What Motivates Your Non-Consumerism?
Holiday season gets me thinking on the "how" and "why" behind opting out of a consumer driven life. My line is always that "Overmanufacture of consumer goods is killing our planet." (I think I even said the phrase "Overmanufacture of consumer goods" when I was on The Today Show back in 2012.) The problem is that you can say something often enough that it loses all meaning.
There's even a term for this -- "Semantic satiation," which is defined as "A psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener."
This is why I'm always looking out for fresh motivation to keep myself on the straight and narrow.
Inspiration like this photo of a Chilean landfill with millions upon millions (upon millions) of pounds of discarded clothing. A definite example of "Overmanufacture" of consumer goods!"
Or this beach of washed up fast fashion in Ghana:
Lately I've been enjoying Bradley on a Budget, because he's enjoyably more extreme with his nonconsumerism than I am, which gives me the opportunity to learn something new. People whose content give standard tips such as "bring your own lunch to work" are unlikely to teach me anything whatsoever.
So I ask you:
Where are you finding nonconsumer inspiration? Is it from people who unfortunately serve as cautionary tales or a beloved friend or family member? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I love Bradley on a Budget. When I’m shopping I hear him say in my brain, “don’t buy that it’s Stupid.” Ninety percent of what I wear is gifted(hand me downs) or thrifted from my favorite thrift store where everything is donated, all volunteer staff and all proceeds go to animal rescue shelters. I can find clothes, books, furniture, purses, china, holiday decorations. I easily walk past all the new stuff for sale in other stores. I donate back to this thrift store and other donation centers. Lots of gifts this year are consumable, used, or experiences. I remind my husband often to reuse, recycle and make do. He is not quite as in to it as I am but he is getting better. Headed home to make yet another meal because not only is it frugal but so much better for you. Love the blog. Thanks for all you do.
Here. I find motivation on your site and of course The Tightwad Gazette book. The Prudent Homemaker is another favorite blog site. I originally found motivation from my grandmother, who was born in the late 1800’s, and raised six kids during the Great Depression on a farm. I was born in a hospital but I was brought home from the hospital to that farm, which did not have running water nor a toilet. Mom eventually moved us, along with grandma, to a little house in town she bought. We still had a large garden. They were very tight with electric use, and only bought necessities at the store bc my grandma canned. I feel like I am a big slacker compared to my grandma. I am a big baby when the power or water goes off and ai don’t like to be cold or hot. I also cannot sew worth a lick, and I am dismal at canning. That is why I try to buy canned goods at their cheapest, and grow fresh greens half of the year. I am lousy at true survival skills.
I will look up Bradley.
Those photos you posted remind me of my days as a breaking news reporter. I'd go to fires. The flames against the night sky were awesome and beautiful; yet, at the same time, they were frightening and destructive. Those piles of discarded clothes look like a beautiful abstract painting, until you realize what you're seeing: the destruction of our planet and a terrible waste. That's a sin and a shame.
As per the holidays, the Tightwad Gazette once printed a wonderful Amy D. essay about the commercialization of Christmas. IIRC, it said when people moved into cities, all the dept. stores got into the act of advertising their wares. To the extent of implying if you don't buy everyone you know a mega buttload of gifts, they'll think you don't love them. So people started the trend of "shop til you drop" and getting into holiday debt that may last for months and months. This has spread to other areas. Kids "have" to get the latest toys, fast fashions or phones or other fads or else they think they're being horribly deprived. A century or so ago, the "father of advertising" once advised merchants to create a sense of inferiority in the consumer -- ie, make they believe if they don't have the latest whatever, they are inferior. This, in turns, creates a want (which, in the consumer's mind is a NEED), and drives of sales.
Oh, boy, have they done a great job of this! Very sad. That is also a sin and a shame.
I forgot to post about who inspired me:
* My 2 grandmothers, who were young SAHMs in the Great Depression and clever penny pinchers from then on out
*My uncle, who was a Millionaire Next Door, and his son, who taught me a lot of frugal hacks
* Amy Daczyczn, aka the Frugal Zealot, of Tightwad Gazette fame
* Donna Freedman who wrote for MSN Money and also had a Surviving and Thriving blog, mostly inactive these days. (Check out her 2 volume Playbook for Tough Times, which are like updated Tightwad Gazette volumes and can be downloaded or obtained via Nook as well as bought in regular old-fashioned book format. Yes, they cost but are worth the price.)
