Overconsumption is keeping you POOR
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- Let's talk about overconsumption today - why do we actually shop so much? (Btw, there's much more behind it than just advertising - ever heard of "retail therapy"?) And how does overconsumption impact our lives and those around us? I'm not limiting this video on just clothes, even though that might be a very prominent example of overconsumption, we'll also talk about houses, social media, etc. Let's dive into this topic together!
T I M E S T A M P S :
0:00 Introduction to overconsumption
1:56 Chapter 1: The problem with overconsumption
2:14 Overconsumption of houses
2:25 Overconsumption of social media
3:25 Overconsumption of trends
4:42 Culture of disposability
5:46 Interlude: Why do we overconsume?
6:11 Retail Therapy
7:15 Chapter 2: Overconsumption is keeping you poor
8:02 Expensive houses leading to financial difficulties
9:33 Overconsumption means disrespecting our time and effort
10:13 Overconsuming media keeps you poor in relationships and experiences
10:45 Overconsumption keeps factory workers poor
11:13 Overconsumption keeps our environment poor
12:29 My thoughts on overconsuming
13:15 Chapter 3: Escaping the rat race
14:06 Setting up healthy habits
14:40 (Non)affordability of sustainable options
15:36 Shopping out of fear or scarcity mindset
16:06 Helpful questions before buying something
16:40 Outro
*Subscriber Count: 346
L I N K S :
Digital Reports: datareportal.com/reports/?tag...
What happens to used clothes: www.rd.com/article/what-happe...
The shady world of fast fashion: • Video
Fast Fashion in der Wüste: • Video
Bargain Fever Britain E1: • Meet The People Obsess...
What they didn't show us Extreme Makeover Home Edition: • Video
How tiktok is fueling overconsumption: • How TikTok is Fueling ...
D I S C L A I M E R :
The information provided in my videos is not intended as investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. All information provided is for educational purposes only. I am not a Certified Financial Planner. Investing in the stock market involves risks and may result in loss of principal and capital gains. Past market performance does not guarantee future results.
#tiktok #intentionalspending #consumerism
What are your thoughts on overconsumption? How do you manage to stay intentional with your purchases and not buy everything that you think is cute? 🛍
I buy 1 out of 1000 cute things I might need... somehow I never got caught in the trap you are in. I can tell you it is not my low income that keeps me from buying things - it is the size of the apartment that I can barely afford to live in (it is the lowest price I can find around here) that curbs my spending habits.
I worked in a ministry that has a thrift store. We took in a lot of donated goods when people died. It was sad. All that stuff that people had to have. Went into debt for... Ended up in the basement of a thrift store. Something to think about.
@@crismcdonough2804 so true! And unfortunately, some of that stuff probably didn't even get to be used because they saved it up for a "special occasion" that never (or very rarely) came around.
@@catherineleslie-faye4302 Good for you that you're able to restrict spending above your means when your current living and income situation doesn't allow for much discretionary spending. That's really impressive because sooo many people can't do that. And when you are in a different financial situation in the future you will be able to still benefit from not having to by every cute item you see. 😊
I never forget that every dollar I spend has a direct impact on the planet so the less I spend the smaller my carbon footprint.
I spent $5k putting solar panels on my house, the impact of producing solar panels is high in the short term but levels out over time as I am not relying on coal powered power generation.
Being poor is keeping me poor. I don’t go out to eat, don’t go out for coffee, don’t buy anything new besides grocery items, and certainly don’t spend money on anything I don’t absolutely need (my clothes fall apart beyond repair before I replace them). I still can’t buy a house or pay for my family’s medical bills. We need to stop talking about being poor like all poor people are a monolith and just made a bunch of frivolous purchases. That’s not the majority of the poor people I know, and it’s insulting that others think that’s why some of the hardest working, most frugal people I know are poor.
Hey there, first of all, thank you for watching. Please let me clear something up because I feel like you misunderstood my intentions behind the video. I would never ever say that poor people are poor only because they overspend. I know there is systemic poverty and there are many frugal people out there, many that are amazingly creative in making their money stretch and somehow making it to the end of the month, giving their all. I am NOT talking about any one of them in my video. With my video I want to raise awareness for people who do overconsume and overspend (some of them might make a looot of money but because they overspend and overconsume they don't have a lot left at the end of the month) and show how it can affect their finances. I believe overconsumption can be one of various factors for why someone is poor, but it's definitely not the only one. (In a different comment we were saying how low income and other systemic issues are probably the biggest culprits, but I was not addressing these in the video since it was only about overconsumption).
I hope it's clearer now. 😊
yes, although being american is also keeping you poor (medicine). In the UK, it's rent & land costs that keep you poor. If there's no poor, nobody will do the shit jobs. There are ways out of it (search 'bbc archive 1971 fisherman living his dream' for an example) but yes, most of us don't want to live like that.... otherwise, this video is aimed at teenagers...
Yeah i see your point…i have been known to be very frugal (cheap) but still where i am financially, so it just makes me sad so i indulge and buy discounted snacks or makeup 😅
@@rebekkaroeyes I didn’t assume that you put all poor people in one box saying the reason they are poor is because they overspend,,, I get it😊
I have shoes with a hole in the toe I don't buy clothes just because they are cheap or cute I have enough some of my clothes are over twenty years old and very careful with them
“More material things mean less experiences” that one’s gonna stick with me
That's my mantra! And my husband and I try to gift experiences to each other, so much better, and we also spend quality time together
Yeah, but not all those experiences you have from a lack of material things are good. Going without a roof over your head, going hungry, etc .. will make you see the potential use of a lot of things others would consider junk.
