I am trying to live a minimalist life. But that doesn’t mean I still don’t own stuff.
My family of four still owns three beds, three dressers, two couches, one table with chairs, one desk, eight plates, eight bowls, eight glasses… My kids own toys and books. My wife sews. I read, play sports, and care for the house. We may be seeking to live a minimalist life, but we are still consumers. After all, to live is to consume.
But we have worked hard to escape excessive consumerism. Consumerism becomes excessive when it extends beyond what is needed. When we begin consuming more than is needed, boundaries are removed. Personal credit allows us to make purchases beyond our income-level. Advertisements subtly reshape our desires around material possessions. And the consumption culture that surrounds us begins to make excessive consumption appear natural and normal.
Excessive consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, trendier clothes, fancier technology, and overfilled drawers. It promises happiness, but never delivers. Instead, it results in a desire for more… a desire which is promoted by the world around us. And it slowly begins robbing us of life. It redirects our God-given passions to things that can never fulfill. It consumes our limited resources.
And it is time that we escape the vicious cycle.
It is time to take a step back and realize that excessive consumption is not delivering on its promise to provide happiness and fulfillment. Consumption is necessary, but excessive consumption is not. And life can be better lived (and more enjoyed) by intentionally rejecting it.
Consider this list of ten practical benefits of escaping excessive consumerism in your life:
1) Less debt. The average American owns 3.5 credit cards and $15,799 in credit card debt… totaling consumer debt of $2.43 trillion in the USA alone. This debt causes stress in our lives and forces us to work jobs that we don’t enjoy. We have sought life in department stores and gambled our future on the empty promises of their advertisements. We have lost. Make getting out of debt a priority.
2) Less life caring for possessions. The never-ending need to care for the things we own is draining our time and energy. Whether we are maintaining property, fixing vehicles, replacing goods, or cleaning things made of plastic, metal, or glass, our life is being emotionally and physically drained by the care of things that we don’t need—and in most cases, don’t enjoy either. We are far better off owning less.
3) Less desire to upscale lifestyle norms. The television and the Internet has brought lifestyle envy into our lives at a level never before experienced in human history. Prior to the advent of the digital age, we were left envying the Jones’ family living next to us—but at least we had a few things in common (such as living in the same neighborhood). But today’s media age has caused us to envy (and expect) lifestyle norms well beyond our incomes by promoting the lifestyles of the rich and famous as superior and enviable. Only an intentional rejection of excessive consumerism can quietly silence the desire to constantly upscale lifestyle norms.
4) Less environmental impact. Our earth produces enough resources to meet all of our needs, but it does not produce enough resources to meet all of our wants. And whether you consider yourself an environmentalist or not, it is tough to argue with the fact that consuming more resources than the earth can replenish is not a healthy trend—especially when it is completely unnecessary.
5) Less need to keep up with evolving trends. Henry David Thoreau once said, “Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but religiously follows the new.” Recently, I have been struck by the wisdom and practical applicability of that thought whether relating to fashion, decoration, or design. A culture built on consumption must produce an ever-changing target to keep its participants spending money. And our culture has nearly perfected that practice. As a result, nearly every year, a new line of fashion is released as the newest trend. And the only way to keep up is to purchase the latest fashions and trends when they are released… or remove yourself from the pursuit altogether.
6) Less pressure to impress with material possessions. Social scientist Thorstein Veblen coined the phrase “conspicuous consumption” to describe the lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying income or wealth. In his 1899 book, The Theory of the Leisure Class, this term was used to describe the behavior of a limited social class. And although the behavior has been around since the beginning of time, today’s credit has allowed it to permeate nearly every social class in today’s society. As a result, no human being (in consumption cultures) is exempt from its temptation.
7) More generosity. Rejecting excessive consumerism always frees up energy, time, and finances. Those resources can then be brought back into alignment with our deepest heart values. When we begin rejecting the temptation to spend all of our limited resources on ourselves, our hearts are opened to the joy and fulfillment found in giving our personal resources to others. Generosity finds space in our life (and in our checkbooks) to emerge.
8) More contentment. Many people believe if they find (or achieve) contentment in their lives, their desire for excessive consumption will wane. But we have found the opposite to be true. We have found that the intentional rejection of excessive consumption opens the door for contentment to take root in our lives. We began pursuing minimalism as a means to realign our life around our greatest passions, not as a means to find contentment. But somehow, minimalism resulted in a far-greater contentment with life than we ever enjoyed prior.
9) Greater ability to see through empty claims. Fulfillment is not on sale at your local department store—neither is happiness. It never has been. And never will be. We all know this to be true. We all know that more things won’t make us happier. It’s just that we’ve bought into the subtle message of millions upon millions of advertisements that have told us otherwise. Intentionally stepping back for an extended period of time helps us get a broader view of their empty claims.
10) Greater realization that this world is not just material. True life is found in the invisible things of life: love, hope, and faith. Again, we all know there are things in this world that are far more important than what we own. But if one were to research our actions, intentions, and receipts, would they reach the same conclusion? Or have we been too busy seeking happiness in all the wrong places?
Escaping excessive consumption is not an easy battle. If it were, it would be done more often… myself included. But it is a battle worth fighting because it robs us of life far more than we realize.
Excessive consumption promises happiness, but never delivers. True life must be found somewhere else. (tweet that)
Image: schizoform
Great article!!
I have no social media and I barely watch TV
Social media/media overall just bombards you with items that you don’t really need and will not upgrade your life in any way – just an illusion.