* Bankrate.com's former monthly online frugal hack contest. I read it faithfully and also earned some prize money from time to time.
* Gary Foreman's old Dollar Stretcher website. I used to subscribe to the print version. I liked articles by Rich Finzer (?,sp) and other regular writers there. The website is still there, but IMO has gone down in quality since Foreman retired and sold it. Although it still has some Dollar Stretcher Tips that are good.
* Kristen at the Frugal Girl website. Read her daily.
* And, of course, this website -- not only Katy, but everyone who contributes. I also read this daily. Thank you all!
I have never heard of Bradley. I will have to check him out.
Perhaps sadly, a lot of people I know give me real life examples of what happens when you dont take care of yourself and your home first.
A friend I know through work - retired military with a pension/ss/disability - also does ebay selling - has let two different people move into his house at times who never paid rent and were hard on their luck. He didn't need renters. One person had a small fire in his home, caused a lot of damage and chaos, never paid or fixed anything, and infact invited homeless people to live in the homeowners yard...
The other 'roommate' who has also never paid rent, now has a child and wont leave or get a job and suffers from addiction. The owner feels too bad to ask her to leave mostly because of the child. In trying to help this woman he financed her college education and helped her get the degree with him doing the class work... in doing so he forgot to pay his mortgage. He was able to get his mortgage to go into forbearance. He now has 2 months to come up with $30K or lose his house. No one he has let live with him, lent his vehicles to, or anything else has offered to help him come up with this money at all.
In the meantime the county is getting on him for junk cars on the property so there could be some liens too. Is this hoarding or overbuying? Probably both, with a sprinkling of unmanaged boundaries, budgets, attempts at ebay buying/selling that was unmanaged, giving too much to too many people, and more.
Non consumerism, minimalism, and decluttering all seem to have a common thread - self management, ability to distinguish what's needed and not needed, discernment, self control. Keeping your own house in order is so important. I think the desire is self awareness to have what you want instead of letting things, people, etc run you over, overwhelm you, take over, or even ruin your life.
Years of moving with the military and having treasures broken, we got into the mindset of “will we use it weekly?” If the answer was no we didn’t get it. Now being in a fixed location after military retirement but still working, I have to remind myself and my husband will anyone want this after we are dead? The answer is usually no. I know we didn’t want much of anything that we had to help clean out after relatives passed.
My copy of The Tightwad Gazette was worn out with constant use, especially after I left the military to stay home with littles and we were living off one income. My parents are a great motivation to me as they are hoarders and I have worked my whole life to not fall into that trap.
Those photos also marked me when I first saw them! I think about them every time I have to consider getting an additional piece of clothing for anyone in my family, which is a thing regularly needed since the 3 teens continue to grow and we currently live in a place with 4 fully distinct seasons. I continue to decrease the amount of new clothing that comes into our house, and I'm proud to say that 4 of the 5 winter jackets currently in use in my house are all 2nd hand, the latest being my pride and joy: a new-looking down high-quality fancy-brand jacket that I bought for the equivalent of US$15, but would probably be about US$300 retail.
I also have lived in 10 different countries and every time I move I want to just set fire to it all, and that is true inspiration for being more mindful about what comes into the house. I find inspiration in not having to worry about all this stuff! every time we move.
You should check out Nicole Svenson on TikTok! She's been a great source of inspiration, she only shops 1x a month for groceries for a family of 4, with a budget of $300.
I'm outdoorsy in the outdoorsy sense and lived in Colorado until employment circumstances dictated I didn't anymore. Also lived in Washington state for a time. Being above treeline and in the backcountry and seeing raw, untouched nature always motivated me. Not only do I want to preserve that beauty, but backpacking teaches you just how little you really need to survive and feel fulfilled. It also provides a contrast with everyday life that opens up appreciation for "little" things like heated rooms, hot showers, and fresh produce. Having a strong sense of self, a reclusive nature, and a vision beyond mere social signaling (which is what I think most of that fast fashion is) helps me as well.