I actually feel sick when I see how much make up products, clothes, tech etc a lot of influencers hoard
Same.
I was bad with lotions and things like that. Haven’t bought lotion in many years as I’m using up what I have before buying anything new 😁
I do as well.
Good luck on that issues currently! Every time a newer expensive iPhone’s version comes out! The older models will be outdated soon?
I don’t over consume. It is a waste of money and time. This information is not new. I see this in people but the people doing it just don’t see it. It’s like they are addicted. Sad !!!! Hopefully Americans will wake up in a lot of areas.
I am a big advocate of only buy when its empty. I had been on a mission to use up all my beauty products before buying new stuff and I have saved so much money! I see new products I want and I say 'don't buy it now, wait until you finish your current one'. And when that product is empty, I actually don't feel the need to buy the new glossy thing.
That is such a great tip! When I did my low-buy year I did the same - I could only repurchase essentials when they were completely finished (I should start doing that again 😊). And you're right: that's a great way of saving money. A wish list comes in really handy there. Just write down what you would love to buy next and when that time comes some of these items have already lost their sparkle to you and you don't want them anymore.
You are wonderful! ❤😊
During Covid , I did a bathroom clean out . Baskets full products that I wasn’t using for whatever reason. Then I heard, soap is soap, moisturizer is lotion, and so fourth. Shampoo that I didn’t like, worked well cleaning my toilet, blinds, and sinks. Moisturizer that made my face break out, became a wonderful foot cream. Use what you have, love what I have . ❤️
That is so true! Cleaners are cleaners and just because a shampoo won't work for your hair, you don't have to throw it out. I regularly use shampoo to wash my reusable cotton pads or to wash out a stain in my clothes.
@@stellapayne9819 I also do this! Face wash that dried out my skin I use instead of hand soap, shampoo for washing bras, etc... I even stopped using conditioner, face creams, body lotions..and instead I use high quality avocado and jojoba oil. I only have two small glass bottles and my skin and hair are the best they have ever been...it also doesn't pollute water and is safe for my pets..
I own one dress that I basically wear to every wedding I attend. I am now known for it, and I lean into that. I am a book lover, a dog lover, and that person who wears the same dress to every wedding. No shame. 😂
I love that ❤️
i want your title.... ❤ good on ya
That's how family heirlooms get made, that's awesome!
Ha me too 😂 i used the same dress for 15 years. But now i have to buy a new ones because it didint fit anymore.
I actually find that really cool. Like one day people will look back at pictures et see this one lady in the same dress at all these weddings. It's special. I encourage people coming to my wedding to shop their closet, even my bridesmaids.
When my grandmother was newly married in the 1930s, she owned three dresses. Two were “everyday” dresses that she wore alternately, and one “good” dress for church and events. The good dress became an everyday dress when it got more worn, and the everyday dresses were cut down into dresses for my mother when she was small, and then rags at the very end of their usefulness. I need to learn from my own history! Great video, thanks.
Aprons were popular then too because it kept those few dresses clean and spot free
Wow, thank you so much for sharing ❤️ it is so true. Back in the days people were so much more resourceful and really used their clothes. (Of course they were kind of forced to do that because of the lack of money, etc) Nowadays, some of us don't even wear half of our closet.. so you're right, we should look back and learn from that. 😊
The Usefulness of fabric use to not stop at rags. In the Victorian era there was a job "the rag and bone man" these men would travel from house to house and collect the old rags and left over bones from households both in cities and rural. The fabric would be broken back down and respun/rewoven, into what was referred to as "shoddy" fabric used to make clothing for the ultra poor, which is where we get the term shoddy that means crappy quality lol. The bones that were still good quality would be boiled down and used for soup bones, gelatin and other stuff, and bones that were too far gone were grounded up for bone meal fertilizer. Alternatively, fabrics were all natural materials before compared to the acrylic/poly blend stuff we have today, which means that at the very very end of its usefulness, you could toss it on a compost pile and feed it back to the garden... And now we have fabric that won't break down for decades due to its plastic content.
My great grandmother used to make rag rugs out of the rags to give as gifts. My grandmother and I have multiple beautiful rag rugs in our kitchen out of our family's clothing scraps.
If you're throwing away a cotton shirt, you're throwing away 2.5 years of drinking water for one human. That was eye-opening for me.
All our old tshirts, if I don’t donate them, I cut them up and make them into rags. Old white sweat socks make great dust cloths. 😅
Why are you throwing it away? Take care of your things and donate it to charity.
Nice new clothes (as well as sheets, towels, etc) once old and well worn become "around the house clothes" that, once threadbare, holey, and/or stained become pet bedding and blankets, cleaning rags, etc. Very dressy clothes that no longer fit or are no longer worn for whatever reason, but that are too fancy for around the house, are donated. What kind of idiot throws still new and useful items away?
@susiex6669 Some people are careless about their older clothes! I’ve seen people throw boxes of good condition worn clothes and toys inside the dumpster.
@@susiex6669At some point, clothes are done.
