Shopping can help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and boost creativity. With the advent of online shopping, it is easier than ever to make large purchases. Simply with the click of a button and in the blink of an eye. It all happens so quickly. Without any physical exchange of money, in the comfort of your home, and with the promise of a package arriving tomorrow. The whole thing seems too good to be true. It may just be.
Consumerism in the U.S. and Canada has reached record highs in recent years. According to The Atlantic, in 2017, the U.S. spent over $240 billion on items including books, phones, jewelry, and watches. This is twice as much as what was spent in 2002, though the population has only grown by 13% within that time frame. Americans individually dispose of roughly 81 pounds of clothes and textiles annually, and 26 million tons of plastic collectively each year.
Globally, 80% of discarded textiles are sent to landfills or incineration facilities. Most of the clothes that we donate are deemed unsellable, or due to the sheer mass of items being donated, end up in landfills.
This clothing can remain in landfills for over 200 years. As it decomposes, it releases methane gas, which has terrible effects on the atmosphere. Additionally, the clothing that gets shipped and re-sold overseas is often discarded into landfills abroad, in the same way.
With multiple lockdowns and mandatory quarantines, people are spending increasingly more time online, scrolling endlessly through social media. These platforms feed into impulse and trend purchasing. They sell the “perfect” lifestyle and send a message that with the purchase of a certain product, you too will look and live like your favourite influencer.
1. Sleep on it
Impulse buying is the hardest to tackle while in the moment. See a cute top and feel the urge to purchase it immediately? Wait. Give yourself at least three days to ponder the purchase before going through with it. Some people use a 30-day rule, where they make a list of everything they want and check back a month later to decide whether or not to purchase it. Can you think of at least five ways to wear the item you want with clothes you already have?
2. Commit to buying less and making what you already have last longer
Try to avoid shopping the trends. If you must, only purchase a few affordable pieces that you will wear often. It is always best to invest in timeless classics that are flattering and can be worn for years to come. Regularly “shop in your own closet,” and make sure that you are aware of all the items you already have.
3. Get rid of temptations
Unsubscribe from retail email lists, and unfollow creators who make you feel like you should be spending money all the time. These channels are very effective at getting you to spend money. They give you the sense that you are missing out if you are not spending money right now. Sales are made to make you feel that if you don’t purchase the item immediately, you’ll have to spend more later. Remember that it is never the last sale, as there are always more to come.
Possibly purchasing something at full price is better than buying items you don’t even need or want, just because they are on sale.
4. Find non-commercial ways to make yourself feel better
“Retail therapy” exists to combat real-life stress. Come up with ways to make yourself feel better that do not involve spending money. Going for a walk, baking or cooking something, watching a movie, playing a video game, or calling up a friend are just some of the better options. Try to focus on the small things that don’t cost anything.