Why do we REALLY buy stuff?

I'm so glad when I read certain kind of articles, it shows that something is changing, there's still hope. Because I really, really think that we can change what's happening to our environment only if we deeply modify our buying habits.

I liked the latest BBC feature about the issue of overbuying which doesn't focus on "just" the economic consequences consumerism can have, but also shines the light on the reasons behind the habit.

And really, these reasons aren't only what causes compulsive buying habits, but are behind MANY purchases we deem "normal". Just think about it.

"I didn’t have a completely debilitating shopping addiction". That's the phrase. "Normal people" living "normal lives" shop mainly because it distracts US from what we don't like to think about.

It's easier to go shopping than face something uncomfortable, be it a relationship that needs work to evolve and survive, our career and professional hopes and dreams, or dealing with self-esteem issues, feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, misery, discomfort or "only" boredom (the "sin" our culture is trying so hard to eradicate).

It's sooo much easier spending time and energy going shopping than facing all that, we "get a high when we shop, we get a hit of dopamine and have momentary feelings of good" instead of living an uncomfortable situation. A drug, basically. We sedate ourselves with our purchases.

It's not a solution, no avoidance mechanism is. "The impulse is to buy and when we do that, what’s really bothering us festers.".

Let's not fill our lives and our houses with useless stuff. Let's not allow what's important, what needs to be taken care of, to be left in a dark corner with the hope it will go away by itself. It never does. Let us not sedate ourselves with a non-solution that only worsens the situation.

Simplify your life

The "secret" is awareness. Be aware of why you are online surfing all those shoping sites, why you are spending the whole afternoon at the mall. These are not fun places, they are places where you can do nothing but buy stuff. Fun is something else.

Ask yourself: do I really need what I'm about to take home?
This should be the question you ALWAYS ask yourself (several times!!!) before taking out your "paper or plastic".

The first obvious consequence of reducing your purchases is that you are left with more money at the end of the month. You can start paying up your debts faster if you have them, which is always a relief. Or, as in my case, you discover that you need to work less hours to be able to cover your expenses. It's liberating.

You also have plenty more time!!! I remember when I used to go to the mall to "take advantage" of the end-of season offers... The hours I spent there, in a deeply unpleasant environment with garish neon lights in my eyes, shrill music and voices in my ears, artificially pumped air in my nose and besieged on all sides by a throng of stressed-out people... and I definitely was one of them.

Now I go to the beach instead. :-)

I'm finally seeing the back-panel of my wardrobe and making sense of what's in my home. It gives me peace, not only because I know what I have, but also because I know that
I don't chuck out things that are perfectly OK anymore, only because I just got home with 5 bags full of new stuff... newer stuff.

In fact, keeping a lid on my purchases doesn't only save space, but it also means that when I do buy something it's because:
1. I really (REALLY) need it, in the original sense of the word
2. I like it, I really, really like it and I enjoy using/wearing/looking at it
3. It's good quality and will not turn into rubbish in a couple of months

This makes me appreciate what I have. How nice is that? ^_^

Lastly, this is something I realized several years ago, that helped me on my "degrowth" path:

You never own things. Things own you.

The more stuff you have, the more you worry about it, the more you need to do to keep it, and the less freedom you enjoy. Of course we can't live with nothing, we need a roof over our heads, food every day, clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet. The same goes for our families, naturally, and we also need things to achieve what we want/need to achieve, be it work or fun. We might need a vehicle to get to work, and a pair of walking shoes to go wandering, I'm not telling you to give that up. If it's necessary for your life (work usually is) and it gives you real pleasure, wonderful!!! It's a real need.

I'm only asking you to be honest with yourself when reviewing what you think you "need". It might be surprising to realize how unimportant some of those "needs" are, and how important others are... like going hiking ^_^!

There's a phrase in the article I liked... This is an "antidote to gluttony". Slim down your life, it's usually healthy ;-)!

Good dieting!!!

Laura