There are a lot of phycological factors that come into play when considering consumer habits. Someone’s trauma can impact their spending habits, being lonely or bored or trying to appear above their means. There are so many reasons. And while I am no expert or psychologist, I know that consumerism affects us all and is affecting our planet gravely.
And no matter WHY we consume, whether it be to deal with things in our lives or to appear a certain way, we can always thank the media for encouraging our spending habits.
But when we’ve grown up in a world that encourages so much consumerism and with such cheap products, how can we ever hope to resist what we’ve grown to know so well?
Here are my best tips for conscious consumerism
1. Do the deep work
If you want to take a deep look at your spending habits, now is the time. Are there any patterns from life events to purchases? Do you spend more in certain seasons? Whether that be in the year or in life. What do you spend the most money on? How often? Look for any correlations you can find and dissect the heck out of them.
I did this a few years ago when I was unable to work but yet, still spent every dollar I had on little things here and there. I was trying to fill a hole I didn’t even know I had. It may not be super deep, but it’s interesting to look at and may help you recognize these habits as they come up.
2. Say no to sales
I don’t think sales are bad. In fact, I think they’re great. When you’ve been really needing or wanting something. But more often than not, we’re enticed to buy something just because it’s on sale when we wouldn’t have bought that item at full price. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it just because it’s on sale.
3. Ask yourself questions before purchases
I find that asking myself a series of questions before I purchase something helps to limit my impulse purchases. It makes me stop and evaluate my choices instead of just throwing something in my cart because I think I want it.
Check out the 6 questions I ask myself before making a purchase here.
4. Unsubscribe from retailer emails
We’ve all been there when we purchase something and have to give our email. We may not think that those newsletters are amounting to anything, but they can often plant a seed and we’re always reminded when there are sales! A simple click and you’re unsubscribed! It’ll go a long way.
5. Unfollow influencers and brands that encourage hyper consumerism
In a world where influencer marketing is HUGE, we’re often blind to the sales tactics that are being used online. If someone or a brand is constantly shoving links in your face and telling you to buy things, it’s time to unfollow them.
Related reading:
How to become a conscious consumer
Going from an over-consumer to a conscious consumer doesn’t happen overnight. And even when we are shopping mindfully, there will be times we “mess” up. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
I hope these tips help you on your journey to conscious consumerism! Please don’t forget to share this post and follow me on Instagram for daily mindful living tips and inspiration.
Leave a Reply