Overconsumption around the holidays is a huge problem in the U.S. As soon as the Fourth of July ends, stores are lined with cheap fall and Halloween decor for everyone to purchase. People following social media trends flock to an item that is overpriced and most likely will end up in a landfill. This overconsumption is damaging to the environment and the wallets of those who partake.
What is Window Shopping?
“Window shopping” is often thought of literally, where you look for a minute without going into the store. I like to think of it as shopping without buying. Think of a store as a museum where you can look, take pictures and take home ideas for how to decorate with things you already have. I remember walking around strip malls or thrift stores with my mom, looking for possible Halloween decorations to add to our current collection. Most of the time, we went home empty-handed. Our storage bins were finally brought up to the living room, where we picked out what we wanted to display that year. Just looking around at local or secondhand stores inspired us to decorate with what we already had.
Build Your Current Collection
College students may not have a collection of Halloween or fall decorations they have gathered throughout their life. My advice is to start small, with one or two purchases a month, preferably from a secondhand store. Goodwill is often flooded with Halloween and Christmas decorations in the fall. You can start a storage bin that you bring out each year to decorate your apartment.
Another way to grow your fall decor without buying would be to craft your own. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and other social platforms that have simple decorations you can make, such as bats, spiders, paper chains, and pumpkins. Window shopping is a great way to get inspiration. If you like something you see in the store, it is probably not too difficult to make. Take a picture, look up a tutorial for something similar, and give making it a shot! It doesn’t have to look store-perfect; the best part is the homemade look. Every time you see it on display, it can remind you of that memory of making it. Now the decoration is more than just a shopping trip; it’s an experience.
Anyone can go window shopping. If you’re nervous to do it alone, make a day out of it with friends. There is always a way to make the experience your own. Get out there and be inspired! Save your money for another day.