It is useless to deny it , one of the traps of consumerism is to lead us to believe that we also need what is not essential at all.
Let’s not talk about the purchases made out of boredom : are you also among those who, looking at your statistics spent During closed shops, are you surprised to see that you have spent much more than you thought?
Then this article is for you. Let’s see what’s behind spending too much money if you have more free time and some solutions to stop doing it!
More or less useful online purchases
Between panic over food supplies and people who suddenly found themselves with free time that they did not have before, the data on online purchases that you can find in this article speak for themselves: during the lockdown our buying habits have started a change that will be most likely irreversible.
Some product categories were necessarily set aside, between skipped trips and postponed events, and the closure of most of the shops except for groceries led us to buy some things rather than others.
But we are sure that an increase of 652% in online purchases of bread making machines photographers a real need and is not rather a sign that, some of us finding ourselves with more free time, we have dedicated ourselves to activities to pass the time, that have simply led to spending money in a different way than usual? Once at least a semblance of normality has been restored, will we go back to kneading with that contraption that previously seemed indispensable?
The same goes for that nice 307% increase in online purchases of sports devices. In both cases, finding some peace of mind is naturally welcome thanks to activities that make us feel good, but always with an eye on the wallet!
What can you do?
Invest in equipment and objects to choose wisely: can you use them, and above all, do you think you will, even once the emergency has passed? Then go ahead! If not, you don’t have to deny yourself a purchase that will give you relief in a difficult period, but you can think of choosing a lower quality, in view of a more sporadic use.
having too much doesn’t make you happier
Last year a series starring Marie Kondo landed on Netflix , which gave new life to the most loved figure (and hated by as many people) when it comes to tidying up.
His method is simple : putting in place, rearranging and dividing by categories, helps us to get rid of the superfluous, keeping only the objects that are really useful and those that have a sentimental value for us.
But there is more , and it is also the aspect for which his philosophy has often been trivialized or ridiculed: his idea is that the excessive accumulation of objects makes unhappy and that, on the contrary, to get rid of them, thanking them for what they have done for us and decreeing its end, help us to make room inside and outside of us only for what really gives us joy.
What can you do?
Whether you belong to skeptical detractors of his method or his most avid fans, you can take a cue from the Marie Kondo method.
You may feel lighter by freeing yourself from junk you never use, from things accumulated waiting to use them knowing that the time will not come. Selling them online can help you collect some extra income in your Oval account and speaking of the future, you could take the opportunity to ask yourself how you really want to spend the free time you have.
Minimalism: what are the really important things?
The moment when we can finally buy something we have longed for is always priceless : whether it is the latest book by our favorite writer or the sushi we have not eaten for months, we are well aware of the happiness that comes with it.
And what about everything else? Are we really sure we need everything our consumer world tells us we want?
After watching the documentary Minimalism on Netflix , with the significant subtitle ” A Documentary About the Important Things “, you might start to think differently. The two authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, founders of The Minimalists blog , narrate and show here their philosophy of life and what lies behind it.
Far from any extremism , a minimalist lifestyle has as its center the continuous search for what is essential, leaving out the superfluous from every point of view and, moreover, freeing itself from a slavery of the herd to reaffirm one’s uniqueness and needs. .
What can you do?
Whether you have a minimalist attitude or not , before you open that clothing chain’s app again to review the news of the day, you might start wondering if you’re not doing it out of boredom or laziness.
If your conscience starts to blush , then put on your sneakers and enjoy the newfound freedom by going for a healthy walk, or cook something good for yourself or those around you (you bought the bread machine too, we know it).
In short, buying does not always give happiness : keep it in mind, with the lessons seen together today, whenever you are tempted to escape from boredom with a few trips online!
