The Great Switch: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is

How frustrated are you with the current state of the U.S.? (Which part, you ask? Take your pick.) Personally, I’m frustrated, irritated, and dismayed in equal measure.

I’ve recently been reflecting on just how much I support U.S. businesses, both privately and as a small business owner. A large portion of my business expenses have gone to American companies, from my laptop (a Dell) to the software and services that keep my work running (Zoom, Mural, MS Office, Affinity Suite, Adobe CS, PayPal, A2 Hosting, etc.). And since launching my business in 2003, that’s likely amounted to a significant chunk of money (for me – if not in the grand scheme of things!)

But in light of recent events—the relentless attack on essential workers and minority groups, the withdrawal of life-or-death aid, the refusal to embrace climate solutions, the treatment of Zelensky, and a seemingly endless list of other infuriating actions—I’ve been asking myself:

What can I do about it?

I’ve found one answer: start to shift away from products and services that support U.S. businesses.

This has been on my mind on and off for a while, and the situation in the U.S. has given me the push I needed. With that in mind, I’m moving toward open-source alternatives or tools developed in Europe and other regions that prioritise security, quality, and some sort of commitment to co-creating better futures for everyone.

Sounds simple, right? (Spoiler: it’s not.)

While the idea is straightforward, in practice, it’s tricky. Many of the biggest, most competitive tools come from the U.S., offering affordability, user-friendliness, and a massive support ecosystem. Switching won’t be effortless.

The Challenges:

Researching and testing new tools = Time.
Leaving familiar tools behind = Time (again) for the learning curve.
Adopting tools that have a smaller user base (for now) = Being a guinea pig (sorry, “early adopter”.)
Tweaking workflows to accommodate new systems = Time, convenience.
Potentially spending more upfront to support ethical alternatives = Money.
General inconvenience.

The Benefits:

Supporting businesses that align with my values.
Encouraging the growth of non-U.S. tech that prioritises security and user respect.
Investing in regions and companies building a more sustainable, ethical digital ecosystem.

Switching feels a bit like taking climate action

As I write this, I hear the same counterarguments that come up around sustainability and climate action:

“It’s hard.” → Yep. So is any meaningful change.
“It takes more time.” → Like using public transport instead of driving.
“It costs more.” → Sometimes. But do I really need 20 different software subscriptions (or 20 pairs of jeans that need loads of resources to manufacture?)
“Nothing bad is happening yet.” → Maybe. But if we wait until we’re forced to act without supporting the creation of alternative systems and solutions, it’s too late.
“It doesn’t affect me – I don’t contribute to upholding the U.S. dominance in tech.” → Really? You don’t use Google, Amazon, Netflix, or Spotify? The U.S. digital empire touches nearly everything.
“I’m too busy.” → Aren’t we all. But change isn’t all-or-nothing—just start with one thing.

Of course, we all choose our battles. This U.S. thing seems closely aligned with all the climate, sustainability and futures work that matters to me, so I’m up for the challenge.

The question for me is “Where to start?”

I have a tendency to dive in, give it 100%, then give up. Cunningly, I am approaching this with a two-pronged plan.

Here’s what I am thinking:

1. A Weekly Focus on Switching:

Each week, I’ll pick one U.S.-based tool I use.
I’ll research and test alternatives (European, open-source, or from “friendly” countries—broad, I know, but I’m not writing a PhD).
If I find something good, I’ll switch.

2. Documenting the Journey:

I’ll send out a short, informal post sharing my findings.
Each post will highlight an alternative to a U.S. tool (e.g., Week 1: Online Meeting Software).
I’ll also share what I’ve personally switched and how it’s going.

How to do #2 is a challenge because LinkedIn is part of this U.S. tech system.

Baby steps! See below…

Want to come along for the ride, or simply to get inspiration for open source and European alternatives to the big names out there?

If this resonates with you, you’re welcome to join me.

I’ll be posting weekly-ish (time allowing) updates on LinkedIn (until I find a better alternative—because, yes, LinkedIn is on the list), on my personal blog, or you can sign up for The Great Switch newsletter for the simplest of simplest updates.

Fittingly, the first edition will focus on… Newsletter tools.

Let’s see where this takes us.

Here’s to co-creating hopeful, sustainable futures,

Useful resources:

European Alternatives:
https://european-alternatives.eu/

The Great Switch: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is