If they are of good quality, that's after a lot of use
"We buy things for the sake of buying" - exactly. Shopping is like a sugar rush, while actually using your things may sometimes feel like having to eat your veggies. We need to unlearn to give in to every little whim and instead be grateful for the things we already own.
Clean your house . Walk..read a book..volunteer..instead of bored buying.
I don't care how cheap something is....I'll wear it until it falls apart! Or donate it if it doesn't fit or I really don't like it anymore, the idea of getting rid of perfectly good clothing just because it didn't cost much to begin with does not register with me.
The overcompensating after growing up with less / not having the same things as our classmates...sheesh, that one hits hard 😅🙁
First of all if you're a housekeeper, NEVER actually buy clothes. If you're in size range ask for hand me downs. Second, if you're well off and buy and trash clothes like TP, please offer them to the people who work for you. We need them! I worked for a lady for 10 years who loved to shop, but she did so intentionally at thrift stores. She would purge every season and give me all of it, and I would in turn clothes myself, my children and multiple other families in need in the broader community. It's a lovely thing. Try it and see.
I think having hobbies or a thing you really like in your life and make time to relax is very important to keep thinking for yourself.
Agree, having a hobby prevents SHOPPING from being your hobby. Or from social media (and then shopping what you see on social media) from being your hobby.
I think bulk food is an acceptation, especially because prices keep raising and food insecurity is alive and kicking
Commodities such as non-perishable food and equipment are a good hedge against both inflation and layoffs that occur during a recession.
I think the title should be changed to broke, not poor. People genuinely in poverty don’t have money to over-consume. Being broke from overconsumption is a luxury let’s be honest.
Yes, you’re exactly right. This is more accurate.
There is also value in taking care of what you own, if you own too much it owns you and you lose your freedom, energy, money and time thinking and caring for it. A simple life with less is much better which frees you up to contribute to others.
I love that. You're absolutely right!
I wish clothes were made of better quality fabric. I have to wear black pants for work. I bought 2 pair that after 6 months got little white threads poking out throughout the whole fabric. I think it has to do with the stretch aspect. They were ruined and had to be discarded. Yes. Discarded. The fabric literally disintegrated. I bought 2 pairs of black cargo pants, no stretch. I have worn them for a full year and they are still going on strong. I avoid anything with lycra now.
I hate when the quality is this bad...
Something I learned and think of often to combat impulse shopping is the 24 hour rule, if i’m still thinking about it and still want it after 24 hours I will consider buying it
That's a wonderful rule! I also try to implement that 😊
I try to do this lol it doesn’t work every time 😂
Most of the time if I wait 24 hours I forget about it haha
I do that too. Many times I would see something I had to have. I walk away and forget about it and I know I didn't need it. But, if I am still thinking of it...I reconsider.
@@rebekkaroebasically I wait for 1 week. Supermarket or online shopping. Now I own a 4 bedroom house. I wish I could stay in a 1 bhk where I buy things which I can fit in my house. I was so choosy. Now I am afraid that I am buying more. Thanks for the reminder.
I agree with the premise that we over-consume and it keeps a lot of people poor. This is especially true with fast fashion and make-up. When it comes to pantry food and necessary household items (toilet paper, soaps, cleaners, toothpaste, etc.), I am a proponent of having more than you immediately need stocked. This is an emergency survival method. It is important to utilize a "working pantry" method when doing this, so that you pull the oldest items to the front of the pantry to be used before you have to throw them.
I do agree that a certain amount of stocking up on items can reduce stress and save a lot of money. However, there's a difference of having a few weeks or months worth (and actually use it up) or have a 1 year/2 year supply somewhere in the garage..
100% agree, @katiebellino. If it's a product or item that I know I'm going to use, I keep it stocked. That's been helpful with recent COVID and even more recent rooster sauce shortages. You do have to be mindful of what you have in your pantry or bathroom closet to avoid waste related to things like expiration, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a full stockpile.
I still work full-time so the public sees me but I'm in my 60s. I wear no makeup. If people don't like my face, that's their problem. I buy laundry detergent but now use vinegar instead of fabric softener. For household cleaning I use only vinegar and baking soda. I have so much more room in my cupboards without a lot of house hold cleansers. I do buy toothpaste for the fluoride but I could also use baking soda for that purpose too.
For us, the food/household items being stocked is just a side effect of timing all purchases to discounts.
Edit: I should clarify that what's stockpiled in the closet is non-perishable anyway, like macaroni or grains.
That only works for those of you who have a large living space to store it.
I really loved this video.
1) A long long time ago I took guitar lessons but I never practiced. Last year I bought a cheap Yamaha guitar and actually practiced. I joined Reddit guitar forums and watched RUclips guitar videos. I also practiced between 45-90 minutes a day. I now know how to play an instrument. I can now play the type of songs I want. If I hadn’t been practicing guitar, I would’ve waisted my time watching TV shows.
Btw: I also used the extra time to learn excel for data analysis.
2) I also got influenced on Instagram. One tactic I did to spend less money was to save posts of items I really wanted to buy. I’d save the post. I would come back to the post 6-8 months later and asked myself did I still really want to buy it? I’d also ask myself if I had purchased it, would I have taken care of it?
One last thing, I got into debt because of experiences. One thing people don’t do anymore is hang out at each others homes. Instead if I wanted to see a friend I would have to go to a bar or restaurant and spend money. Money I didn’t have in the first place. In North America making and keeping friends costs money.
