Sharing the Loot

Does every homeowner need their own lawn mower? My five siblings and I were raised by my mom who didn’t think we needed our own lawn mower, neither did Carol and Don a few blocks away. My siblings and I took turns returning or picking up the shared mower on beautiful, muggy Minnesota afternoons. My mom, Carol, and Don saved on the initial purchase, our two families successfully cooperated and pitched in with maintenance and upkeep, and we became really close neighbors in the process. We were oddly connected by something as simple as a lawn mower.

There are so many items we're conditioned to believe we need to own and have all to ourselves, but, after taking a deeper look, owning may not be our best option (and it's certainly not our only option). How many families do you know who have a car for every licensed family member or more computers than family members? By the way, do you remember what it felt like to go to a computer lab? In all of this “need” to own, we've drained our savings and we've lost some of our community, which creates an insatiable loneliness. Sharing our loot might not be a cure-all, but it’s certainly worth examining.

That being said, what else can we share that will save us money, connect us to our neighbors, reduce waste, and strengthen communities?

Here are some ideas: Let’s start with internet access. I just moved into a beautiful little complex of bungalow apartments. According to my PC, I have “access” to five different wireless networks. Each of these network owners is paying $25 a month at minimum (likely much more) to have access to the internet. Why is everyone paying individually for something we can easily share? What about washers and dryers? In college I took a weekly trip to the laundromat. While I waited for my clothes, I’d smile and say hi to the regulars, get caught up on pop culture through magazines, study (ha!), or just sit outside to people watch and let the sun warm my face. I think we all grew up and swore to never again be inconvenienced by laundromats, hauling bags of dirty laundry, and being forced to hoard quarters. In some small but relevant way, we traded community and connection for that convenience. What about extending community sharing to cars? I realize there are plenty of community car share programs out there. But, what about doing it amongst neighbors, with one other family, or with a roommate? I’m certain there are a ton of logistical and legal obstacles. And, yes, everyone would have to sacrifice some convenience, but think of the savings of splitting the cost of insurance (I'm not exactly sure of the specifics here) and the initial investment? The environmental benefits go beyond having one fewer car on the road; it requires the creation of a mindset of intentional driving. It trains you to plan, coordinate, and decide what’s really worthy of a car trip.

I'm guessing the list of possible things to share and the associated benefits is only limited by ones' imagination. Sharing the loot and the cost of expensive items with trusted friends or neighbors is a great option when you're keeping an eye on your pocket book and/or are motivated to live more simply. At the very least, buyer's remorse can be shared amongst many.