I am getting my inspiration from this holiday season. I dread Christmas. I loathe getting gifts that I can’t use, don’t want, don’t like, etc. This year I insisted and made a per-person gift budget for our family of two parents, two young adult kids. We all had lists. But even with that, I dislike the consumerism and spending money on All. The. Stuff. Wish it were all over already. Signed, the Grinch.
I think I was initially inspired when I read the “Little House on the Prairie” books as a kid. I was impressed that they had so few possessions, and they were so mindful of the possessions they had. If Ma got a new dress (which she sewed by hand), the fabric from the old dress was repurposed for kids’ clothing or edging on curtains, or quilts, or rags.
The idea of having a good grasp on every single item in the household appeals to me. In this modern age, we are so overloaded with crap! I’m not much of a consumer, but I still feel like things are out of control. Every time I consider bringing something new into my house, I try to ask myself whether there is a different solution involving items I already own.
Maybe it’s a mindfulness thing? Appreciating the objects I interact with? Not living a disposable lifestyle? I don’t know.
When I see your photos of piles of discarded fast fashion, I feel guilty, even though I’m not really contributing to the problem. (I’m sitting here in an outfit from the bins!) I suppose I’m upset about the environment as well.
Meanwhile, I do have family who don’t admire my frugal ways. There’s a snobbish sister-in-law who criticizes me for “acting poor”. Whatever. I don’t feel poor.
Li,
If I could play Frugal Psychic, I predict that when your snobbish SIL gets to retirement age, she'll be coming to you for a handout. Because all her money will be spent on fancy things at the mall and other frivolities. I would bet dollars to donuts that you are going to get the last laugh. (But please don't give her any money.)
“ I’m not a miser! I’m a MAGICIAN”!! I’m investing in early retirement, travel, home improvements, peace of mind, philanthropy, education ,etc! I can turn money into sheer , unadulterated joy! but if jewellery or a new dress does it for you, I’m happy for you!
I live in the middle west of the US, specifically SW Illinois. When we drive thru central Illinois the highest points we see are landfills. And Cahokia Mounds historic site is not far from us. On the drive to the site the mounds of the white man, aka landfills, are clearly visible, dwarfing the historic mounds. School kids on trips are disappointed to find the mounds relatively small compared to the nearby landfills. It's definitely the waste that does it for me.
Laziness and old age. Ha! When I was young, I enjoyed shopping, I needed things and more importantly, I liked things. Now, no one makes clothes or shoes that work for me. We honestly don't need anything other than consumables and I find hunting through 110 choices to buy toothpaste or detergent extremely tiresome. Sometimes I'd actually like to spend money on objects and I simply can't find what I'm looking for (you know you're old and out of fashion when you can't even source from ebay!)
Seeing those mountains of clothing almost make me nauseous.
My late mother. She was born in 1923 and her mother died after giving birth to my aunt in February 1929. My grandfather was left with 3 little girls ages 6, 2 and less than 1 month. My grandmother's sister took care of the girls while my grandfather worked (then, they got married and had 5 more kids). The woman I knew as "grandma" was actually my great aunt Ruth.
Anyway, mom's stepmother had a nervous breakdown when my mom was 14. Mom (the oldest, and a girl) had to quit school in the 8th grade and care for a household of 10. Her parents, 6 of her 7 siblings, and an uncle. My mom was like Jesus feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. We didn't have 2 nickles to rub together, but mom was a miracle worker when it came to feeding people with virtually nothing. Dad said mom was so tight with money that she could rub 2 nickles together and get a quarter. My parents always put others ahead of themselves and often went without to provide for others in need.
Over the years, I have become an overly-practical gift giver. This year, I am making a meatloaf (cooked) for my BIL who is separated from DH's oldest sister after 62 years of marriage...he can't cook. I figure he can either nuke it or slice it cold for a sandwich. We already gave DH's sister a fruit basket and are giving their daughter and her girlfriend (who invited us for Christmas) freeze-dried fruit that one of my Amish families makes. They do a lot of hiking and camping, even in winter, so it will be a good snack for them to take on their adventures. When my sister was alive, I would give her tampons for Christmas. We gave DH's brother popcorn. He eats a huge bowl of it most every night.