Thank you so much for sharing! You're right, having and practicing a hobby can help us avoid overconsuming social media or TV. Yes, unfortunately, having friends in your 20s is soo much more expensive than in your teens. I don't know why it became normal to always have to spend money... You can try be the change in your friend group 😊
During Covid times when we couldn’t visit each others homes, me and a friend began trail walking on a day we both had off and we have kept this up. If we’re really fired up about something, we walk faster 😂. We still take it in turns to buy the coffees each week to share costs. I now do this with another friend after we finish work, just around our suburb, then we head home. Cheap catchup and free exercise!
That's a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing 😊
Many young people, unfortunately, don't have a place of their own due to current economic conditions, still living w/parents & don't feel comfortable having friends to their folk's home. But, I agree that entertaining at home is fun if u can do that.
Just hanging at home with a friend or two is an awesome activities. Some come to my just to take nap or read a book.
I am trying to implement the buy when it's empty. Perfume, skincare, cleaning supplies... I always had the mindset that if I didn't have more than enough the world will end. Now that I'm a bit older (also my limited bank account) I learnt to use everything up, then buy if it's necessary.
I feel like it's such an important rule. Or at least not buy something until something is ALMOST empty. I used to buy bottles upon bottles of shampoo and conditioner because I love trying different kinds and when I stopped, it took me more than a year to empty all of them. It's just excessive...
The size of houses are going up because the local/county/state government wont allow smaller homes to be built. This is why you are seeing so many random apartment buildings going up out in the middle of no where. They do this because both large homes and high density building have much higher property tax. Where I live if you want to build a single family home it has to be 1800 sqft or larger you also aren't allowed to live in a trailer or RV on your own land. Now this may not be true for every single place in the US but it is true for any moderately populated county.
Interesting, I didn't know that before. Thanks for explaining it! 😊
That’s true where I live in Gwinnett county. You can’t build anything small and all the new apartments are built in the most rural part of the county, which means that poor/young people have to drive for work/things that they need. NIMBY is too much to me. I wish we had better city planning. I do like where I live, but we could use some townhomes/duplexes/apartments/mixed use, but people are against it so only million dollar homes get built in the good areas.
@@laraantipova389 The NIMBYs my have a point depending on where you live. Where I live all new apartments have to be 25% section 8 housing. Isn't so bad until you have a 500 unit complex go in. About 10 years ago they did this about 5 miles from where I live and it was kind of nice they had an elementary and middle school with in walking distance even a large park you could go and play/walk in. With in a few months of people moving in they started getting break in's in the housing development across the street. The car theft is pretty much weekly and in 10 years they have had several murders and a few shootings in the park ( just the park)that now my family no longer goes to. A year or so ago it was getting bad the people that lived around there were able to get the police to patrol more it seems to be getting better but the amount of arrests for drugs, theft and fights is just insane.
@@krystelhardesty9960 that’s right, and at the same time something in the middle would be good. Not a (starting at 769 McMansion), but not section 8 and such either. Like something that the average household can buy. Maybe 2 thousand square foot starting at 399 or duplexes for two hundred thousand for one thousand square feet or something. Something that young families could do.
I don’t know the answer but the answer is too complex for me. I live in the best/most northern part (closer to Atlanta, but still rolling beautiful foothills). Meanwhile houses in the town where I grew up (in central Illinois) are rotting away because no one wants to live there in a village anymore and when someone dies there is no one to buy the house.
I live in rural Kentucky. We have a neighbor who owns 1 acre. He has a big class A motorhome on that property which they live in 6 months out of the year and takes it south during the winter. But, you can’t do that now with new property. The electric company will NOT come put up an electric pole unless they see that you’re building a house. Not sure what the minimum size is but it can’t be a small tiny house that is mobile or any little travel trailer either
I listen to RUclips when I do housework. My hands are busy but ears are free. It is because it is on my smartphone
I've recently improved my sewing skills, making me better able to repair and improve clothes :) I also try to look at secondhand stores when I lack clothing.
On another note, I sometimes want to pay more for quality, but it is a struggle to differentiate between high quality and overpriced low quality. Sometimes reviews help, but most of those reviews don't talk about how long an item lasts.
I love that you're working your sewing skills! And I agree, finding long lasting quality can be tricky.
I’ve been trying very hard this year to stop over consuming. I’m not perfect by any means but I’ve definitely changed
Thats wonderful! Any small step is great. I am by no means a total minimalist and I could never but I'm trying hard to improve small steps at a time 😊
The thing that's absolutely maddening to me of late is I have no idea where one buys clothing these days that lasts. I have three tee shirts in my closet that I've had for 15 years or so (they were bought in high school and I'm now 30). They were all what one would have considered fast fashion at the time. One of them has only just recently gotten a hole in it. Meanwhile, every tee shirt I've bought in the last 10 years had holes in it after no more than 2 years. What changed so drastically in clothing quality? And where do I buy stuff that's going to last more than 2 years? For jeans, I bought a couple of pairs of Guess jeans a few years ago and they've held up remarkably well. Ditto for a pair of stretchy Denver Hayes jeans that I bought around the same time and wear all the time - which tells me that quality and price are not necessarily correlated there either. I need new tee shirts because my last round of shirts all have holes in them, but I can't even find a tee shirt locally that isn't at a fast fashion price level, and even if I could I have no confidence that it would last any longer than a regular shirt because everyone's quality has gone to the dogs.
