As we talked about in the True Cost of Stuff, buying something new requires the extraction and destruction of a lot of resources, not to mention the destruction of our environment in extracting, hauling, manufacturing, packaging and shipping the item.
So if we want to avoid buying new things, what should we do if we need something? After all, there are always times when we feel we need something -- not just want or desire, but need it for a real purpose. We might need new clothes, or books, or a bike so we can cut back on using a car.
One woman decided to buy nothing new, which is an interesting solution, but probably not for most people. But while you might not want to put such a drastic moratorium on yourself, here are 7 things you can do before even considering buying a new item.

