As I returned home from a holiday season spent with family, I inevitably found myself unpacking and organizing new and old belongings in my humble abode. In this process I found that certain areas of my home seemed far more strained with pure ‘stuff’ than before. I quickly took inventory to see what I could remove to either be discarded or donated.
But rather than rectifying the situation, I realized I was justifying why I should, in fact, keep each thing I had on my list. Maybe I would have a need for it in the future and would waste money having to repurchase it! I might run out! I may change my mind! And on and on I went.
This situation did not bode well with my recent resolve to simplify and the “do more with less” approach I wanted to bring into the New Year. Too tired to continue at the late hour, I resolved to try again…soon. But my little bout of indecision had me thinking. What exactly do I think I’m accomplishing by holding on to all these useless things? And how is it that I accumulated so much in the first place?
Sales, deals, promotions, the next best thing–all promising improved life and happiness if only you swipe your card! And the process is made all the easier through the use of the internet; emails are delivered straight to your personal inbox to make sure you don’t miss any of these ‘wonderful’ opportunities. Unfortunately, the whirlpool of our consumer culture seemed to have sucked me in, resulting in unnecessary, unplanned purchases and a sense of security that directly correlated to my “stuff.”
But as they say, admitting the problem is the first sign of recovery! And recover I shall. Here are some ways I now plan to avoid the sand trap of consumerism:
1. Organize what I do own: And appreciate it!
2. Use cash: This one may seem a bit strange, but I personally find I view the purchases I make in a different light when I am physically handling cash rather than swiping a plastic card.
3. Consider purchases carefully: No impulse buying–only shop if I have a specific need for a specific product.
4. Employ the “one in, one out rule”: This means either donating or trying to sell (at a store such as Buffalo Exchange) one item for each new purchase.
Along with these simple tips, I think the most important advice is to be aware of the design of our “consumeristic” culture and its affects on us as consumers. I don’t intend to take the fun out of shopping, but to enjoy it more as a conscious decision rather than a compulsion. Permanent security can never come from material possessions or the accumulation of money, ultimately these things will come and go. What will determine our behavior is where we set our hearts and minds and thus the value we place on such things. Best of luck to all my fellow clutter collectors!
Photo Credit: p0ach.com