Going Green Goals in 2023

Happy 2023! 'Tis the season to reset, change old habits and create new goals. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more mindful of the things I buy. To be honest, I may have been financially irresponsible and bought too many things I ended up never using last year which then contributed to waste.

One way I’m trying to practice sustainable spending is to think things through before purchasing. Why am I buying this? Will I use these items to their fullest potential? When I studied merchandising and fashion design at UNT, there was a huge emphasis on sustainability. Textile is currently the leading pollutant in the world. So, what can we do to lessen textile waste? Purchasing secondhand is a great way to shop for clothing, furniture and any other retail items. You are giving unwanted things new life and saving them from landfills. You also save a whole lot of money when you shop for secondhand items.

I grew up thrifting with my parents and I’ve always loved the excitement of not knowing what treasures I’ll find. However, I do feel like it’s a little harder to find good gently used items in thrift stores nowadays, especially when it comes to children’s clothing. Everything is so picked through! Environmentally responsible businesses like Once Upon A Child make it so easy and affordable to shop secondhand. Their trained employees carefully handpick the selection of gently used items to make sure they are in good condition, and then you get paid on the spot for the items they purchase.

I also love selling gently used items from my little ones at Once Upon A Child. I recently made $45 from selling swaddles and sleepers that my baby recently outgrew. Sure, you could try to make a little more by selling online, but it takes so much time and planning, plus these items take up valuable space in your home.

Make sure to donate or give away whatever doesn’t sell to your local Once Upon A Child. Go green and never let it go straight to the landfill!

Blog By: Jenny Duong | @jenny8carrots