I ordered 2 belts for DH as his is about to break. Our car needed major repairs over the last 2 months...happy birthday and Merry Christmas to me.
My boss's dad rolled his ATV as he was doing work around his property. He's 80 and it landed on him. My boss and his brother are taking care of their parents (mom is physically fine but has dementia) 24/7. I'm going to make 2 meatloaves, some baked corn, and some cole slaw to take to them. Not much, but hopefully it will give a brief, much needed, break.
If you gifted me or my family homemade food, I would be so grateful; especially with some of the people you're describing going through a hard time. I think those are wonderful gifts!
My sister got divorced and the ex-took most of her things. She was always frugal but tightened the screws on her wallet. I sourced most of her furniture & other items second-hand. There are many low-income people in the US suffering from the economy. I have wondered if they scavenge & use second hand. My sister and I are middle class, but we thrift. I recently moved. Donated a large number of items to a charity for animal welfare. The new place is furnished 90% w/ thrifted items. I save my money for things you must buy new: tires, parts for car repair, medicine, cat food, and the like. I work w/ college age adults. Many of them have expensive handbags, eat out for lunch, have the newest phone, etc. I did not live like that in college. Maybe it is a generational thing, or parents pay for everything. I cringe at what I see thrown out near a local private university in my city. (I don't work at that school.)
The fact that disturbs me most is the giant area of plastic trash that is named the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas. A good reason to not drink plastic bottles of water, soda, juice.
I have often wondered if we were able to clean the patch of garbage in the ocean, or the clothing at the beach in the photos, what would we do with those items? Would they truly be salvageable or even recyclable? The clothing is probably ruined due to the water elements, the items in the floating patch are probably questionable for being recycled - recycling plants are notorious for being picky about what they accept, and it has to be somewhat clean to be recycled. If we were to do a humanitarian effort to clean these areas, would we then have to give it to a dump or an incinerator? However, that would give that beach back, and get those items out of the water. Or, is the littered state a new part of the ecosystem created by man?
I love your list of must-buy-new, however I have a tire shop nearby where I get my tires switched and I have purchased ONLY used tires from them - they get them in great shape from shops where someone gets a new car and wants to change/upgrade/fancier their original tires. the originals end up at places like my shop. never had a problem (touch wood) and save hundreds each time I buy tires. (which seems to be often as the cars cycle through my hands into those of my kids! LOL)
My husband bought 2 used tires on one occasion at the tire store. I have him ask if they are available but usually, they are not. I don't know if we have a tire shop like you are describing in north central Texas. I will investigate.
I'm not fond of buying tangible items that don't fall under household needs. Yes, we go out to eat as after 40+ years of cooking, better half deserves a break. Who else has a better half that graciously took over holidays when those that used to no longer could do so?
Clothes and shoe shopping has always been frustrating for me. And frankly, I am most comfortable in jeans/yoga pants than not. I find maintaining one's weight results in even less need to shop. Shoes wear out and the chances of finding an even almost new pair in a thrift shop isn't going to happen for me.
I tend to spend more helping others, I can afford to do so without negatively impacting my budget.
Looking back, my earlier frugal motivation came from my mom; Julie Andrews as Maria in The Sound of Music when she made the children's clothes out of her bedroom drapes; Janet Luhrs and Elaine St. James, both writers on the simplicity movement; and Bea Johnson, the mother of the zero waste lifestyle. I was born hating waste and getting great pleasure from being resourceful, mindful and efficient. I love the creativity and challenges that come with being frugal. There is also a bit of a rebellious independence in the mix, to be different from the mainstream. My current motivation comes from Katy here and Kristen (The Frugal Girl) and all of their inspiring commenters!
I've been using the term "eco-frugality" on the (very few) occasions someone comments on my patched winter coat & jeans. That coat is warm, the jeans are comfortable & I wear them out in public sometimes when I'm running errands because it's convenient for me. I hope it helps normalize wearing mended clothes. When I was a kid, I had "school clothes" to be kept nice & "play clothes" for rough & tumble & I guess I never outgrew that, lol.
