Mindful Consumption

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that we are living in a time of massive consumption. However, our constant cycle of buying comes at a price. Annie Leonard’s helpful video, the Story of Stuff, does the best job of explaining the problem we have created.

We know that buying more stuff impacts the environment and we can easily tell when it impacts our wallets. But consumption impacts our happiness and health as well. A 2012 study showed that consumerism is negatively related to overall life satisfaction and self-esteem. In fact, it showed that increases in depression and anxiety in 9-13 year olds are even linked to consumerism ¹. The purchases that give us momentary happiness may not be making us happy in the long term.

So what can you do?

Practice mindful consumption and ask yourself these 4 questions every time you want to make a purchase.

1. Why do I want this item?

Do you want to shop because you are bored, you are rewarding yourself after a stressful day, or because it is just something to do? Get to the root of why you want to shop and instead, read a book, take a walk, or do another activity that you enjoy. It will fix the boredom, help you relax and feel better, and you are spending no money!

2. What could I save for instead?

Think about what you could save for with the money you don’t spend. Do you want to go on a vacation or buy a house one day? Do you want to take a class or find a way to give charitable donations more often? Think about how saving money could help make your goals a reality.

3. Do I want the item or do I want the look?

Does the setting make you want to buy an item? Do you just like the aesthetic of the store or the décor or label? There are so many times that I have bought something from a store that is decorated beautifully and that I want to replicate. I have learned that buying a fancy notebook or a pair of shoes because of a certain aesthetic will not change your life or your home. I have brought absolutely gorgeous items home only to be disappointed that buying it did not magically transform my living room into the immaculately decorated store I bought it from!

4. What would my life look like without this item?

Take a moment to think about the item that you want. Imagine if you just never got the item. Would you be devastated or would your life simply just go on? There are so many times that I have thought I absolutely need this only to find myself forgetting about it for months and realizing that I probably didn’t need it.

If you still want a certain item, write it down on a wish list. Come back to it tomorrow – if you can live without it for another day, maybe extend it to a week or a month. This is where having an online cart comes in handy as well. When I shop online I will add something to my cart and then come back to it later. I am notorious for having dozens of items in my Amazon cart! If you completely forget about it then you are fine without the item. If it keeps coming up as something that you need or something that is getting in the way of you being successful then it’s time to consider buying it.

I also find that considering the “buyerarchy”² of needs is helpful when deciding what to buy.

Search places like Freecycle or Craigslist for items or join a BuyNothing page on facebook. Go shopping at local thrift or consignment stores. I have found most of my furniture and almost my entire closet this way!

If you have absolutely decided to buy something new after exhausting other options then do some research and find the healthiest or most environmentally friendly and ethical version you can. Even on a limited budget, I can afford to invest in good quality new items occasionally because I don’t spend money whenever I feel like I “need” something.

This also means that my things last a lot longer and are much nicer!

This practice has helped me immensely in being more mindful about what I buy and limiting my consumption. I have saved a ton of money, reduced my environmental impact, and have cultivated a life filled with things that I absolutely love.

It has also helped me be grateful for what I do have. When we always focus on the next thing we need we forget that we already have so much.

1. Sweeting,H., Hunt,K., Bhaskar,A.(2012). Consumerism and Well‐Being in Early Adolescence. Journal of Youth Studies, 15(6),802-­‐820.

2. http://longliveirony.com/