TL;DR: Check out this map to find where to thrift your move in materials to avoid new purchases, and find vintage wares and make your new place unique to you!
Don't buy new stuff when you can avoid it, and keep your stuff out of landfill when you're done with it. This approach isn't just about finding a cool, unique lamp for your place—it’s about being environmentally conscious, it's about building a more sustainable, connected community where resources are shared rather than wasted.
Plan ahead: Get move out tips for spring
The Basics
Moving into a new dorm, house, or apartment? Before you head to the big box stores to stock up on supplies, consider buying secondhand or getting things for free from the community to decrease the environmental impact of producing new things each year, and to save you money!
Every thrifted purchase is a step toward a more sustainable world. You're supporting local businesses, keeping items out of landfills, saving money, and often finding higher-quality goods than their mass-produced counterparts.
Browse this map, check out the tips below, and pick one area to try this year!
🥣 Household Items
Why it matters: Manufacturing new kitchen and household items, like anything, requires energy and raw materials. Plus, many of them contain plastic which means supporting the production of plastics i.e. the fossil fuel industry. From cookware to curtains you've got lots of options in Ann Arbor for getting your essentials without buying new.
💡Top Tips
Free options:
Ann Arbor Buy Nothing group: Join this Facebook group to find things that your neighbors are giving away that you could use.
Local swaps: Find or host community swap events and turn decluttering into treasure hunting
Planet Blue Campus Free Store: Check the PBSL instagram for updates on when and where this is happening.
Low Cost Options:
Thrift stores: Check out this interactive map of thrift stores around campus where you can find household items.
Estate sales: Often goldmines for kitchen items, linens, and small appliances.
On Campus Rentals:
You can rent dorm sized refrigerators and microwaves here, and set yourself up for an easy move out!
🛋️ Furniture
Why it matters: Your furniture will probably be some of the biggest purchases you make during your move, both in terms of price and in terms of raw materials. You can save on both by finding used options—it's often better quality than new budget options and comes with character you can't buy in stores.
💡Top Tips
In Person:
Kiwanis Thrift Sale: Head out to Kiwanis on Fridays or Saturdays and check out their huge selection of furniture.
Salvation Army: Closer to campus and has a decent selection of furniture.
Check out the full interactive map to find other thrift stores near you.
Online:
Facebook Marketplace: Your local goldmine for everything from desks to dining sets.
Craigslist Ann Arbor: Another great option for secondhand furniture.
🚘 Picking Up Your Furniture:
If you don’t have access to a larger vehicle, this is a great excuse to make friends with someone who does!
You can also join Zipcar and rent a car for an hour or two (must be over 18 years old) and you’ll get your first year of membership free through their university partnership.
👕 Clothing
Why it matters: The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. A single cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 liters of water to produce—enough for one person to drink for 2.5 years.
By finding thrifted alternatives you support the reuse economy and avoid the environmental footprint of making new clothes! Plus it’s a great way to find the cut or color that best suites your personal style!
💡Top Tips
Around Ann Arbor:
Check out this interactive map and find a thrift, vintage, or resale store for clothing near you.
REI has used options in-store and even online!
Online Options:
Poshmark & Depop: Curated secondhand fashion with detailed photos and descriptions.
Check out Patagonia Worn Wear for pre-loved winter clothes and more.
On Running has pre owned section of their website with barely used high quality running shoes.
🧼 Cleaning Supplies & Cosmetics
Why it matters: Personal care and beauty packaging creates 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic waste every year in the US alone. And cleaning products are almost always packaged in single use plastic as well. You can eliminate this single use packaging waste by taking advantage of some local shops.
💡Top Tips
Local Spots:
BYOC Co. Has everything you need to get plastic out of your daily routine, from cleaning supplies, to soaps, to tooth brushes. It’s well worth a visit to find some easy swaps that reduce plastic waste.
PFC (People's Food Co-op) downtown has refill and bar options for soap, dish soap, and shampoo.
Lush at Briarwood Mall is a great option for shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and bath products without the plastic.
