties! And these were actually handmade by a friend from my mom out of old telephone cables! The reason I own 2 instead of 1 is because I have such heavy hair, only one wouldn't be enough to keep it up in a ponytail hahaha
The auto industry is the reason why our country is so heavily populated with cars, it sucks. Their need to sell more cars formed the entire existence of highways, suburbs, and malls with huge parking lots. I recently moved to a city with excellent public transport and was able to sell my car! It makes me wish it could be that way everywhere.
My husband and I only have one vehicle. My husband has a work vehicle that he drives and I’m a stay at home mom so I use the vehicle when my husband is at work. 90% of the time it works out where we are fine with only having one vehicle but we have ran into a few situations where if we had a second vehicle it would have saved us the headache. However, we do plan to get a second vehicle because we rack up the miles on the vehicle we have now.
Thank you so much for bringing up Pela cases. I have been needing a new phone case for a while now. The back of my phone has shattered because the case I have right now is not secure enough so I’ve been looking for a new case and every one that I’ve seen in stores just hasn’t felt right to me and I haven’t liked the way they looked or anything and then you mentioned Pela and decided to order from them. Because they’re protective and sustainable, I feel good about my purchase for so many reasons and I used your code so I got money off my order! Thank youuuu
It's funny because I thought everyone was wearing hair ties found on the ground like you and me and I always wondered who could buy those boxes of 100. Apparently we are not the norm 🤣
Super happy on my end that I also have only one of all those things as well except hair ties and toothbrushes. I use my old ones for cleaning tough spots, and I like to keep an extra because it can be hard finding bamboo ones where I live and i don't find myself rushing to choose an uneco friendly option ^^ As for hair ties I had a ton from pre zero waste that I'm working though :)
I bought a pack of 5 bamboo toothbrushes because that was the most economical option. Also, since they needed to be shipped to me, that's 4 less trucks coming to my house to bring me my toothbrush. At 3 months per brush, that pack will keep my teeth clean for over a year! I keep the extras under the sink :-)
When I got married I got rid of my car and I currently share with my husband. He commutes 5-6 days a week, so I have been learning to deal with the weird bus system here and walking even when there are no sidewalks 🙃 Definitely not a good lifestyle for everyone, but I like that I’m pushing myself rather than just relying on what would be more comfortable.
pela don't make a case for he phone I have, so I just bought a clear one and I put feathers, snake sheds, bug wings, and whatever cool stuff I pick up off the ground. you could also use scraps of pretty paper or whatever under there. I get bored of stuff like that easy so I can just compost the decorations when im done or put them away for later use
I think she already did one a while back. I remember her talking about reasons why she did not believe in making her cat go vegan and tips on litter box use/ toys and all the fun cat things.
Use pine pellets. Cheaper and can be used as plant mulch after kitty uses it. Buy cat treats/food ghats made locally if possible or sustainably sourced.
@@MusikGirl23 I thought flushing cat poop was bad for ocean wildlife. I live right by the ocean and was always advised against flushing anything cat related.
Thanks for the ideas. My husband and I are both retired, and for quite a few years now, we share a car, a Prius. It's fine for us. I'm a homebody these days, so we keep a calendar on the fridge that shows who needs what when in terms of appointments or engagements. I have several pocketbooks, but I bought two high quality ones that I have had for almost 20 years. The others are from consignment stores, maybe 3.
It's been a journey to the point where I am pretty good at keeping track of my hair ties. I have lots more than. One, but I do try to keep track of them, and I do much better than I used to. My current pack is about half full, and I bought it maybe 1.5-2 years ago. Also I keep two Combs, one in my bedroom, and one in my purse. I also used to lose those all the time and I'm much better now.
We just retired our very worn suitcases. We had 2 years of long distance relationship, and still live half a country away from most of our family. We got a new one and it's so well engineered! Hopefully we won't need to put it through as much labor as our old ones. It's a carry on and a medium for 2 people, and I think that's not bad.
Ive been following The Story of Stuff for years! It has SO much good information! I don’t know who Sarah is, but I do appreciate your policy of not shutting out ideas that don’t match your own!
I have a few different purses, but it has been over ten years since I bought one. I do like to have at minimum a black purse and a brown purse for better color coordination, but once I have them, I use those things up. I picked what I liked and I will use them until they are totally falling apart.
*To anyone wondering why I would "support" Sarah* - Please understand that I do not shut out any thoughts that do not align with my own. I've lived in a place where everyone around me believes differently than I do and that does not change my views whatsoever.
In addition, the concerns I'm seeing about Sarah and her beliefs are things I had no idea about. As I said, I've only watched her off and on.
Regardless, I encourage you not to participate in cancel culture nor to shut out any thoughts and beliefs that are not your own. We will never change the world that way.
I was simply giving credit to the person I got this video idea from, if you do not feel comfortable supporting her I totally respect your choice.
Shelbizleee I love Sara’s videos and I also love yours I’m not religious but I won’t not support someone because of their preferences .
I'm so glad to see this comment. I'm quite new to the concept of zero-waste and minimalism, but what I've been learning recently has made me much more mindful of the choices I make. Your mindset is what really made me look deeper into these movements; this is a place where we can all work together to do good regardless of our beliefs, ethnicities, gender, political views etc. It saddens me that some people don't see it this way.
I'm not a fan of "cancel culture" (which, by the way, Christians are no stranger to. I was one of them until 2 years ago and lived through the time when they refused to buy P&G because there was a rumor that the CEO literally worshipped Satan and when they didn't listen to Amy Grant because of her divorce...ijs maybe I dislike it so much because I was raised in it within the Church).