I have a long black wool coat that is 41 yrs old. I had to repair the pockets & a shoulder seam, but it is ready for the winter. My mother (who was a loyal Democrat) called it my respectable black Republican cloth coat. Richard Nixon used that phrase in his "Checkers speech" in 1952 to emphasize his family's middle- class lifestyle. He was running as Dwight Eisenhower's VP. Checkers was his dog who was gifted to him. My mother had a sly sense of humor. One of her degrees was in English so she was well read.
I was inspired by my mother, who grew up in a little house headed by her aunt and uncle, who were pretty poor and uneducated. They had some indoor plumbing but no bathroom, just an outhouse. They had a huge garden and grape arbor and my aunt canned everything. She also saved every scrap of material and made beautiful quilts.
My mother was better off as an adult, but still poor. My father drank too much and bounced around from job to job. My mother still managed. We didn't have a bad life, mostly due to her hard work and frugality.
As a child, I didn't want to be like her. I wanted new things. Now I understand just how awesome she was.
Those pictures are astonishing, alarming, and motivating.
I quit my Fortune 500 job at age 45. It was so many hours and so stressful. I practiced how I would have to live without that income for a year before actually taking the leap. That was 15 years ago and I am so much happier. So I initially started my non consumer journey by practicing living on less, and it just snowballed from there. I read books and blogs on sustainability, homesteading, and minimalism. (And lots of videos too) Just seeing the waste, and how humans are treated in the making of the excess, plus the global destruction, and the harm to animals is enough to convince me we have to change. I watch a video on YouTube, and the host was discussing how she is vegan, but doesn't try to force her views on anyone, but how others respect and respond positively just through her example. The host gave the example of going to stay with someone and she didn't ask that they get any vegan items for her stay, but they just did it. I try to mimic her. I now work at a library and I started recycling (previously no one there was recycling, they didn't even have a recycling bin) I put recycling around and after watching me staff started using the bins. That was 5 years ago, and every once in a while someone will come to me and ask if an item is recyclable! I also started a free box in the break room, where people can take what they want and leave what they want to get rid of. Another staff member started battery recycling for patron in the lobby!!! At my book club Christmas gathering at the library a member said, Give your extra gift bags to Johanna we will reuse them next year. So I quietly mimic those ideals I like, and people notice, and start doing the same
Good for you, Johanna, for leading by example. I too have found that if I walk the walk without preaching, others are much more likely to walk with me.
Some of my inspirations for nonconsumerism are similar to those of several other commenters. They include my frugal mother (she, along with her twice-divorced-for-good-cause mother, endured some hard times during the Depression) and the Tightwad Gazette (Mom got me reading this, and with her copies plus my own, I have a complete set of the original newsletters).
Other reasons include having had a modestly paying job in publishing (although with the great frugal luxury of telecommuting) and a DH who was self-employed for most of his working life; taking some economic hits during DH's long decline; and, now, living as a retiree in the current age of uncertainty about Social Security and so many other things. And now I'll check out Bradley's site.
But I can also definitely relate to the Third World clothing dump photos. Two inspirations along these lines were (a) an exhibit our local art museum once did, consisting entirely of a bale of clothing like those that regularly get shipped to the Third World; and (b) a 2002 article by George Packer in the NYT Magazine, titled "How Susie Bayer's T-Shirt Ended Up on Yusuf Mama's Back."
And now I'll return to my nonconsumerist holiday prep, which today includes further work on this year's Martha Stewart parody calendar for the Bestest Neighbors. This year's edition is a mashup of Martha and the illustrator Edward Gorey--so it's going to be gorier/Goreyer than usual. (Heavy reliance on photos of Martha's various Halloween disguises!)
Those pictures are hard to look at. My non consumerism comes from my parents who waste nothing. I love nature and I'm motivated to keep natural resources beautiful and clean. Every time I donate to goodwill I'm inspired to buy less...why do I even have this stuff?? Then sadly, I have a few friends who are in a financial pickle and as retired/close to retired have extremely limited choices in their lives because of heavy consumerism.
I see a lot of people I know who will struggle with retirement as well due to financial decisions. I dont believe they look at long term, just short term wants and impressing others.
