Practice deeper materialism.
In a quest to appear less materialistic, we proudly announce “I don’t care about stuff”. We don’t put in enough thought into our purchases. We buy frivolously, hoard for the wrong reasons and eventually throw way too much. The result ? We used 1.7 earths in the year 2018 and pollute the land/water/air.
The middle ground between ( consumerism+prioritizing objects over sustainability) and ( wont-take-care + will-throw-away culture ) – is deeper materialism.
“What defines an object is how we use it” – Mike Tolvanen.
A decade ago, I had the shopping gene. It now somehow metamorphosized into the decluttering gene. I can’t stop giving things away. If impulse buying is bad for the environment, so is impulse decluttering. What is the point of buying well made things if I don’t use them till they die ?
Some rules for myself :
Buy quality. Not too much. Mostly used.
Use it up. Wear it out. Make do without.
Every time I declutter a garment, catalog it on the blog and explain the decision.
Yes, its a fine balance. I have been trying to cut back on my shopping habits, last year I managed to do it by changing priorities- I was saving for an exotic trip with my child- and it did taught me a lot- about myself;). Previous year I was obsessed with a certain Polish brand, producing locally lovely clothes, super comfy and feminine. I fell into a trap of thinking since I stopped buying fast fashion I can spend more on local designer dresses. When at the end of a year I sum up my spending at this particular shop I was horrified- it was over a thousand USD! This year and in fact, last 6 months or so, before I buy anything (be it new or second hand) I ask myself a question: do you really need it? Where are you going to wear it? on seaside holiday? (if you have enough money to actually go on holiday) Holiday is not an excuse to buy new clothes (or a new boho bracelet to go with my hopefullly aquired tan;). If I buy it will I wear it often enough to justify the money spent? And most of the time the answer is: no. So even if the dream piece is on sale (as one particalar skirt is this very moment), even its a 40% Valentine’s Day sale I still ask- DO I REALLY NEED IT? A key sentence for me in your post is this- make do without.