ANY way, still I'm grateful whenever someone makes me aware of what someone chooses to do with their platform so that I can choose whether to support them or not. I think cancelling someone goes a step further when it condemns not just the person with that platform but anyone else in their audience as if simply watching someone's content is an endorsement of every idea they've put out. I don't like the toxic culture that leads to. But I also feel icky giving clicks and ad revenue to someone who uses that platform I support to promote harmful ideologies. You're right about needing to change minds, but sometimes unsubscribing is a form of self-care when you could get a minimal waste video in your feed one day and an anti-choice video the next. I just like to be aware of what I'm in for.
(Edit for clarity)
I love Sarah mostly because she is a minimalist mama (and Im also thiriving to be one) and while I dont agree with some of her content in my opinon her videos are enjoyable and informative (second hand shopping, sustainable clothing, mostly plant based meals etc)
Thank you for your way of seeing things, and of course cancel coulture is not a good thing at all. In my perspective, I would just not like to support her not due to her beliefs, but because of things she has said that were innacurate and disrespectful. I think that respect should always be there when discussing controversial topics and especially sensible ones. Never shut out healthy conversations tho, that is what makes us see the world in different perspectives
“The reason I only own one suitcase is similar to the reason I only own one hair tie.”
Me: *she found it on the ground*
This is exactly where my mind went 😂😂😂
I laughed out loud at this
@@missaniebananie6473 me too😂
For mascara : when you’re done clean off the wands and donate them to animal shelters / wands for wildlife! They’re used to remove ticks,fleas and bug eggs from animals and they can be used to help preen bird feathers.
There are also mascaras that are replacements that don't have wands
Didn’t know that! Thanks!
update: as far as I know they don't want these anymore and mentioned that the wands to come will unfortunately be disposed of because they already have an enormous amount of them! Nevertheless, it used to be a cute way to reuse these wands c: instead of doing this, you can a) save it for brushing out your lashes/brows b) buy a wand-less mascara, for example in a small container and use your old wand(s) or c) make your own mascara, I guess there are recipes for safe ones? But I'm not sure
i do that all the time!!❤️
i want my future spouse to talk about me the way shelbi talks about her hair tie
I'm sitting here with my package and now I feel bad. But how do I only buy one ???
@@phillipsfamilyvlogs9173 VERY GOOD POINT
Phillips Family Vlogs you don’t. You borrow it from someone else.
@@teeamabry i saw some today packages around just a paper or cardboard holder. I didn't look close as I was in a hurry but didn't seem to have any plastic at all
I think this sheds a lot of light on American consumerism, like who knew owning only one of all these items is ‘minimalism’ 💀 one TV? Are you for real?
When I was growing up, we had a tv in each bedroom, the living room and the downstairs living room 😂
Now I only have a "small" one (about 4 ft wide) that I got second hand and everyone thinks its too small and I'm crazy for not wanting another one for the bedroom 😅
I know you don’t like talking about your past life because it was “wasteful” but I’d love to see a video of you talking about wasteful things you no longer do now that you are eco conscious. For example, in this video you said how you had a phone case in every color to match your ootd. It’ll show what a long ways you’ve come in your eco minimalism journey and give people ideas on what they could possibly be doing to further help the environment outside of eco friendly swaps/consumerism. I for instance, used to wear my clothes only once before washing them. Now I wear them until they are actually dirty before washing them. Thanks!
She talks about it a lot in her videos and often gives examples of things she used to do/own
Amy Lea yes I know, and a whole video on it would be quite interesting to me at least.
I agree this would be interesting to do a focused video!
I think she has a video about it called 'cringey things I used to do'
I had absolutely no idea that owning multiple phone cases/swapping them out was a thing. Mind = blown. I can't imagine swapping out phone cases on the regular.
I worked with a woman who had a new one every month. A new poppet too. It was baffling.
And to have 25 of them!
I always use ONE phone case, until (after YEARS) I buy a new generation phone.
Still have my last two phones and cases just in case my actual one is damaged.
@@isaultra3405 exactly, I've only bought a new case when I've had to get a new phone
I don't own a case. I protect my phone the old fashioned way. By not dropping it or loaning it out to people or children.
As a European, I sometimes shudder when watching your videos. I do not understand how it's possible that there are people out there who think it's normal to earn multiple cars PER PERSON and a TV IN EVERY SINGLE ROOM??? 90% of the items you mentioned in your video are perfectly normal for me to only own one of and I've never even thought of owning more.
Bea dC I’m English.and we have two cars.but one is like everyday car and the other one is bigger so like holiday car
I’m from Finland and while I do agree, growing up we always had 2-3 cars at a time. The reason why was because we live in the country side, my dad had a metal working business + agriculture business so he needed a bigger car for moving things, materials etc. and we had one smaller car for everyday use. Also we have two wheelchair users in our family so we needed another car that was accessible for and could fit all of us.
It was still sustainable though, noone in my family has ever owned a car that wasn’t atleast 5-10 years old, some of them were even bought from a demolition site and driven until they literally fell apart. I think with cars there’s a very big difference between wants and needs, if you just collect cars for no reason it’s an issue, but if you have a need for several cars then I think it’s okay. Plus, driving alone in like a mini bus 100% of the time is not very sustainable because the bigger the truck the bigger the emission. If you have the ability to have a smaller car for shorter trips I’d say it’s actually more sustainable than having just the one car. It’s actually kinda the norm here on the country side to have a small car for work or grocery trips because so many people have big trucks or vans and they take way too much gas for everyday driving.
though it's weird for u, don't u find it interesting how different cultures can be but at the same time how far people can go to change their cultural habits?