I agree - it's so hard to find decent quality these days 😭
I love guess jeans
Agreed! Just pondering the same thing..
I've resorted to buying T-shirts at consignment or thrift stores. I'm picky about shape, quality & use ability of each item. I look at each one to check the grain lines of the knit. The super cheap ones are sooo off grain they will twist & shrink in odd directions - forgone conclusion not worth buying.
Hanes beefy tshirts seem to still be holding up, the 100% cotton ones.
As a guy who hates shopping, it isn't overconsumption that's keeping me poor. It's that I make less than $18 an hour as a factory worker.
I know overconsumption is just one of various factors and you seem to not fall in the category of overconsuming..
Watch Jordan Peterson videos. You can do this.
garages that look like an entire store. Well put.
There are more off storage sites now than there are fast food restaurants 😮 I don’t remember seeing any storage facilities back when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. Homes also did not have huge walk in closets.
I didn't know that. That's crazy, houses have gotten bigger and still so many need storage rooms. That speaks for itself and is another proof for our overconsumption.
From my experience, I've found that I can tell almost instantly once I see myself wearing the clothes in the mirror whether they were something I would wear for years. My struggle was learning to say "no" to cute clothes that I knew wouldn't work for me.
- I find that most of the clothes that don't give the right first impression often fits poorly with my body type or clashes with my skin tone. I often have difficulty styling them in a way I would enjoy, so they get neglected. Understanding the importance of picking clothes for your skin and body type has helped me greatly in rationalizing why I should say no. (e.g. "The style is cute but the color makes my skin look gaunt.")
- Clothes that gives an "instant yes" feeling are often the easiest to style in a way that feels "me." They compliment my skin/body type and they match well with most of my clothes. Most of the clothes that have been an instant yes are still some of my favorites. I've learned to listen to my gut feeling and ignore clothes that I don't have a 100% confidence in.
I love that, thanks for sharing ❤️ I've also learned to say "oh, that's cute, and it's looks good, but it's just not something I would wear on a regular basis"
You're a gem, Rebekka. The world needs more people like you. I'm tired of brands using influencers instilling mindless spending and hoarding behaviour in consumers. Especially in India, this is rising and I'm truly concerned. With you in this. Take love.❤
Thank you so much! I totally understand you, because I am also tired of the promotion of hoarding and endlessly spending..
In India???? They're the ones making stuff and can't afford to even buy it.
@@karlabritfeld7104please come out of your bubble. India is a fast growing economy and has a strong middle class. Refrain from commenting, if you don’t have enough information!
And please do visit us and then make up your mind.
@@presentatmystop And 48% of Indians defecate in the streets.
I watched this video while overconsuming RUclips videos.
My problem is I overconsume and I DON'T get rid of the items over a short period of time, which just leads to my house being stuffed with things I bought and enjoy but they get lost in the mass amount that I own :(
It's a cycle. I've been there. It's so difficult to get out of that cycle. I'm planning on doing some decluttering videos in the future, maybe these will motivate you 😊 I have found that when I started decluttering, I started to be more mindful of the things I bought. It was much easier to minimize the overconsumptiom when paired with a nice decluttering session. And it takes time.. most people can't change their behavior/habits/mindset from one day to the other. So give yourself some grace. You'll get there ❤️
Sane here. But at least I finally stopped buying by now.
It takes as much, if not even more time to get rid of stuff in an ethical way. Throwing good things in the garbage is not what I want.
I can relate. Though I’m making a great effort to buy significantly less during the last year, I’m still emotionally attached to my material belongings and have a hard time getting rid of stuff
I HATE the bad quality of clothing items from fast fashion stores. I like to buy intentionally, so good quality pieces of clothing are a must for me. But even if I buy one item and use it til it wears out, the only good quality items take me a while to save up for, since shops like primark and H&M and even Zara make their things so cheaply that you can tell it will fall apart after one hot wash cycle. It's ridiculous!
being poor has humbled me in the social media era. as a teen to young adult i didn’t really participate in any of this solely bc i couldn’t and it’s made me realize i don’t need to.
i mean yeah we’ve utilized some fast fashion before but like. as a replacement for relatively crucial items rather than an extra.
Thank you for this. You are not less if you choose to not buy more ❤ and I think this is a big take away from what is being pushed on us daily.
After separating from my partner of 5 years, i now live alone in my new apartment on one income with 2 dogs and a cat. Im learning how to re-budget and adjust to less $ coming in. I definitely have to step back, evaluate and shop less as I have a ton of bills to catch up on and cards to pay off. I'm realizing its more important and feels better in the long run to take care of my finances and not shop. If i do, I buy secondhand/thrift!
Thank you for sharing. You are mentioning a very important point: even though it's more "annoying" to take care of the finances and budget, in the long run and even short run it feels so much better, because we can relax on another level not being constantly stressed out by money. If you're looking for more guidance and motivation, check out my money managing playlist and always let me know of any video ideas 😊
So glad you pointed Netflix as an example of over consumption.
Thanks for this! I am determined to conquer my shopping addiction and continue decluttering (go more minimal). It's made such a peaceful difference in a very short time.
You can do it! ☺️
My best purchase was our little 1950's home 11 years ago, houses now in my neighborhood I can't afford so I'm super blessed that God put my family in this home when He did. Thank you for the reminders about how overconsumption is keeping me poor in more than just finances.