I grew up with parents who lived frugally because my dad was a public school teacher, mom stayed at home, both had health issues and high medical costs. They made it fun, though: leftovers became “Pick Your Own” night, we’d go on walks and play Eye Spy or puck up pine cones or leaves for our Nature Table at home (mom was good at marketing!). In high school, my allowance went farther at the thrift stores when you could still find awesome vintage clothing (1980s), and my dad taught us the art of trash picking: we’d help him at the end of the school year and get to clean/pick supplies left by students, and my dining room table was first a library table from the high school. I married a self-employed artist and worked as a writer/editor freelance and for small companies and nonprofits, and being frugal allowed us to choose the lifestyle that we valued. Plus, frugality is a ginger salute to capitalism and The Man;)!
Sigh - “finger salute.” My fingers are wide!
1980's = VINTAGE?! OUCH!
WAHS Class of'81
No- sorry, I mean it was in the 1980s, when I was in high school, that you could find vintage clothes easily in thrift stores!
Non-consumerism is deeply personal to me. I don't expect others to see things quite as I do, but mine is lived experience that drive my choices. My folks are boomers raised by those who survived the depression. I grew up during the farm crisis. Therefore, if my folks were going to make it on the farm, it was essential that every dollar count. I remember seeing Willy Nelson and Farm Aide on TV and knowing, distinctly, that he was talking about us and our neighbors. 2 families of kids I played with moved away when their Dads lost farms. Hard to miss that as a kid and it leaves a deep mark. My folks worked, really physically worked, to provide for us and we worked beside them. We hauled water, hung out laundry, cut wood, gardened, canned, and butchered. I hated wearing hand made clothes. But the lesson I learned was that it takes time, money, and resources to create the items we use every day. Also, most every day people could give a rip as the farm economy of the Midwest dissentigrated. Corporations killed the independent family pig farmers, hogs went on feeding floors (yuck) and small towns sank into the ground. Macro economic forces have real consequences in the micro.
I never knew my material grandfather. He was killed in a quary accident. I lost a cousin (with 2 small children)who was cutting grade walnut that would potentially become the dashboard of a Rolls-Royce. Things come at a cost to people and the environment. Piles of cheap, plastic crap/clothes cost energy, resources, and people's time. Sometimes people are exploited to make the things that are so easily discarded, and I refuse to be a part of it.
I am a child of the land. It has sustained my people for 6 generations in this county. I seek to improve the land in my care for as long as I am here. If I do a good job of teaching the next generation to farm well, it won't end up paved over and developed. Its regress not progress,when good, productive land is destroyed to plant houses, roads, and mini malls. We have enough as a society, but we have been sold on endless expansion and consumption. It's not a fulfilling existence. It's a load of b.s. and I have very little tolerance for b.s. I have no patience for green washing at all! The greenest choice in most instances is to abstain from new purchases.
Mostly, I produce commodity cattle that are part of larger food system. A small part is sold directly to local families. My Dad still raises a few pigs just because he enjoys it. Nothing like before our markets and buying stations were closed. I worry about people at the margins and folks who are food insecure. To me, high quality food is a human right.
As long as I breathe, the animals (wild and domesticated) will be well cared for, the soil will be deep and rich and appreciated, and the water will be clean and clear on my little ranch. The things and people I truly value have nothing to do with store bought junk, they run much deeper. I am a non-consumer because it aligns with my higher purpose and supports goals and aspirations more lofty than the immediate feel-good of trinkets. I enjoy nice things but not at the expense of others or the environment.
You are a soul sister. I could've written your post.
Being first a biologist, then becoming a nurse, I grew up observing the wildlife and thinning out the weakest to keep the gene lines strong, we still do.
My non-consumerism comes from seeing a disgusting landfill grow exponentially thru the years. Several years we had a shoe box garbage contest between six families on our road. We still share one garbage can between all of us for one month.
Mine comes from a few places:
-My grandparents, who used everything up and respected their belongings so much that I now have many of my Nonni's sweaters from the 70s and 80s in perfect condition
-My lived experience, where I have been without work at multiple times and relied on savings and my own resourcefulness
-My goals, including traveling the world and experiencing beautiful things (the mountains, the ballet, the art of the world). These are more important to me than consumerism.