Same! Ok, I'm not European but I'm glad some people realize how unnecessary it is to have extras of those
I think its a cultural thing. Where I grew up, it was a luxury to even own a car. I still don't and honestly I don't want to either. Same with TV ( no one I knew growing up had more than one TV), phone cases ( didn't know people owned multiple phone cases let alone match them with outfits until I started watching TH-cam) and I didn't own a suitcase until I had to pack when I moved to a different country (till then we've always borrowed those from some family or friend when we needed them just like how we lent family and friends the stuff we owned and they didn't) . People are influenced by their surroundings (and now media). I'm glad that minimalism and sustainability have become more or less trends now. Of all trends we have had come and go, these are the best ones
We thank you, random VSCO girl, for your sidewalk gift.
I can't imagine having hair that doesn't break or stretch out hair ties. Interesting.
Brie.InHerElement yes mine stretch and break within a month
Just get a really good hair tie! I have really curly hair and have been using a hair tie (without elastic) for the last year. It's awesome. :)
I have the same hair tie, they sell them in Mexico, they're amazing, ive had mine for two years.
my mom and my aunt have thick curly hair, and this is the criteria they've developed for hair ties: no metal clasp and no glue, either sewn closed or seamless. they figure out somehow if the elastic inside is plastic or fabric, and choose always fabric. most of the time, they end up buying scrunchies (they gave me one, and it is this tiny scrunchie that is the size of a regular hair tie)
Right?! I only own scrunchies at this point because they are more durable
I would love to see a video on how you fit eco-minimalism with pet-owning. I know it's one of those industries that is sometimes unnecessarily wasteful so it would be cool to see your take on it (also I just wanna see your cat more).
If anyone is wondering, the hair tie is most likely scuncii hosiery brand. They work pretty well. You could probably find a more sustainable brand though.
I think it's important to contextualize the need for a car depending on where you live. In most American cities the public transit system is horrible. And in the South West cities are usually built wide rather than tall. With everything so far apart (and summer temperatures being what they are) it can be really difficult for a lot of people to not have their own car.
We have been a one-car family for 10 years. We have FOUR kids and my husband works full-time. Honestly, it's miserable. I am extremely extroverted and feel very stuck at home. We also have very limited time to get errands done and we're always racing around so that my husband can get to work on time. Since I have to go grocery shopping and to kid's appointments, extracurricular activities, etc when I have the van, we are always feeling rushed, stressed, and stuck. I bike around my town with all of my kids in tow either on their own scooters or bikes or in my bike trailer. It's not always easy and if we could afford it we would absolutely have a second vehicle. It would completely change our lives for the better.
I'm so sorry it's such a struggle. I totally understand. I am not sure how my husband did anything because I would take our 1 car the whole week to school and I came back on the weekends. If he needed to go somewhere he had to walk. In the rain and snow. Its miserable. Luckily I'm done with school and he takes the car now and I walk to work. We will definitely be getting a second car soon.
When my husband and I only had one car I would sometimes drop him off or pic him up from work. A few times he also carpooled with a coworker when I needed the car. If work isn't too far maybe you could consider. I also have a friend who worked night shift while his wife was on days to share the car.
I love that you use your bike to get around! Since this is already an option for you, maybe look into cargo bikes. There are lots of different models. I personally prefer the 3 wheeled with a large box in the front models. We use it to drive our 2 larger dogs around and do the grocery shopping. It fits more than a regular car trunk and I don't need to find a parking lot. Many of them also come with benches for children.
gezellig held. Why are you suggesting she ride a bike when she has already told us she rides a bike?
Sounds like you need another car to .make your life a bit easier.
I have one clear phone case, it’s nice because I can put a drawing or Polaroid and change it that way.
How do you Stop it from getting all weird and yellow??
@@abirami9481 you don’t, I don’t at least, it kinda sucks but honestly I don’t mind cause it’s easy to change it up 🤷🏼♀️
Yeah it’s super yellow, but I don’t care too much
Interesting the difference in American culture... living in Britain I feel like it’s completely normal to own one of each of these and definitely not a talking point?
C Kirkwood It is normal to own only one of those items in America also! I have watched multiple TH-cam channels making these “I only own one” videos lately. It seems to be a trending video right now, but stuff they list in the videos is stuff most normal people own only one of.
The only thing I own more than 1 of is the hair tie.
C Kirkwood I agree. If I worked from home here in a town in UK I wouldn’t get a car at all. And in fact I commute to work by bus and it’s normal to me. A car is a huge expense and impact on the planet resources and pollution. I get it if a family lives literally in the middle of nowhere or in the countryside and needs it to go to school and work but one should be enough for a small family. Unless people don’t want to save money and the planet. But each to their own. This is just my opinion.
ericatouahri The thing is, you could actually reasonably take the bus to get to work. I live in a fairly good-sized city in the US south. It takes me 20 minutes to get to work by car, but if I took the bus it would be a 1 hour 45 minute trip because the bus lines are so sparse. Now factor in having a spouse in a similar work situation, and you’ll see why many US families have 1 car per person. I wish public transit in the US didn’t suck so much lol
@@bamahornplayer yea it takes like 5-10 minutes to get to work by car but 1h by bus because I have to catch 2.
When you started talking about your suitcase situation being similar to the hair tie, I thought you were going to say you found it on the ground 😂
I don’t own a TV, I own a small projector for when I want to have movie nights, which makes it much easier to move (I move very frequently).
And I don’t own a car, more so because I’m a student living in a college town. I’m saving to buy a hybrid or something like that :)
omg love that idea, buying an expensive TV has always been a distant idea in my head
Same!! College student and I own a projector that is soo easy to take with me everywhere and I have a bike and a Prius 2018
I want to get a projector so bad! Which one do u have ?
For all confused Europeans: The European Union has 350 million people in 4.4 million km/sq. The USA has 310 million people in 9.8 million km/sq. The USA is just really big and everything is REALLY spaced out, and public transport isn't that good yet.
