I Just Moved and Bought NOTHING From Amazon, Here’s How
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Hi, I’m Makenna! I’m Commons’ marketing assistant, I’m 22 years old, and I just moved from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, to Burlington, Vermont.
This move took me out of my family’s home and into a small apartment with my partner. Though I lived on my own a couple of years ago, it was a fully furnished studio, and I’m discovering there are a lot of homely accoutrements that do not magically come with a grown-up abode.
I’ve turned to Amazon many a time over the past month. The last thing I wanted was to line Bezos’ pockets... I was just overwhelmed, and it seemed like the easiest option. Each time I filled up my cart, guilt took over, and I closed my tab. After the third round of this, and the house feeling emptier still, I made a list.
What did I need so desperately that I couldn’t take a day to look for locally? Reusable cold brew filters, lamps, multi-purpose cleaner, paper towels? Is there a point to zero-waste laundry detergent if you buy it from Amazon? I wanted to take a minute to be conscious, slow, and intentional with my purchases. Here’s where that took me:
Living Room
Coffee Table
- We found this one on Facebook Marketplace for $25.
- The closest one I could find on Amazon is $219.99.
- Amount saved: $194.99
Shelf Lamp
- This was left on the street. We just had to buy replacement bulbs for $6.99.
- It’s on Amazon for $99.99.
- Amount saved: $93.
Throw Pillow Insert
- For my favorite pillow cover, we needed a 12” x 16” insert. The perfect one was at a nonprofit thrift store near me, ReSource, for $3.
- Amazon has the same dimension insert for $18.65.
- Amount saved: $15.65.
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KITCHEN
Paper Towels
- Though I’m an avid user of linen reusable napkins and cotton dishcloths, some spills just need to be taken care of by something disposable. So, the next best option are paper towels, sans dyes and plastic packaging. My local co-op, City Market, carries these “tree-free paper towels”.
- On Amazon, a pack of 6 costs $28.69.
- City Market’s are $11.99 for a 3-pack, or $23.98 for 6. *see picture (to be added): the co-op deals list these as $9.99, but the non-member price is $11.99.
- Amount saved = $4.71.
Oven Mitts
- Kiss The Cook, a family-run small business near me, had the perfect ones for $11.99 each ($23.98/set).
- The same ones are $22.19 each ($44.38/set) on Amazon.
- Amount saved: $20.40
OFFICE
Rag Rug
- Homeport has one location, which has lived on the main street of my town for over 40 years. They have an amazing selection of rugs, and I needed a tiny one for our office.
Total amount spent local → $115.95
Total if I bought everything from Amazon → $451.69
TOTAL SAVED → $335.74 (!!!)
Closing notes: We already had some old furnishings from our respective houses (a couch, desks, a bed, kitchen cookware, extra storage) and didn’t want for much to begin with. This list is only a snippet of all the things I’ve been collecting.
Burlington is a college town, and I got here right before move-out, which means one thing: free stuff everywhere! Many of our friends were graduating and giving away bookshelves, lamps, and nightstands. If we didn’t take these items from people we knew, we found them on the street.
I live in a fiercely anti-Amazon state, where there is space for artisans and local businesses to thrive. I am speaking from a place of privilege and luck, as I know first-hand that this is not the case everywhere. But – there is more local craft available than you think. Check out your Buy Nothing groups, Facebook marketplace, and thrift stores! Try hosting a swap night with friends, or ask anyone you know who is moving if they have anything you need.
The way we spend is our power, and using it to support our neighbors instead of billionaires is a wonderful way to put our money where our ethics are.
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