However, as I write this I reflect on my personal ways of being frugal and non consumer. I live in a city and work full time with family obligations. So while I do not have a garden to avoid buying food or the ability to store or process bulk/free food all the time, I am an active member of our buy nothing group and swap groups. I have doubled down on buying secondhand when it's necessary and also aiming to sell items that I no longer need, even at a loss, to get it into the hands of someone who will use it. I try to grocery shop at cheaper stores to avoid having to manage coupons or deals, which my schedule and attention span do not always help with.
Trying to live a proper "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" attitude and appreciate this community's support!
Your blog! I love to read about a woman with the same ideas as me. The news about your country is bad. It gives me hope that there are still normal people in America!
In the past I read many books, one of them The Tightwad Gazette book.
I think lots of things have made me who I am in regards to lighter consumerism: family stories and experiences, the way I was raised (shopping yard sales and hand-me-down clothes from cousins), and personal experiences. One big thing that convinced me to pretty much never buy another new decorative tchotchke was a few years ago when I organized a yard sale for our local humane society. We received a lot of donations from the community and were inside a community building with lots and lots of long tables. Multiple tables were crammed full of decorative items. It gave me a sick feeling just to look at it. At the end of the two-day sale, we had sold a lot of items but still had tables full of little pieces of glassware from the dollar store, handed down from great-grandma, etc. After the sale we donated a lot of items to a local thrift store but we all know the majority of those items were going to eventually wind up in the landfill. One last reason I tend to buy less/buy used when I can: It gives me more resources to help others.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this post. If I’m truthful, I’m not really a non-consumer. I buy my fair share of things; however, I do have a mindset I think helps. Years ago as I was emerging from graduate school and regrouping after a divorce, I made a pledge to myself that I wouldn’t buy junk. I’d save or make do until I could afford what I really wanted. That doesn’t mean it was always new, but I wasn’t going to settle. The particle board shelving unit eventually gave way to a lovely hutch to store my grandma’s dishes in the dining room. The particle board shelving unit was repurposed and eventually we parted ways.
My mother was a huge influence. She was so mindful of money and taught me how to be frugal. When I earned money strawberry picking the summer of my 8th grade year, she designated it as my school-clothes shopping fund. Then, she insisted I buy classic clothes that would last me. I was literally wearing those pleated wool skirts through college and into my first teaching job. Gifts were scarce and often practical.
As a military spouse, we moved often; and always with a weight allowance. I learned early on to maintain a household we could move easily and within our means. Once retirement occurred, I must admit to much less diligence. We do try to follow the “one in, one out” rule, though. The biggest obstacle has been the acquisition of our parents things. It’s hard to let go of our heritage along with the physical mementos from a lifetime spent traveling and living wherever we were sent.
Thanks for the opportunity to honestly reflect on this topic.
The less stuff I buy, the less pollution and waste. The less Climate impact. And the less money I spend. I prefer to live simply. Capitalism in the US is barely regulated and it's not a good way to live.
I am late to the party because I have been thinking about this a lot since it posted.
I was inspired by the Tightwad Gazette - but also thought some of her ideas were over the top and impractical.
I have learned a lot from the NonConsumer Advocate and the Frugal Girl and their commentariat. The concept of making do with creativity and feeling part of a community of individuals trying to be resourceful and cheerful with what we have is probably the primary reason I faithfully read them. I can’t say I am a non-consumer, but I have learned many useful tricks of the trade from them.
I like nice things (it’s curse) but I would prefer someone else pay top dollar - not me. I have volunteered at an upscale charity thrift store for years and see the results of consumerism. The variety is fun to shop, but the excess is disheartening.
My parents were frugal and while we didn’t have expensive things like some of our peers, we had opportunities, education and ultimately some inheritance to enjoy for which I really am greatly for.
I also enjoyed and was inspired by the now defunct Mrs. Frugalwoods blog.
Money, feeling smart, being proud of doing my share. Actually doing something, when seeing a problem. Actions instead of words. Slightly silencing my general anguish.
My hatred of the evil billionaire class that’s destroying this country of course!