That doesn't justify owning multiple cars PER PERSON though
Bea dC some people (who can afford it), prefer to have at least 2 in the incident that their main car has to be in the shop, mechanic, accident, etc
Yeah, my house growing up was a 45 minute car drive to a grocery store- there is no public transit option and getting rides from friends/neighbors that far was pretty rude... that being said we had no more than 1 car per person old enough to drive and 1 truck for all the gross/rough jobs that the other gas-friendly cars couldn’t handle
Olga S-Cruz it’s not so much the country being big as the way the cities were designed. A lot of US cities/suburbs were specifically designed for cars whereas most european cities were already established before cars became common
Just a small update: 2018 census says the US has 327.2 million folks :)
After watching this, I guess I’ve been doing a version of eco-minimalism for a lot longer than I realized! 🙂 I only own one of every single thing you mentioned in this video. Same goes for a lot of other things as well.
Also, I think the fact that you and Madison each have a car makes perfect sense. I think for most people, and in most places in the US, one car per person is sensible and often necessary.
blueowl89 yeah I don’t really get the point of this video, because I didn’t even own most of the stuff on this list? Is this supposed to be inspiring?
I kept my really old ratty shoes and threw them in the trunk of my car so that if my car breaks down and I'm in sandles/heels I have tennis shoes to walk somewhere or work on the car
I do the same and lucky I did because just last week I forgot to put sandals on before work... Drove an hour and parked before realising. Spare old sand shoes saved me!
If you do ever lose the hair tie, you can cut old stockings or the cuff of an old sock into a hair tie
Seriously though, the morning after I first watched this video I was walking to work and saw a hairband on the floor. It was still dark out so I couldn't see it very well but I picked it up anyway. Not something I would've usually done but I had your video in my head.
Got home and cleaned it up - I swear it's the exact same hairband as you've got!
And yes, I already love it! 😍
Is someone out there throwing away the same hairbands everywhere? 😂
Hey Shelbi, this is my first TH-cam comment ever! But I wanted to let you know that I relate to you a lot and I love what you're doing for sustainability. I'm also a 20 something girl living in Texas (Galveston) and have a master's degree in wildlife ecology and biology and have always been into living more sustainably. I dont use other social media and just recently got into watching TH-cam videos when I was recommended a video of your channel I watched pretty much all of them as well as your other channel with Madison (you guys are so cute and funny!). I appreciate both channels because I have learned a lot about transitioning to a lower impact lifestyle without having to be this picture perfect zero waste person. I've been implementing a lot of changes in my life to live more consciously and minimally based on videos like yours and other research I've done. Thanks so much for doing what you do, I know it's a lot of work but you really are making a difference in people's lives which in turn affects the planet. Keep at it girl!
I really feel like having multiple TV's is an American thing.. I don't know any people in Belgium with more than 1 TV tbh... I don't know.. do other Europeans feel this ?
Same with multiple cars per Personn- unless people are just ricchhh!!! but maybe it's because cars are cheaper in the US ?
I'm from the UK and was thinking the same thing. I agree that it is probably just in America
I'm European and I've never known anyone who has more than two TVs, but I know a lot of families who have multiple cars, usually one for each partner, because they work in different parts of the city and have different schedules and sharing one car is not practical.
The max tv I have seen in a single household is 2 and it tends to be the old TV given to children so they can watch DVDS on it in the basement
Definitely a US thing. I've seen 2 in some middle class households, like having a second older TV in the bedroom or kids' room, but even that isn't common. And for my generation or younger (I'm 27), I feel like it's not even that unusual to not have a TV at all, unless you're a console gamer. Many people just watch series on their monitors/laptops.
I know some Germans that have TVs in their bedroom..
I picked up my two handkerchiefs from the ground! I know it sounds vile, but after a wash, they were fine.
I do own several hair ties several hair ties, but like you, I picked them all up from the pavement. Ditto hair pins. I don't buy them, just pick them up.
My husband has a car. I don't drive so we only need one. Most families in the UK only tend to have one too. I get that in America, the situation is very different, not least because the country is so vast.
We only have one television, but we're donating it soon. We never watch it.
Was thinking about you, Sustainably Vegan and Greta today actually. We needed new soap for the shower (we've given up buying shower gel). I bought some plastic free bars from the specialist shop. Also, I needed a new black blazer (the one I had is too small). I was determined not to buy new and bought a second-hand one from a charity shop. And yes, I used my own bags for these.
Our consumption is REALLY going down and it is largely due to watching your channel. xxx
UK resident :)
I think owning multiple cars really also depends on where you live, what you use them for, and even who's driving them. We have 2, one is small the other big. I learnt to drive in the small one and now use it to commute. The big one is used for family trips mostly, and is far more comfortable!
Cost doesn't play a big role, as they were both second-hand vehicules.
It's overall far cheaper for me to buy petrol once every two weeks than spend out every day just to get to work by train - a sad truth!
Nicola H-H - I’ve been tempted to pickup hair ties from the ground but wondered if that was too weird. Now that I know other people do it, I’m going to start!
yeah, i pick up almost all hair ties I see on the ground when walking the streets... so I own a lot now. I don't even use them all 😆 I think I have to find new types of usage for them 🤔
I recently found your channel and I really appreciate you! A lot of sustainability channels made me feel like I was failing if I wasn’t doing everything perfectly. You encourage us to make better choices without making me feel like I’m awful for not being 100 sustainable yet. Keep encouraging people, you’re making a difference! And thank you for helping me make better choices for the planet. ❤️
Not a big fan of Sarah. She made a video about abortion in which she spread a lot of misinformation and did a few other things that made me too uncomfortable to continue watching her videos.
Love your video tho!
Anabel Dorothea I agree, I saw that video too and it completely turned me off of her content.
I agree. After that video I hated her.
Yeah, I watched some of her videos until she posted one stating that she's a christian mommy and whatever and that was enough to turn me off her content, so I didn't even watch this abortion one. Reading your comment makes me believe that my instincts were right...