I'm so happy for you that you got the house in a great timing. What a blessing 😊
Wow how lucky you are that "God" cares more about you than almost everyone else! Next time you speak to him, tell him to take a hard glance at the shanty towns in South America and Asia, and question him why so many of his messengers on earth love to diddle little kids. Thanks!
I agree, you can actually buy from fast fashion places, you just have to look at the reviews and the material (is the material long-lasting?). For example, I have purchased some really good staples from Shein such as denim skirts, jeans, and pants that have lasted quite well for me. Another thing that I want to add that helps me to look after my clothes, is that you don't need an hour-long wash cycle and a whole bunch of washing powder when you use your washing machine. Unless you are working in the dirt, cole ect, all your clothes need is a 15-minute wash cycle and a spoon full of washing powder for an entire wash. The more you wash things, the earlier they will look worse for wear. The shorter cycle, the less washing powder you use, the more you can maintain the pieces you have.
I've heard the same thing. If you want your clothes to last longer, wash them less and air dry them. I wear most of my clothes multiple times unless I have sweat a lot throughout the day.
Reselling and joining the thrifty community has got me started on this thought process, so life changing. This video should be required viewing in high schools! Im so glad you are bringing more attention to this HUGE issue that isn't getting enough press or concern.
Thank you so much! ❤️
Hmm buying second hand a looot it's the same pb
@@sarahrean7174 in theory yes but it's a step in the more sustainable direction.
I don’t think I overconsume, but I have hoarding tendencies. I have a hard time throwing things away when someone else might be able to use them. I sell them cheap online or donate them. But I procrastinate doing that. It’s such a high mental hurdle.
I understand. For some it's easier than for others. I have a hard time with sentimental items..
Thank you for the reminder and inspiration. I am going on a vacation and my friends are buying new outfits and I was tempted, but decided to just wear what I have!
Thanks for watching! Oh I know that feeling. But I never understood why some people (seem to) get entire new wardrobes just for vacation. That doesn't make sense to me. Good for you for only taking things you already have 👏🏼 For this year's summer vacation I only bought 2 new pieces that were missing in my wardrobe, so I actually needed them and I will also use them outside of that vacation of course.
I make rags out of my old clothes for cleaning every room in my home, my car, and beyond. Seeing oictures of the landfill is heartbreaking.
Thank you so much for sharing here! I have been blogging about simplicity, frugality, minimalism and midlife and yet, finding it hard to practice what I preach. Overconsumption drags you back in when you don't even realize you're doing it!
I feel you. I'm by no ways a minimalist, but trying to pursue simplicity where I can. And it's a process for sure. ❤️
Omg Im trying to make a conscious effort of not buying clothes. I realized I had a problem when I cleaned out my closet and donated a contractor sized trash bag of clothes. I’ve been limiting myself from buying stuff by looking through my closet and looking at the things I already have. If I HAVE to buy new clothes, I make sure to get rid of an old worn out pieces before I add anything else to my closet. And when it comes to makeup and skincare I’m making sure I finish the product completely before I buy more. If there’s something I wanna buy like video games or other non essentials, I research the products and the reviews for the item and after that I begin saving up for it. Saving up for things give me the time to actually reflect if I actually want the thing I’m saving up for and if I’d actually use it.
Thank you for sharing - I love your process 😊
I don't own any rewards cards or use those kinds of apps, but I notice my family always trying to meet the minimum spending amount when they buy groceries for some points rewards. They've since cut back on buying clothes and gather hand-me-downs from coworkers/friends but that doesn't mean the harm hasn't been done. Seriously our wardrobes are not meant to be piled up on the side of my room like a stack of garbage because I have no space for it. Having anxiety/depression really makes it worse to do something about it and the actions of other people in your life also contribute to that cluttered space. I have really low energy to clean it out myself but maybe sometime later this year or next year, I'll invite a few friends over to help me put that clothes up for sale to recoup $5 per garment and put it into savings accounts or simply just donate it to someone who can actually use it....
Wishing you best of luck (and strength and motivation) for your upcoming decluttering. I know it can be stressful and overwhelming. But I love the idea of asking your friends for help. Some of them might even looove helping you. I know that I always love decluttering. For anyone 😂 and yes, when I decluttering I also try to sell the stuff, see what things I can still get a bit of money for and then after a while I'll just donate the rest...
When my kids were still babies and toddlers, I felt the need to get rid of some of their old stuff because things were getting really cluttered and overwhelming. I invited a friend over and she graciously helped me to attack that clutter, and I am forever grateful for her selfless help in that situation. Wishing you the best!!
social media has definitely normalized what is honestly hoarding behavior. i follow a lot of book/manga/anime figure/house plants youtubes since i like seeing different set ups and i find it entertaining but they do videos where they bring in 100s of volumes at a time or just several in a month to keep in their audiences view/grow their following BUT that's not the biggest issue, its the followers that then think its normal to bring on similar hauls for themselves. you touched on it in your video. I don't have issues with needing latest a newest (even my keyboard for my computer is 5$ from goodwill) but collection hobbies seem to be a big issue for me and my friends.
Interesting point and I agree, with hobbies that involve collecting it can get really difficult to not overconsume..
just found your channel and i will definitely be sticking around!! wonderful points were made!
Thank you so much and welcome to the community!
