Shopping Mindfully

Okay, let’s make this post quick before you check out everything in your Amazon cart!

I’ll get straight to the point. Have you asked yourself:

• Will this product bring me joy? For how long and why?
• Have I brought something like this before? What happened to it? Did I use it?
• Is this the best price I can get this for?
• Would I let my friend splurge on this?
• Do I have space for it?

And the biggest question of all:

• Do I need it? or has society fooled me into thinking I can’t live without it?

I have been brainwashed by numerous pop up ads and commercials, it’s not even funny anymore. It’s getting difficult to tell if I am buying something because I want to or because subconsciously, I’ve watched an ad.

Now you don’t have to answer all of these questions, if you decide that something is within your pay and you want it, then that’s more than enough. I just don’t like seeing things go to waste. Sometimes we buy things we don’t actually want or need.

An example: I brought a smart watch before, just to keep track of my steps and heart… and it’s now dead and lost somewhere in the bottom of my draw. I use my phone now for all these things, including checking my heart rate, which is just so handy. WHY did I even by a smart watch? I could have used my phone regardless. . . Idk I thought it would be easier? Also, I may have been jealous of my sister’s smart watch. Okay, they look really cool! However, I am a person who does not like to take unnecessary roads (I’m not lazy, I just like shortcuts.) And what’s wrong with that? If there is a quick and efficient way to do something, then why not?

I have brought clothes that I wore for one season before really noticing that I didn’t like it, it wasn’t the kind of material that could last long, and it barely looks good on me.

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So, what does one do? If you are anything like me, you begin to clean and declutter. 

Things you can do with your stuff if it doesn’t make you happy: (being it’s in good condition)

• Sell it
• Donate it
• Give it away/ gift it
• DIY / upcycle it
• Find another purpose for it

Why?

Well, recent news to me, but overspending can be a form of self harm.

It may feel nice but you can actually do yourself a disservice.

1) you’re spending too much at once when you might need that money for something else.

2) when you are using money and shopping as a coping mechanism, it rarely solves anything. It’s just temporary which means, you’ll be back shopping again for things you don’t need shortly. But I get this. Sometimes you feel down and you just want to treat yourself. Nothing wrong with that, but don’t flex what you don’t have.

There are many ways to treat yourself that don’t involve going broke or in debt.