5 Minimalist Tips to Break the Cycle of Consumerism
As a minimalist, shopping malls and retail stores are places I no longer frequent. In fact, last weekend was my first trip to Target this year.
Our oldest daughter needed a couple of summer wardrobe staples, so I agreed to the necessary outing.
I stepped into the store knowingly. Bright-colored clothing racks caught my eye.
Before minimalism, this was a place I visited weekly (or more). Rarely out of necessity. Shopping used to be a hobby—buying stuff was a way to temporarily feel good or cover up hard feelings.
I was caught in a cycle of consumerism. Make money. Buy something. Feel good. Feel the dopamine rush subside. Buy something new. Rinse. Repeat.
And sure enough, minutes after entering the store last weekend, I saw a boho summer dress in exactly my style and an old, familiar thought entered my head: “Maybe life would be better with this?”
Minimalist living and knowing that stuff isn’t the key to my happiness has taught me to catch consumerism-derived thoughts like these and let them go.
The average American now sees over 5,000 advertisements per day. These ads tell us the “good life” can be bought (it can’t). Or that there is something wrong with us (there’s not) so we will buy a product to fix this “inadequacy.”
This weekend, marketers want to inundate your text messages, social media feeds, and email inboxes with advertisements for Memorial Day sales.
If you’re feeling pulled into the cycle of consumerism this weekend, or if you’ve been there a while and are ready to break free, read on.
Here are 5 minimalist tips to break the cycle of consumerism:
1. Stay out of stores
A minimalist understands that entering a store exposes you to products you hadn’t considered purchasing.
Stores employ various strategies, often unconsciously, to influence consumer spending. For example using cool colors like blue and green can promote spending, playing slow music can encourage you to spend more time in the store, and placing impulse buys at check out make you more likely to drop $15 on gum and a magazine you didn’t intend to buy.
Psychologist Alberto Villoldo, says we are now exposed to more stimuli in one week than our ancient ancestors were exposed to in their entire lifetimes. Entering stores only increases our stimuli exposure, our decision fatigue, and the likelihood we will buy something.
Side note: If you do enter a store, it’s more than okay to leave without buying anything.
2. Pause before purchasing
A minimalist knows that pausing before purchasing can curb impulse spending. Make a list of aspirational shopping items and then revisit them after a month or two to see if you really want them.
Author Tracy McCubbin recommends this purchasing pause: for every $50 an item costs, wait 24 hours to buy it. If it’s $100, then wait 48 hours and so on.
“You’ll most likely find that as the time passes, so does the desire to buy,” says Tracy.
3. Realize a want versus a need
Minimalist living has taught me that using the words want and a need accurately leads to a mindset shift that can help you break the consumerism cycle.
The next time you consider purchasing something, experiment with adjusting your language from “I need” to “I want.” (Ex. “I need a new pair of jeans” becomes “I want a new pair of jeans.”)
There are few things we actually need, we just want them. By changing your language, you change your purchasing behavior.
Every item we own has a claim on our time, energy, and attention. Do we really want those resources to dwindle as we accumulate more unneeded stuff?
4. Uproot comparison from your life
A minimalist realizes that comparison often fuels consumerism. If glancing at your neighbor’s belongings or noticing a social media trend sparks an inclination to buy (it used to for me), then you’re likely dealing with comparison.
Begin catching your comparative thoughts. For every one of your thoughts that is comparative in nature, replace it with three thoughts of gratitude.
For example, say you’re scrolling through Pinterest, see a beautiful kitchen, and immediately become dissatisfied with yours (You’re thinking: “Mine’s not good enough.”). Catch that comparative thought. Then replace it with three things you’re grateful for.
You could think: “I’m thankful I have a roof over my head. I’m thankful I have a family in this home who loves me. I’m thankful that I have food in this kitchen to feed my family.” This type of thinking changes your brain chemistry. And it helps you avoid comparison-derived purchases.
5. Find a replacement behavior
A minimalist knows that so many purchases are made emotionally. Psychology uses the acronym HALTS (hungry, angry, lonely, tired, sick/sad/stressed) to describe states when we’re more likely to act in an undesired way. The next time you consider buying something, ask yourself “If I weren’t _______ (hungry, angry, tired, etc.), would I still buy this item?” If you answered no, then don’t buy it!
Begin noticing how you’re feeling when you’re making purchases. Then develop new habits to avoid these tempting situations. Do you scroll Amazon at night when you’re tired? Replace that behavior by grabbing a book or a journal instead of your phone. Do you hit “Buy Now” when you’re sad? Call a friend or go for a walk instead. Feel the need to swing by a store when you’re stressed? Find a cause you’re passionate about and shift your focus to helping others.
Observe your spending habits and the associated feelings. Then use that awareness to make a choice that breaks the cycle of consumerism.
In conclusion
If you’re feeling the lure of consumerism in your life, consider the tips above. Then experiment with ones that resonate.
Minimalist living—living more focused on what truly matters and less focused on stuff—has shown me how to break the cycle of consumerism.
I’ve learned that I can like an item, but not need to own it.
As a Christian, simplicity and detaching from possessions have shown me that while the things of the world may be good and beautiful, the truly good, the truly beautiful belong to a higher world. We can sense that goodness and beauty in worldly things, but none of it lasts. Nor is it the source of our happiness.
So, this Memorial Day weekend, and every day, let’s break the cycle of consumerism in our lives by focusing more on the things that truly matter, which aren’t actually “things” at all.
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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist. Her online projects on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached over 50 million people worldwide. Julia also practices what she preaches in her Kansas City home where she lives with her husband and their five children. You can also find her on Instagram and Facebook.
P.S. You can now find my new book Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy everywhere books are sold!