I never heard of the abortion video but I watched her "why I'm no longer vegan" and she openly said she didn't care about animals and laughed when she put her childhood pet fish down the garbage disposal!!!
Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way...She just put out that video and turned off all the comments. I understand she has the right to her own opinion but for something as important as abortion it's important to be able to have conversation in the comments so people are getting accurate information. Since then I really take her opinions with a grain of salt and I don't watch her as often as I used to.
There’s just something about seeing a cat or dog doing their thing in the background of any video that warms my heart 😊💕
I too want to be a pela case and be composed and sent back to the earth when I die
I didn't even realise any of these things people had multiples of (except the hair bobbles/brush) maybe we are weird in the UK? A lot of people I know don't even have a car, we just cycle/bus everywhere
Edit: where I live we do not have good public transport and it is hilly, windy and there are very few bike lanes but we manage. I used to get a bus to my university that took 2 hours each way everyday but if you do things differently then great! but this is just how things are where I live.
Little Miss Blue In terms of vehicles, I guess it depends on how good the public transportation system is in your area. Here in my city in Canada, it’s terrible so mostly everyone drives. My fiancé and I also have different schedules so we need two separate cars to get where we need to go
I was surprised about this too (I'm from eastern Europe). Like, 5 TVs??? whoa. I've never seen anyone who has more than two, and most people who's house I've been in has either one or none. But it's interesting to see videos like this, it helps me understand how different lifestyle can be in a different part of the world.
@@Emilyjadeofficial we don't have great public transport either. We just use it where possible and cycle everywhere else
I wish I didnt need a car 😭 where I live in the US, everything is spread very far apart, public transport is terrible and limited, rarely are there bike lanes, and some places dont even have proper sidewalks. It's also so hilly in some places that the sidewalk turns into stairs, so it makes biking annoying if you're not very fit or don't have the time to walk the bike.
@@adelest9500 yeah a lot of older people I know and students don't have a TV. You are right it is definitely interesting ☺
I lose hair ties cause of my cats lol. I actually caught the male cat (abhorsen) pulling one out of my hair as I slept!
omg is he named after the Old Kingdom series?
@Xan Hadsell yes my husband and I bonded over that book series on our second date. He had named his cats Abhorsen and Sabriel
@Darla Darling that’s so cute !!
give them chin scratches for me :,)
😂😂😂
Hoo boy I can’t wait to see how many people forget you can wash things when they get to the hair tie part.
I didn’t realize multiple phone cases was a thing. Gah. I’ll admit though, that I rarely even wear mascara, and still manage to have 4 of them!
My parents have always had a “backup” car growing up, so that’s my normal. I think it’s typically because we’ve always had crappy vehicles so if one needed worked on they could drive the backup in its place. I currently own two cars myself simply because I bought a newer car in September and haven’t sold my old one yet (because it’s too cold for me to stand out there with people and look at it lol Ohio weather).
My hair ties wear out so easily, I can’t wait to get through the rest of them and then find one like yours! I do keep mine within eye sight all the time though because I don’t want to get rid of or lose it before it’s totally beyond repair/overstretched
pinkstp I think the one she has is the same kind I use. They’re goodys brand athletica style. You can buy them at Walmart target etc. they feel like rolled up fabric! I’ve had mine forever!!!
I have the plastic spiral ones (a necessary evil for me). They’re pretty good! They last for aaaages. When they stretch you just shove it in the wash and it shrinks again! Plus better for your hair :)
You should guard your current hair ties with your life! Until they completely break like you said, you shouldn't try to use them up, they're probably perfectly good!
That my favorite type of hair tie! IF you should ever lose that one, an amazon search for non elastic hair ties will produce exactly what you’re looking for :)
Hey Shelbi, I just wanted to let you know that you are very beautiful, inside and out. You are making a giant impact in the lives of others and you should be really, really proud of yourself. I hope that you are doing well darling.
My parents (well, I should say my dad) have 6 cars, a boat and a camper and 3 of their cars don’t even run anymore but my dad “won’t get back what he payed for them” or “plans to fix them someday” and it drives my brother, mom and I insane! 😩
We don't own a car, just two bikes and that's it. But we live in Amsterdam and are able to take public transport or cycle everywhere. We both cycle to work and rent a car when really neccecary. My parents own one car and they live in the centre of Amsterdam, my mom wants to get rid of it though but my dad doesn't.
A couple of years ago I was engaged to be married and my parents thought having a wedding was such a waste of money my dad even said 'don't spend money on that, buy a car!'. Hahahaha
I love Amsterdam. We looked into moving there (this was in the days before Brexit!!) but we just couldn't afford it. We have to content ourselves with visiting there when we can.
Ahhh Amsterdam!! Lucky!
When you find one thing that has really good quality it can easily replace a lot of other things that are lower quality"
This how I be feeling about my boyfriend compared to exes
I grew up in a family of 5. We only had one car growing up. And my parents changed it when it totally broke. I was so sad and now that we have another one, stills feel new to me after 10 years. I have only known 2 cars and is so weird to me when I hear people from the states talking about owning multiple cars or changing them after 3 years. Idk, just my opinion :)
Family of three. One car. Got another one when we moved. I live in the US btw
@@random23287 of course, I didn't say everyone was like that:)
I LOVE my Pela phone case! It’s so cute and I love that I’m helping the planet and I got it for around $13 a while ago on sale and I’ll definitely purchase another if I end up getting a different phone when this one breaks or if I want a second one. Highly recommend ☺️
I FOUND THE HAIRTIE! Ever since watching her video, Ive been researching rubber and plastic free hair ties. The ones that I've found that are almost identical to hers are from a brand called Ela accessories. They are called long lasting hair elastics. Even their packaging is plastic free. I found that they are sold online as well as in Walgreens! Hope this helps!