If you’re investing money into items that are in link with your passions such as a new surf board, or a new bike, painting supplies, by all means
But so important to always ask yourself if that item will truly improve the quality of your life
So true about Social Media and TV ads. I took a DECA class my senior year of high school and they taught us how marketing works, and how to “see thru” the message. It has been very helpful to me to avoid the consumerism bandwagon. I look at ads today and “see through” them and ignore the message now. Minimalism has really been a blessing in my life.
Please remove my email.
I think comment captures the farcical nature of this post. The haughtiness, the class and religious privilege, this article is drenched in it. We seek an escape from this tumultuous cycle of corporate enforced pseudoculture, only to be slapped with this. I urge the poster to write with empathy (and remove Terri from the mailing list).
One of the measures I have taken to reduce consumption is to minimize the amount of new clothing that I buy. I get mine used from thrift stores and roadkill. It’s amazing how much decent clothing is lying around. If it looks decent I pick it up. If I don’t want it, I wash it and take it to a homeless shelter or thrift store.
My sibling’s small-town shop was recently broken into and robbed-grand theft. In the past, while living in larger cities, members of my family have come home to the same bewildering realization…theft. It’s had me thinking tonight, about how home minimalism holds the benefit of avoiding such a painful experience (yeah, I’m guessing if thieves didn’t find anything to take they’d likely just trash the house…motivation to remodel?) but at the same time, when you own next to nothing to begin with, it’s just that much less that can be taken away from you.
Thanks for such an inspiring article.I have been in my way to minimalism for a few years, I started by making my own 100% natural shampoo without any soap , based on sodium bicarbonate,clay, pure alcohol….also my own deodorant,toothpaste etc I have not bought any new clothes for ages, instead I buy them used from charity shops & secondhand markets, same goes for furniture ,car & most things.Now I am trying to reduce that kind of shopping too, as I can get carried away, so I am declatering my home from all things which I do not really need & will just keep the necessary things.I am also learning how to make my own shoes & would love to give up my selfemployed ( non satisfactory job) & go live in the country side in an earth bag house ( Nader Khalily style) have my own veg & fruit gardens & live life to the full,Now I feel enslaved to the system,but can not see a way out just yet…I also eat minimally, once per day or two at most, trying to follow a clean organic veg diet, avoiding as much as poss, the use of car, plastics,tv ….I believe this will bring me a lot of joy & freedom besides reducing my carbon foot print….love to all of you out there , I wish you success in your way to minimalism…Crusty ( Spain)
I think the older one gets, the less material objects mean. I’m just turning 60, and for the sake of my mental well-being walked out of my job. My income is such that I’ve been forced to think about a minimalist life. I’m already happier.
Christmas is a great time to start. I’ve told my family no presents, and have backed this up with the rationale that would they rather me go into debt or have gifts. No contest. Everyone is fine with this.
What is more important is spending quality time with those you love, rather than showering each other with stuff they don’t need.
Truly, 2017 is going to be the year I lead a minimalist existence. I will buy only what I need, rather than what I want.
Thank you for the article.
Hello, I admire the way you live and think and how you worked hard to have this minimalist life. You give me the motivation to change some things my way to life and to consume. As a girl, I love make up and clothes. From now, I think and I’m asking to myself this question :” Do I really need this lipstick?”.
I’ll do an effort in my way to consume, for the environment, for my purse (of course), and for my self-fulfillment. Thanks a lot to share your point of view, I hope it will touch the most people possible!
I have been on a journey this past year to stop needless spending and clear out the things in my life that I don’t need. I personally consider this to be material possessions as well as people/activities/other energies that are no longer suiting me. I used to think being debt free was good enough but it isn’t for me. I set up a budget with a strong focus on savings and stick to it with the help of an app (I use Mint but I know there are others). I thought I would hate it but it actually turned into my new little “hobby” and I get a lot of enjoyment out of making a plan and sticking to it. I also LOVE how I pay myself now instead of looking at an empty savings account and a closet full of unworn clothes or nic nacs I don’t need. I also spend my money on memories instead of things. Bonus: hiking, lunch by the lake, a bike ride around the city are fun and cost nothing (or next to nothing as I don’t see anything wrong with biking around and checking out a new brewery or cafe along the way). I used to spend time “shopping” which meant wandering around in shops just to see if there was anything in there that I could buy. This pastime seems ludicrous to me now. These days I buy things after careful consideration. This is all new to me this year so I still make mistakes but I am growing all the time. Just because I am on a new path and crave this minimalist lifestyle doesn’t mean I am not allowed to have a laptop or use a smartphone. Living “minimalist” does not mean you live in blank square space with a cot and a sheet and only wear the clothes on your back! I try to surround myself with only the things I truly love or really need and live my debt free life to its fullest.
Excellent Article! The best things in life aren’t free, they cost time,
love and attention. They are well worth the investment.
I agree, there’s an emptiness that results in being a consumer. I personally reverse this by becoming a “producer”.
I always thought I loved to cook until my daughter moved out and cooking for myself was a chore, not a pleasure. I realized at 43 that I didn’t like cooking, I love feeding people good food. I produce the equivalent of hugs for tummies, food full of love.
I think it’s important for everybody to figure out what they can produce that makes them feel more connected, whether it’s crops, cookies, quilts or a blog. Produce something that helps you connect to the world in a way that creates happiness.
Valuing connection over attachment & producing over consuming brings me joy and fulfillment. Spread warm fuzzies instead of trying to buy them. They’ll come back to you with interest. :)