We live in a culture where everything is accessible, all the time.
With online shopping and one-day delivery, stores that stay open all day and night, it's almost impossible not to be pushed to consume.
Buy, buy, buy, the advertisements scream at us, encouraging an almost mindless consumption of products and goods.
We fill our closets and our homes with goods that we believe will help make us better people, more in touch with current trends, as if the latest and greatest is really going to change anything about us on the inside.
Like everyone else, I used to let this drive to have something new run my life -- and certainly to a degree, my bank account.
If there was an event, big or small, I felt like I actually needed something new to wear. God forbid someone see me in a sweater or a dress that I'd worn previously!
There was a shift that occurred somewhere along the way when I realized two things. One, who cares if I'm wearing a dress I wore already? And two, the likelihood of anyone actually noticing is so slim that it's almost a waste of time to consider it.
With those two new realizations in mind, and a closet free of clutter, a house devoid of anything that I didn't truly and explicitly need, I realized that in cleaning out the junk and the crap, I'd left myself without a skill-set to ensure it didn't happen again.
Minimalist shopping is just like any other shopping, only more specific. If you don't arm yourself with the tools to make conscious and informed choices about your purchases, you'll probably end right back where you started with two colanders, three sets of dishes, and a wardrobe full of clothes that you only partially love.
With the recognition in mind that I needed to change my approach to purchasing, I came up with a checklist that I run down every time I am considering buying anything at all.
1. Am I justifying this purchase because I think it'll motivate me to do something?
This is a recipe for disaster. If you haven't already started a new hobby or habit, you shouldn't reward yourself for work that isn't already done. If you're at the Main Exchange and you decide on a whim to take up running because you really love the pair of shoes you just found, you should probably pause to consider the purchase.
2. Do I feel compelled to get this because it's a "good," "known," or "famous" brand?
If you're buying the jeans because of the label and not because you need a pair of jeans (read -- if you don't have a pair) then pausing a moment before swiping your bank card is very much needed.
3. Does this item work with what I already have?
If you're looking at new clothing, can you use the piece in multiple outfits? You want what you're buying to work right now, with what you have, and not with the idea in mind that you'll build a wardrobe around it.
4. Am I filling a gap?
Does the item aim to fill a need, such as a new book to read, or am I trying to fill a void, like buying that new pair of pajamas because it's been a tough week and they look so enticing)?
With this checklist in mind, I carefully evaluate every single item I buy, including food and other life-staples.
It helps me be consciously aware of what I'm spending, why I'm buying the item, and my clear-cut vision for how and when the item will be put to good use.
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