Hi! Great video 😊 my mom always told me „it’s better to buy one good quality item than three poor quality items“ and I am so glad that she’s already taught me that when I was still a kid. Today, people are always surprised when they see how few clothes I have and still I look different every day :D it’s just that you become way more creative when you have fewer options 🙌🏻 and it’s better for the environment 💚
I love that! And yes, I've seen a bunch of capsule wardrobe videos / or different styles with the same pieces videos. They get so creative and pairing your clothes differently can make the outfit look entirely different.
You have a very refreshing outlook towards finances and over consumption which is different from a lot of recycled content about these subjects! I love that this video came to me as a reminder at the right time. We should really actively prioritise valuing things we have, otherwise there is no end to the cycle of wanting more and more novel things. It literally becomes an addiction
Thank you so much for watching and your comment! I'm glad you liked the video ❤️
I totally agree.
Interestingly enough, I have never been an over consumer. I grew up poor and everything we had was special. Even hand me down cloths. I can only remember maybe a handful of times that I ever got anything new as a kid. I have never experienced a new car, house, or anything name brand that wasn’t thrifted for cheap. I worked three jobs once I graduated high school to try and build my bank account and lived below my means..I still never bought anything new. Unfortunately most of that money went to unexpected medical bills and car troubles, but such is life 😅.
I’m like the opposite, I would rather never spend my money and go without. I don’t own a credit card and have never used one.
I found that thrifted clothes in good condition hold up so much better then anything I’ve ever bought brand new. I was SO disappointed when I finally bought a “ high quality “ sweater and it only held up for maybe 5 washes 😂😒. I have clothing that is over 20yrs old that I still wear that was a hand me down from my cousin when I was a kid.
But also I’m more prone now to buy something on sale brand new then to thrift. Just for the fact that the thrift stores around me put ridiculous prices on used cloths. I can buy cheaper brand new on sale.
Thank you for sharing! Good for you for not caving and giving into this overconsumption lifestyle. When you have your finances under control and don't overspend (and you seem to be exactly that) , credit cards can bring a lot of benefits when being used correctly. So, you could look into whether there is a card that has benefits that you'd really love 😊
Sounds as though you are on the right path! I know some wealthy folks who only, as they need it, buy clothes from thrift shops! They proudly tell you where the item came from if you comment on it. But you are right, thrift stores who get the items free, pay workers a pittance and use volunteers, charge way too much oftentimes.
You can still use a credit card! I don’t have one, but I know people who do and they only use it when they have money to build credit. You used to not be able to rent a car without one.😊
Spot on for me, I’m starting to work on this!
I've been asking myself these questions when I buy things for years. It really does talk you out of acquiring things. Last year, I started taking walks instead of going and browsing stores to save money. I lost weight and really trying to only buy clothing I love and will wear.
Funny how things "pop up". I am building a web-site which is a home appliances buyers guide for Compact Living and a Compact Lifestyle. Your thing mirrors what I have been trying to get across to my future readers. Especially Point 5, at the end of your presentation. Good program, Rebekka.
Great points and great questions! I've been gradually working to transition towards buying less and buying higher quality items when i do. I also recently purchased some used clothes, which i hadn't typically done in the past. I was surprised how good it felt to save a little money and know that i was offering some nice clothes additional uses. Ill continue using your points moving forward!!
Buy used (min of 3 years old) vehicles & drive them for around 10+ years. But I cycle as much as possible. We also garden, and use left overs, brown bag our lunch & use coffee thermos to keep from buying coffee too often.
Deutscher hier der in den USA lebt. Overconsumption has kicked into overdrive here, and I feel like especially since the pandemic. Lonely people are filling the void in their social life with things, so they feel something. It doesn't work though, so it's an endless cycle of short dopamine shots, that keeps going. All your points are correct!
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Quick tip: when you say the word clothes, just say it like "close". The "th" followed by the "s" is weird to pronounce, so that's a cheeky way to do that :)
I thought I wasn’t over consuming because I buy a lower quantity of higher quality clothes and wear all of them, eat a healthy amount for my age, use public transit instead of buying a car, live in a 1200sqft condo instead of buying a huge single family house, and maintain a low utilization of social medias. But, I didn’t factor in binging shows. I definitely can binge a show for weeks.
Thanks for sharing. Yes, there are so many different forms of overconsumption. We just have to find out which one(s) is(are) our vice and then see whether it has a negative impact and should be limited.
1200 square feet is huge for me. I am in 900 sq ft.😂
Thank you for this video. I have doing a lot of self reflection on my purchasing habits and this video really reflects how I feel perfectly ♥️
So true. Over consuming food, fast fashion (and the throw away culture), gasoline-can’t you walk or bike or take public transportation? Coffee is getting really expensive
I had a moment the other day which stunned me.
At work I often use contact lenses. It is often out of necessity. So I wear daily use lenses. They add up to $2 a pair or a little less. I put them on at work and take them off.
But I put the plastic containers into a receptacle in a locker. Finally after 4 years the receptacle was full.
Seeing how many were there shocked me so much I laid them out out in my office carpet. A mountain of them.
$1,600 spent on contact lenses.
Imagine that also spent on coffee?
Double that 3,200 and invest it over ten years?
7,000 dollars?
A year of Canadian university tuition.
A holiday for two to Mexico
Keep it invested for 20 more years?
