I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love shopping.
I’m a sucker for consumerism and any and all marketing tactics, and it’s extremely difficult for me to leave the mall without some sort of knick knack. I don’t go to the mall very often, so for the most part, this isn’t too much of an issue. However, my senior year of high school, I got my own debit card, and the door to the world of online shopping was opened for me.When I’m at home, my parents raise their eyebrows if too many packages are coming to the house, which discourages my impulse purchasing habit. However, online shopping is too easy to rationalize in college. Sure, I’m relatively isolated and the only option is to order what I need. I’m also don’t spend much money when I’m at school, so I don’t feel guilty for ordering more moisturizer or another striped shirt. However, as easy as it may be for me to rationalize online shopping, money is money. I’m hoping to visit a friend in Paris next year, which costs money. I’m hoping to live in an apartment next year, which costs money. Striped shirts start to add up, and their price takes away from potentially bigger, more important purchases.
When I came back to school, I decided to see how long I could go without purchasing anything online, so I’ve started to record everything I buy (including food). Initially, this was just a self-regulation habit, and I didn’t expect it to teach me any lessons. However, this period of anti-spending has been like giving up sugar: the less I do it, the less I want it.
Browsing my favorite online stores used to be a regular pastime, but I’ve ceased to do so since attempting to quit impulse purchasing. I also have an easier time making use of what I have since I’m not thinking about what I could buy to make my life easier. Not allowing myself to buy things has not only made me more conscious about my spending, but it has also made me more conscious of my genuine wants and needs. Material goods seem to fulfill me in a way I hadn’t realized. However, my shopping hiatus has encouraged me to be fulfilled by people, experience, skills, and education. I’m losing my desire to invest my money in things and I’m more interested in investing my time and energy into everything around me, from relationships to my studies. This change in my spending habits was inspired partly by the documentary Minimalism, which is available on Netflix. I highly recommend it for anyone who feels like they’re drowning in stuff, wants to condense their life, or wants to focus more on their organic surroundings than their physical ones. I think everyone could benefit from thinking a little bit more about each other and less about stuff.
P.S. I did just order a set of packets of miso soup mix, because everyone needs an emergency pick-me-up, and some things never change.