If these are the weird things to have one of, I must be a top-tier minimalist..
I’m not sure if you have one already or not, but I would like to see a packing video for a weeks trip. I always end up with a giant suitcase.
I got a pack of hair ties like that for christmas a few years ago and I'm still using all of them to this day. EVERYONE NEEDS THEM.
Do you know what brand?
They have them at Claire's and icing!
Listening to this I realise I've grown up with parents that are pretty screwed on with how they treat buying things, but I think it comes from a "we're broke" perspective rather than an eco perspective; we had 1 TV growing up, and I remember it being 5 channels and huge until I was like 12, then we upgraded to a flat screen with ALL THE CHANNELS when I hit secondary school (they still have the TV, I'm now 24) but only bc my grandad died so that's what the inheritance money went on.
Dad also has an allotment so whenever I come home dinner has to be picked, there's a bucket of potatoes in the downstairs loo (rarely used), there's always some sort of preserve to be made it's like.. they're sorted for the apocolyse ngl
Super interesting video! Regarding the cars, I am from Puerto Rico and public transportation is limited, not efficient, and most things are too far away to take a bike, so there are 4 cars in my family (my dad has 2, my mom has 1, and my stepfather has 1). However, when I lived in NYC for 4 years, I almost always took the subway! In my opinion, that really depends on how efficient the public transportation system is where you live. But I also think a person having more than 1 car is excessive lol Love your channel!
One thing Sarah said that blew my mind was that she has ONE nail polish. I've got a frickin box of multiple colours and I've paired it down to one all purpose nude colour. And I don't ever think 'hey I miss that duck egg blue' to be perfectly honest!
Check out Allbirds for your tennis shoes Shelby!! Its a really sick sustainable brand that uses natural renewable materials to make their shoes :)
I love my all birds! My only gripe is it doesnt have enough arch support for me but that's just cause I have really deep arch and I haven't found a pair of shoes yet that supports it well so it isn't really a gripe
A way to change the look of your phone without having multiple phone cases is to get a clear phone case and cut out some fun pictures, colored paper etc to the shape of the back of your phone and put it between your phone and your case. I have a clear phone case and I like to repurpose stuff like old calendars, post cards, paper from presents I've received etc, a lot of it makes a super cute "phone case". (If I were to get a new phone/phone case now I would definitely consider getting a Pela one which obviously doesn't come in clear, but I've had my clear case since long before I knew of Pela, and also not everyone has a phone that Pela/other compostible case companies make cases for)
A good mascara that is eco-friendly (but a bit pricey I'll admit) is Bésame Cosmetics Mascara Cake, it's just a solid little brick of mascara in a tin and is amazing as a mascara and eyeliner and brow gel as well! Only problem is that the tin also comes with a tiny (and horrible to use) plastic brush wrapped in a little bag. The company offers refills of mascara in a tiny brown paper bag so you only buy one tin and one plastic brush. It's the most eco-friendly option of mascara I've found
I plan to just buy the refill and put it in a container I already have. ;)
This is what mascara was like when I was growing up in the 1970s.
I have a pair of fancy shoes that rarely get worn(funerals, interviews, site tours) but I buy one pair of rainbow hemp sandals per year and wear them every single day. Once they're getting worn and ready to break, I give them back to the manufacturer because they repair them and give them to people who need shoes.
My “also retired parents” own multiple cars too, and my dad have 2 motorbikes, I thought it was just my family! I own only 1 now though I used to own multiple cars in the past too.
Ooh and I only own 1 phone case, it’s a body glove flip case and it came apart at one point so I fixed it, I had it since the day I got my iPhone 7 which is like 3+ years old but I have no desire to get a newer version, my phone works perfectly and still looks brand new.
Had my laptop for about 7 years, keep it maintained and it still does what I need it to do, I’ve had the same canon camera for 10 years, perfect condition. I’m all about owning 1 great quality product to last for a long time. Bought every single furniture item in my house second hand (or was hand me downs) with the exception of my bedroom set, same goes for my mismatched crockery and cutlery, pots and pans (I purchased only 1 pot new, the others all came from somewhere and I’ve been using them for about 7 to 8 years.
So my “stinginess” was always “eco-minimalism” and I’m only at the start of this journey! Looking forward to seeing more of your content! Keep it up girl!
Btw, I’m South African but I lived in (Dripping Springs) Austin, TX on an exchange program in 2009!
I come from a 3 children home, and remember we had a shared television only in the living room when we were young.
Then we grew up and teenagers became teenagers and suddently sharing isn't good enough. We got a television in each of our rooms and still in the living room (so 4 televisions overall) They were all either hand-me-downs or used later for something else, like a extra monitor.
We also had 3 cars, one for mom and one for dad, one got used daily and the other one was used once in a while when the weather was really bad and my mother couldn't bike to work. the third one? Well that was my fathers hobby, so even though we had 3, I dont think it was really a waste.
Now that I am at least mostly grown up, we once again only have one television (my boyfriend and I bought a good one that should last us years) and also only one car, because I need it for work. My boyfriend though takes public transport every day.
Overall I don't really feel like it is wasteful to have "a lot" of stuff, it all depends on if you use it.
Seeing poor culture intertwining with minimalist with this one 😂
could you educate me on what poor culture is? Never hear this term before.
I’m not poor but i still practice frugality & eco-minimalism. I would rather work part-time and travel than give in to lifestyle inflation and work full-time. But that’s just my 2-cents
Leslie Bowlus it’s literally just being poor lol
she had like 5 TVs and 4 cars growing up and she was poor?? how does that work lol
@@lovemorgan6690 no one said those cars and TVs were new tho. I'm at the higher end of poor and we had 3 cars and 5 TVs but the cars were pretty old and the TVs were only purchased at cheap prices and I've had the same tv for like over 10 years lol
I would love a video about how you pack minimally for longer trips.
