Share Rather Than Own

My mom likes to remind me that I’m a little late to the game when it comes to thrift store shopping for kids. It’s true, she was thrifting way before I thought it was cool — in fact, from when I thought it was patently uncool, like “hide in the car and pray no Read More

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to escape the snow in NYC to attend a good friend’s wedding in Miami. However, when it came to finding a dress for this black tie affair, I found myself in the same bind, real or imagined, that many women find themselves in with a wedding fast Read More

When I saw the email invitation come through from Jacquie Ottman in mid-December for a regift party I immediately replied with, 'I’m in!' I had never been to one before so I was intrigued and it sounded like it would be fun... Read More

What's the real value of the stuff we don't need? We all think we should get lots of money for the stuff we no longer need. But beware! Simplification does not mean monetization! Our stuff has value way beyond money. Read More

Now that I’ve awakened from my independent possession-owning-maintaining-inventorying stupor (and in a city and country where the costs of doing same are starting to escalate), I’ve started to take some steps to avoid R-R-R Redundancy in my own life. Read More

How to nudge friends, family and co-workers to be less wasteful and adopt greener behavior by making it easy, fun and popular. Read More

GUEST POST BY WENDY BRAWER AND AARON REISS For those of us who enjoy thrifting, yard-sales, and even harvesting treasures from the curb, the joy of a great secondhand find is almost addictive. But beyond just shopping at thrift stores and religiously recycling, we New Yorkers Read More

The next time you drive, try ridesharing as an alternative to driving alone. Each time you drive alone, the empty seats in your car go to waste. Here’s the ‘sitch': there are 1 billion cars on the planet and every car that’s now driving down a country road or Read More

I’ve always thought the experience of buying things in a thrift shop or consignment store could be made appealing — even fun — if the previous owner left you a note. Think of the possibilities. “I’m Jackie O and I wore this Givenchy gown when the Queen came to dinner at the White Read More

Making your list? Checking it twice? But not feeling so enthused about the prospect of buying more stuff for friends and family that might just wind up as waste? Here’s a solution: this year, instead of gift, give a “re-gift”. Admit it. We all have a Read More

By Jacquie Ottman It usually happens on sultry summer nights around 11:30 pm when I arrive at LaGuardia Airport and face the prospect of waiting on a taxi line that snakes three times the length of Terminal C.  No, I’m not going to wait in that line! I’m too smart. I’m a native Read More

As a 20-something living in Manhattan with two roommates, we have little space to store excess stuff.  To make the most of precious space, we’re constantly ridding ourselves of knick knacks, clothes and all variety of household goods and accessories. But where to send them Read More

By Jacquie Ottman I recently purged my bookshelves. I got rid of every book I don’t plan to read again. I got rid of books I received as a gift but never intend to read.  I got rid of books that I’m not sure how they appeared on my shelf. Read More

Of the hundreds of skirts, blouses, pants and dresses hanging in your closet, how many do you really wear from day to day? How many have you not worn in years? How may used to fit and you’re still hopeful? Read More

  Want to declutter your home or closet? You’re not alone. The declutter movement is rapidly gaining momentum as hordes of shoppers turn their noses up at traditional consumerism and embrace a simpler way of living. To join the declutter movement, repeat “Less is More” after Read More

By Melissa O’Young Dinner was full of deep conversations and good wine, and with our full bellies we toppled out of the restaurant and decided to go for a walk. We talked some more until my friend stopped and said, “I wonder what happened here?”. I looked to where he was Read More