How to buy less
- Troyee Lahiri
- Dec 29, 2021
- 3 min read
If I ask how much money have you spent on shopping this holiday season, do you have an amount? In the list of things you bought, was there anything you didn’t really need but you purchased anyway?
Don’t worry, this is not an intervention. I have been in charge of my own finances for the last 6 years and I can think of numerous scenarios where I bought something even though I didn’t really need to. Consumerism dictates our lives. We live in an era where we have so much unnecessary access to other people’s personal lives, that we never stop comparing ourselves to others. We get engulfed in chasing this unattainable state of happiness that we think material possessions can help us achieve. But if you really take a moment to think about it, you realise there is no finish line in this game. Someone will always have a bigger house, more expensive car or gadgets, a bigger collection of branded clothes, shoes, perfumes, etc. There is no winning. Also, with our extremely busy, urban lifestyle, shopping is an activity that gives us pleasure. We all work hard to earn money and purchasing things outside our basic needs with that money gives us instant gratification and is a very common way for us to reward ourselves.
However, instead of getting too deep into the psychology of consumerism, I want to share in today’s post some of the ideas that can help you to buy less or atleast start thinking about bringing some changes in your spending habits.
Advantages of buying less
1. You save money: This is an obvious one. I’ve heard a lot of people say that there is no point saving money since we can’t take it with us after death. That’s true but its hard to deny that having some form of savings for emergencies is never a bad idea. And savings don’t accumulate overnight – it requires time and discipline which we can slowly develop. The idea is not to starve to save money, it is to not waste food by buying more than you can eat.
2. Have less clutter: When you buy more things, your home gets more crowded. You buy clothes and you will keep needing a bigger closet to keep them in. Organising your wardrobe might feel like a punishment because you have way more things than you can manage. It can make you feel anxious at your own home because there is not enough free, clean space for you to move around and breathe. Owning excessive furniture, clothes, etc. can also make relocating very cumbersome especially if you live in a rented place. And of course, its harmful for the environment.
Some ways of buying less
1. Frequently organise closet: This is something I have recently discovered. When I organise my closet, I often find items that I forgot I had. I also start with a plan of donating a few items that don’t fit me or I don’t need. This not only helps me keep things organised, but also works as a refresher of items I own. So, the next time I go shopping, I know I am not buying socks because I recently found a whole new pack hidden in my closet.
2. Setup a budget and a plan before shopping: They say you should never go grocery shopping when you are hungry. The logic also applies to buying items other than food. When you want to buy clothes or anything else, its important to have an idea of the stores you will be visiting and your budget before you go to the mall. This narrows down your options and helps you make faster decisions. Going to every clothing store at the mall to find a top for your birthday is not just exhausting but also very confusing if you don’t have a budget.
3. Keep your items in cart for a few days: This is an interesting one which really works for me. When I’m browsing to shop online, I get very excited in the initial stage and keep putting items in my cart. Instead of buying everything immediately, if I get back to my cart in a few days, I end up removing a lot of items because I somehow don’t like or want all of them anymore. Putting items in the cart and sitting on it for a few days really help me buy less.
Your home, wardrobe or your social media does not need to be overcrowded for you to live a good life. Having said that, its your money, and you can do whatever you want with it to stay healthy & happy.
Sharing a few videos I watched that inspired me to write today’s post :
Wishing you and your close ones a peaceful holiday season. See you in 2022!
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