I only have one hair brush too, and it's been the same one I've had for 18 years. My mom bought it when I was a kid, it happens to be made of wood and I LOVE it. And I do brush everyday.
NO judgement for the found hair tie. Oh of my favorite cardigans I ever owned I found while hiking at a public park. Reduce, reuse baybee
Love this!! I just found you and am excited to binge your videos! You also really impress me on how you addresses cancel culture and how you have the attitude of love and respect everyone, even if you don’t agree on everything with them! 💕
I have lived without multiple vehicles for 2 years now because of health and financial issues. I don't work currently or drive without supervision/someone else so I thought it was pointless to have a vehicle sitting around, deteriorating, while I I can't even use it. I also wasn't about to be fined for having my car on the street, so I sold it to my dad for my little brothers. The car was a beater anyway but it was the second car I ever got myself and I loved it. I miss driving, but we totally make due with my fiancés vehicle. He lets me drive whenever I want and he always makes sure I'm comfortable enough to drive. 🤷♀️ one vehicle is definitely doable for young couples without kids, and older people, not so much the 8 member household I grew up in.
My family has three cars. My father went to work so did my aunt and mother and they worked in very distant places. It is really nice to hear your perspective on these things as a kid especially the antihauls. And your blog is also AMAZING
Thank you for giving credit to other creators! Too many people take others ideas and pawn them off as their own
My family of 6 (2 parents, 4 kids) had 8 cars at one point. Each teenager had a car to drive, since we all went to different high schools, and parents both worked in different cities. The final two were "fixer-uppers" my dad was working on. I still cringe thinking about owning so many....
I like listening to your rants Shelbizleee, but every so often I find your content so... American??! I can't really relate to so many things you mention, it's like a radical ecological lifestyle in the States would be just an average one (environmentwise) in Europe
Well. She is American. If she relates to you, it'll turn off the American watchers, who will feel she's too extreme, and considering Americans are the ones that need to decrease their consumption the most, that wouldn't be very good, right?
teh Czmych do you expect her content to not be American when she lives in America?
I’m curious do you know any European environmentalist youtubers who are more extreme? I’d like to see what the more extreme version is like.
Honestly I feel the same way at least when it comes to that the standard European lifestyle is already about as ecological as what she talks about here.
Straws never really were a huge thing here, neither were napkins and shit just isn't as packaged here in general from what I have seen. I'm saying this as a German from a bigger city and even here it's super common not to own a car and use public transport and do your shopping by foot.
I get why her stuff is so American centric, she is from the US after all
teh Czmych You’re lucky to live like that. Here in America her way of living IS considered extreme. The important thing is that we all are doing our best.
I use the same hair ties as your one and I cherish them for the same reasons you mentioned in the video. At one point I lost all of them... I think the problem is that you buy them in a set (of 5) so you may not take care of them as much if you know you have back-up. Mine found their way back to me eventually. They would hide in odd places at home or work. So I didnt actually had to repurchase them. Yay!
Instead of buying a bunch of different covers, just buy one transparent cover and you can put different pictures in and switch them out when you want
I have one car. I live with housemates but our job locations and hours are so different that carpooling isn't an option. I tried using the bus system in Santa Barbara for a while (my job offers to pay for that expense) but after being followed to work by some creepy man, I decided it wasn't worth my safety. (Literally had to run into our secured building and he only couldn't go in because he would need a badge to enter) I did not mind the inconvenience of having to walk a 1/2 hour to the stop + the ride (so an hour commute vs a 10 minute drive). But the being followed was where I drew the line and gave up. I wish we didn't live in a society where woman literally cannot do anything, like ride a bus, without men being gross and creepy, but that was my reality. My car was passed down to me and the peace of mind for me (and my family) has been priceless.
Stacey Cruz That is one of the reasons I don’t take the bus, and any time I could use public transportation it starts with a bus. Too much harassment, too many guys who think grabbing me is ok.
@@juniperraven1386 OMG I thought I was crazy and totally alone. I've taken transportation in SB, LA, Rio de Janiero, and some places in various countries throughout Europe. Between dealing with crazy people, getting robbed and now followed.... I like avoid it at all costs unless I am with another human.
I probably binged thru 80 % of your videos. And it really makes me happy to found someone who says, yeah it is okay to not be perfect at living ecological. Also this videos keep me motivated to do try a more and more of zero waste. :)
You need to do some research to find out where that hair tie is from so you can report back to us. Lol
TV salesperson: *knocks on door*
Shelbizleee's mum: *sprinting footsteps towards the door*. I'll take your entire stock! 2:32
I think it is only normal to have more than one of a lot of these things in the US.
It’s hilarious how you found the hair tie on the ground hahahahahahahahaha but you love it so much. I wanna know what it’s made of!!! O Hairtie of Mystery, please reveal thy secrets
I love the mystery magical hair tie 😆
My mother also had a TV in the kitchen...even though you could see the living room TV from the kitchen. She also put one in the main bathroom. She used it to watch TV when she had to give my baby brother a bath. But realistically, that thing was turned on like twice a year. It seemed like more of a status symbol than anything else.
I saw that phone case recently and it is on my purchase list for my next phone. The one I have now has lasted 2 years and even though it's made of plastic I'm not getting rid of it till it falls apart.
I also love how minimalism is different for each person. For me I need multiple hair ties because I am extremely forgetful and lose them very easily. But I always find them again when I tidy up my room 😝
Okay I’ve only watched the intro so far but just want to say your hair looks absolutely gorgeous and so healthy!! But I’m sure I’ll love the rest of the video because you’re my favorite and always have such amazing things to say!
I got a mis-monogram pottery barn suitcase. I have now owned it for 10 years. I only do carry on, no matter how long my trip is. It never gets beat up or thrown around. Good quality and it didn’t get thrown away ❤️
I only own 2 hair ties! And these were actually handmade by a friend from my mom out of old telephone cables!