Online Options:
Blueland has a super easy and familiar system for refill that even your least enthusiastic housemate can get behind.
Ecoternatives has some great budget options for cleaning and bathroom supplies
Learn how to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of your products from the Environmental Working Group.
DIY:
Check out these zero waste swaps to find out how to make cleaning supplies yourself!
🚲 Bikes
Why it matters: As with everything else on this list, making a new bike uses energy and materials. Find yourself a pre-owned bike to support the local reuse economy.
💡Top Tips
Local Options:
Wolverines on Wheels: Check out this student group dedicated to sustainable biking on campus!
Kiwanis Thrift Sale: Community-supported and budget-friendly.
Sic Transit Cycles: Another great local option for quality used bikes.
Online:
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are good options for finding secondhand bikes in Ann Arbor.
📚 Books & School Supplies
Why it matters: Each new book produced fuels deforestation, excess water use, and harmful chemical pollution. And, it costs you more than a reused or digital equivalent.
Here are some options for finding used and digital books to avoid the environmental and financial hit of purchasing new books and supplies.
💡Top Tips
Around Ann Arbor:
Dawn Treader: Local bookstore with used options
Kiwanis: Has a whole section of school supplies
SCRAP: Creative reuse center for art and office supplies
Online alternatives:
Student Book Exchange: Get books based on class requirements with the option to choose used and digital copies.
On any online platform look for used options or see if your book is available as a PDF or ebook.
💻 Laptops, Tablets, Phones, etc.
Why it matters: Electronics manufacturing is incredibly resource-intensive. A single laptop requires mining 2,645 pounds of raw materials and generates 660-880 pounds of CO2 during production. There are two main things you can do to reduce the impact of your electronics: buy used, and use longer.
Technology doesn't need to be brand new to work perfectly. You can get pre-owned or refurbished tech, often with a warranty. Refurbished tech performs like new but costs significantly less and keeps electronics out of waste streams.
💡Top Tips
Buy Used:
Back Market: Specializes in refurbished electronics with warranties.
Apple Certified Refurbished: Direct from Apple with full warranties.
Local computer stores: Often have refurbished options with personal service.
UMich Property Disposition: Sells university tech at discounted rates.
Use Longer:
Before you replace your electronics, see if you can repair it at iFixIt. Their guides are super simple and you’ll learn a lot about your device!
Apples & Oranges in Nichols Arcade can help you repair your computer instead of buying a new one.
Get a case! Protect your electronics from inevitable drops and scratches to keep your device in the best condition possible.
Undercharge your batteries, keeping batteries charged between 20% and 80% as much as possible will extend the useful life of your battery.
📦 Reuse & Recycle Moving Materials
Why it matters: Paper is the most commonly disposed of material in the US, and it is relatively easy to recycle into new products. Make sure your paper doesn’t end up in the landfill by reusing and recycling it as much as you can.
💡Top Tips
Plan for next time:
Save sturdy boxes and packing materials in a dry place for your next move, or offer them to friends who are relocating or on Buy No Things.
Where to throw:
Your paper recycling can go into the blue city recycling bin.
Styrofoam and packing peanuts can be dropped at these locations until August 25th, 2025:
North Quad facing S. Thayer St.
Oxford Housing along Oxford Rd.
West Quad along E. Madison St.
East Quad along Church St.
⏳ Wait Before Buying: The Most Important Tip
Even before you go find secondhand treasures, we highly recommend that you live in your space for a week or two before buying extra stuff. You'll quickly realize that half the items on those "college packing lists" or "new apartment essentials" articles aren't actually necessary. Coordinate with roommates to avoid duplicate purchases, and give yourself time to understand what you genuinely need.
🔮 Bonus Tip: Set Yourself Up for Move Out
Here's where we come full circle: the City of Ann Arbor has a ton of resources for you when it’s time to move out. But it can be hard to remember during the whirlwind at the end of the year.
Put your anticipated move out date into this form and we’ll send you everything you need to have a sustainable and stress free move out when the time comes.
