I smiled reading this because it resonates with me so much I feel seen. When adding to cart (though not yet bought), I do have that feeling like okay, I have prepared something. I am one step ahead, just have to check out and pay.
Totally, finalizing a purchase can bring me a momentary feeling of relief and competency, like I have it together. But looking at how the national and global consumption numbers have snowballed in the past 50 or even FIVE years is sobering.
This is so spot on, and something I have been thinking a lot about recently. We are all looking for ways to feel in control, and the act of shopping has the feeling of achieving it. Even ordering grocery shopping online gives me that feeling of accomplishment. Thank you!
Wow, I love how you describe purchasing as providing “a feeling of accomplishment.” When feeling productive is prized above all, it’s no wonder we fall back on an online order for a quick, reliable hit.
And the control angle is a whole other can of worms to explore!
I’m 9 months postpartum with my second now, and I’ve started to buy a few new items for my current body. It’s so true that everything is already in existence - the things I’ve bought from poshmark were all like new or new with tags.
I’ve tried to keep the same attitude with other things too. We went to the thrift store today & bought some kids books that are in great shape for so cheap too.
Yeah the first-time mom era can be such a minefield for accumulating piles of new, unnecessary stuff. But now that we’re on the other side, getting into Poshmark and thrifting, maybe we’re more aware than ever of the trap, right?
"In the concluding paragraphs, the author mentioned that the money she’d started earning from product commissions had helped her pay off her credit card debt. I wondered if anyone else found it ironic that she might have gotten out of debt by helping others accrue it."
So good... wow. I appreciate your humility as well as yes, in our corporate jobs we are essentially doing the same thing in promoting over-consumption (but it pays the bills...)
Yeah and of course it’s easy for me to follow this line of thinking when I have the privilege of not relying on affiliate commissions to support my lifestyle.
I've recently gotten rid of clothes that no longer suit me, and instead of going with what
I still have, I have been trying to replace, to build a more functional and intentional wardrobe. But this has sped up my particular treadmill of consumerism and I know it's time to get off. I need balance. Less is more...less is more... why does that dopamine promise so often try to (successfully) convince me otherwise? "Look at me! I am replacing clothing that doesn't serve me! With more clothing that may not serve me!" Productivity in disguise- you are so right.
So many of us can relate to this! While slowly and intentionally rebuilding my wardrobe has done wonders for my mood and confidence, I've found that dressing well requires an embarrassing amount of time and energy.
When I'm tempted by the convenience and efficiency of an affiliate link, it's usually ended up being a distraction from my ultimate goals.
One day I hope to acquire the skills needed to shop almost exclusively via the second-hand market, but I'm still a novice in that arena! In the meantime, I'm trying to strategically and patiently build on what I have instead of replace it all.
I smiled reading this because it resonates with me so much I feel seen. When adding to cart (though not yet bought), I do have that feeling like okay, I have prepared something. I am one step ahead, just have to check out and pay.
Totally, finalizing a purchase can bring me a momentary feeling of relief and competency, like I have it together. But looking at how the national and global consumption numbers have snowballed in the past 50 or even FIVE years is sobering.
This is so spot on, and something I have been thinking a lot about recently. We are all looking for ways to feel in control, and the act of shopping has the feeling of achieving it. Even ordering grocery shopping online gives me that feeling of accomplishment. Thank you!
Wow, I love how you describe purchasing as providing “a feeling of accomplishment.” When feeling productive is prized above all, it’s no wonder we fall back on an online order for a quick, reliable hit.
And the control angle is a whole other can of worms to explore!
It was so easy to hit buy in those newborn days.
I’m 9 months postpartum with my second now, and I’ve started to buy a few new items for my current body. It’s so true that everything is already in existence - the things I’ve bought from poshmark were all like new or new with tags.
I’ve tried to keep the same attitude with other things too. We went to the thrift store today & bought some kids books that are in great shape for so cheap too.
Yeah the first-time mom era can be such a minefield for accumulating piles of new, unnecessary stuff. But now that we’re on the other side, getting into Poshmark and thrifting, maybe we’re more aware than ever of the trap, right?
WOW! This is good. Thank you!
Thank you for reading! This was more than a little scary to say out loud so I appreciate it.
"In the concluding paragraphs, the author mentioned that the money she’d started earning from product commissions had helped her pay off her credit card debt. I wondered if anyone else found it ironic that she might have gotten out of debt by helping others accrue it."
So good... wow. I appreciate your humility as well as yes, in our corporate jobs we are essentially doing the same thing in promoting over-consumption (but it pays the bills...)
Yeah and of course it’s easy for me to follow this line of thinking when I have the privilege of not relying on affiliate commissions to support my lifestyle.
I've recently gotten rid of clothes that no longer suit me, and instead of going with what
I still have, I have been trying to replace, to build a more functional and intentional wardrobe. But this has sped up my particular treadmill of consumerism and I know it's time to get off. I need balance. Less is more...less is more... why does that dopamine promise so often try to (successfully) convince me otherwise? "Look at me! I am replacing clothing that doesn't serve me! With more clothing that may not serve me!" Productivity in disguise- you are so right.
So many of us can relate to this! While slowly and intentionally rebuilding my wardrobe has done wonders for my mood and confidence, I've found that dressing well requires an embarrassing amount of time and energy.
When I'm tempted by the convenience and efficiency of an affiliate link, it's usually ended up being a distraction from my ultimate goals.
One day I hope to acquire the skills needed to shop almost exclusively via the second-hand market, but I'm still a novice in that arena! In the meantime, I'm trying to strategically and patiently build on what I have instead of replace it all.