The reason I own 2 instead of 1 is because I have such heavy hair, only one wouldn't be enough to keep it up in a ponytail hahaha
I understand owning one bag for the daytime but what about when you go out to a restaurant or you're dressing smarter and a backpack isn't suitable?
I feel that smart dressing plus backpack is pretty high fashion atm. It might be just my impression because that's what I do
I just don't care.
Personally, I hate purses, but I own 1 backpack, 1 purse and 1 nice clutch for nice occasions
Yeahhh I was wondering what Shelbi does when she is invited to a black tie event!
The auto industry is the reason why our country is so heavily populated with cars, it sucks. Their need to sell more cars formed the entire existence of highways, suburbs, and malls with huge parking lots. I recently moved to a city with excellent public transport and was able to sell my car! It makes me wish it could be that way everywhere.
My husband and I only have one vehicle. My husband has a work vehicle that he drives and I’m a stay at home mom so I use the vehicle when my husband is at work. 90% of the time it works out where we are fine with only having one vehicle but we have ran into a few situations where if we had a second vehicle it would have saved us the headache. However, we do plan to get a second vehicle because we rack up the miles on the vehicle we have now.
Thank you so much for bringing up Pela cases. I have been needing a new phone case for a while now. The back of my phone has shattered because the case I have right now is not secure enough so I’ve been looking for a new case and every one that I’ve seen in stores just hasn’t felt right to me and I haven’t liked the way they looked or anything and then you mentioned Pela and decided to order from them. Because they’re protective and sustainable, I feel good about my purchase for so many reasons and I used your code so I got money off my order! Thank youuuu
It's funny because I thought everyone was wearing hair ties found on the ground like you and me and I always wondered who could buy those boxes of 100. Apparently we are not the norm 🤣
Super happy on my end that I also have only one of all those things as well except hair ties and toothbrushes.
I use my old ones for cleaning tough spots, and I like to keep an extra because it can be hard finding bamboo ones where I live and i don't find myself rushing to choose an uneco friendly option ^^
As for hair ties I had a ton from pre zero waste that I'm working though :)
I bought a pack of 5 bamboo toothbrushes because that was the most economical option. Also, since they needed to be shipped to me, that's 4 less trucks coming to my house to bring me my toothbrush. At 3 months per brush, that pack will keep my teeth clean for over a year! I keep the extras under the sink :-)
I have three suitcases for different tiles of travel, and I've used them a lot. They're good quality so I won't have to buy one for a long time.
Just ordered a Pela case because of you :)💞
When I got married I got rid of my car and I currently share with my husband. He commutes 5-6 days a week, so I have been learning to deal with the weird bus system here and walking even when there are no sidewalks 🙃
Definitely not a good lifestyle for everyone, but I like that I’m pushing myself rather than just relying on what would be more comfortable.
Your face was so cute when you said I can from a life of excess I FELT THAT
I relate on most of these things. No one needs multiple items when you only use one at a time! 🤷🤷
pela don't make a case for he phone I have, so I just bought a clear one and I put feathers, snake sheds, bug wings, and whatever cool stuff I pick up off the ground. you could also use scraps of pretty paper or whatever under there. I get bored of stuff like that easy so I can just compost the decorations when im done or put them away for later use
When will you finally be doing a low waste cat care video!?!? Seriously this is SO overdue!!!!
I think she already did one a while back. I remember her talking about reasons why she did not believe in making her cat go vegan and tips on litter box use/ toys and all the fun cat things.
I use Swheat Scoop which is compostable AND flushable for my kitty. Depending on your cat you may have to transition them however.
Use pine pellets. Cheaper and can be used as plant mulch after kitty uses it. Buy cat treats/food ghats made locally if possible or sustainably sourced.
@@MusikGirl23 I thought flushing cat poop was bad for ocean wildlife. I live right by the ocean and was always advised against flushing anything cat related.
Stacey Cruz it might not be great, I’m in a landlocked province so don’t know. But it’s also compostable :)
Thanks for the ideas. My husband and I are both retired, and for quite a few years now, we share a car, a Prius. It's fine for us. I'm a homebody these days, so we keep a calendar on the fridge that shows who needs what when in terms of appointments or engagements. I have several pocketbooks, but I bought two high quality ones that I have had for almost 20 years. The others are from consignment stores, maybe 3.
That hair tie is most likely a Kooshoo organic hair tie.
Thank you for your comment - these hair ties look amazing
It's been a journey to the point where I am pretty good at keeping track of my hair ties. I have lots more than. One, but I do try to keep track of them, and I do much better than I used to. My current pack is about half full, and I bought it maybe 1.5-2 years ago.
Also I keep two Combs, one in my bedroom, and one in my purse. I also used to lose those all the time and I'm much better now.
I love those type of hair ties, I don’t remember when I’ve bought a new hair tie. I bought mine in like a three pack from H&M.
We just retired our very worn suitcases. We had 2 years of long distance relationship, and still live half a country away from most of our family. We got a new one and it's so well engineered! Hopefully we won't need to put it through as much labor as our old ones. It's a carry on and a medium for 2 people, and I think that's not bad.
Ive been following The Story of Stuff for years! It has SO much good information!
I don’t know who Sarah is, but I do appreciate your policy of not shutting out ideas that don’t match your own!
That hair tie kinda looks like the material they use for baby and toddler girl headbands.
I have a few different purses, but it has been over ten years since I bought one. I do like to have at minimum a black purse and a brown purse for better color coordination, but once I have them, I use those things up. I picked what I liked and I will use them until they are totally falling apart.
I have a black, white, navy and ~funky~ pattern one but haven’t bought anymore in 5+ so I’m happy with my rotation