It’s a sobering thought
Wow, that is a shocking calculation. 😯
Yes, it was Marie Kondo that said that quote about books. I have also been trying to live by that philosophy with books 😅. Love your channel, and just subscribed!
Thank you so much! Welcome to the community ❤️
Sometimes I wish my house was just a little bigger but honestly we almost never have overnight guests and more house is just more to clean and maintain.
Exactly, always look on the bright side. Who wants to clean a mansion? Definitely not me 😂
I think it's a good idea to go to a few different countries when you're young, but endlessly traveling is really bad for the environment too. I used to have that wanderlust but now I'm trying to "indulge" like on vacation in my area periodically.
Tips if you want to discover another country without being a tourist: Talk to immigrants coming from those. They beins parts of their cultures and stories that tourists aren't able to see. Combine it with pictures on internet professionnels took and you had travelled.
Another tip: If you're traveling to another country, go to local areas instead of tourist places - you'll meet more people and see more of what the locals live like day to day. Plus its more affordable.
Great video, thank you! I wanted to mention that social media isn't really free, since the constant advertisements and jealousy of others makes you want to go out and buy things you may not have even thought of had you not been looking at the platform. Minimalism has affected me personally, I'm noticing that the way I live needs some improvement. The Starbucks thing you mentioned rang true for me because going out for a coffee is a way that I cope with stress. For people with an already low income, I think overspending and overconsuming can be really detrimental to our wallets and well-being. Thanks again, Rebekka!
Thank you for watching and sharing! I agree with you that advertising doesn't make social media free. Its so easy to get influenced to buy something..
We are conditioned as early as toddlers to buy the newest toys games clothes shoes fast food to want and buy everything in every color so to reverse that mentality and brainwashing at a flick of a tv remote is more difficult then most of us can admit. Watching RUclips is also very triggering for wanting to buy the next organizer or gadgets or whatever the makeup guru of the month is pushing. Completely agree with you this is a big struggle for a lot of us to stop over consuming.
Algorithm must be broke. I don’t eat out, I cook from scratch, my one pair of shoes are 5 years old, my car is a 2001, I have one subscription that is required for my job, I do have a dog so I do buy him food, the last vacation I took was in 1991, nothing fancy in the bathroom just Suave shampoo and Scott toilet paper.
In the current environment I am glad I’ve always lived below my means.
This video has been very eye-opening. Thanks
Your hair is beautiful btw….and your points are so valid and something I have been feeling for a while
Thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Responsible spending is when millionaires use private planes several times a day for trips they could take in a train / bus.
I laugh when I see videos reprimanding people for buying a coffee at lunch while the multimillionaires are buying their 5th home.
@donk8105 Fortunately we don't all live in Boston.......or the USA in general.
@donk8105 😂😂😂😂 You can always move.
Awesome video. As a child, I didn’t get much stuff unlike my younger siblings. So as an adult, I buy so many things that I don’t need just to feel better emotional. I’m trying to stop but it’s really difficult subconsciously.
I understand, it can be so difficult to break subconscious patterns. But, hey, you already did the most important and most difficult step: realizing what's going on.
No. Four decades of wage stagnation, generated by Neoliberal economics, is why I’m poor. When your income is at the poverty line, or not much greater, personal over-consumption or ‘responsible spending’ is not the issue. Other people’s over-consumption and hoarding of wealth is the biggest problem.
I understand and agree with you. However, in this video I address people who do overspend and overconsume. Wishing you all the best ❤️
@@rebekkaroe it’s relative as well, isn’t it. My consumption is definitely higher than that of an ordinary person in a poorer country. I try to access a fair amount of my clothing second hand, but I know many people do a lot more than that to improve the sustainability of their consumption. It’s just extra frustrating that the people doing by far the most damage to the planet are also effectively hoarding resources. Many of us could be living far more rewarding, sustainable lives with a modest income boost. But instead, we read about celebrities and the impact of their private jets, yachts, multiple fuel-guzzling cars and tourist jaunts into space. They should be made to pay massive carbon tax on all the emissions they are responsible for. They put it out there - the rest of us are impacted by the climate consequences.
Very sad but true. And I feel frustrated by that as well! 😥
I need this kinf of video as a healthy reminder that i don't need more. Just watched again the minimalist documentary, it's so easy to forget the essential and go back to the rat race without realising it
Yes and I agree, overconsumption comes in company with financial problems. Concerning fashion I have the most problems. Like every addiction it is accompanied by money problems. Shopping as a hobby. A Japanese most famous household book adds shopping of clothes to hobby. There was much protest in the comment section of Amazon.
That's interesting. However, shopping has become a hobby for so many so why not categorize it as hobby? Especially if we buy because we want to not because we really need an item. If it's buying just to buy, to have a good time, to accumulate or collect things, then it's definitely a hobby.
@@rebekkaroe Yes, I actually agree with the Japanese, buying clothes, since long is not to get what is necessary, but more a hobby, fashion addiction. Still it is indeed interesting they have it under hobby and irritating. Taxi is under cost of living. One commented in Amazon, so I shall go naked, but use a taxi. 😀 It is the Kakebo book. It is however years ago I found out about shopping in this book and have not looked it up again, maybe this has changed. I will look it up.
@@anjaoldnettle2841 That book definitely sounds interesting. I might have to read it! With the taxis I can say that in some Asian countries taxis are very cheap and therefore a good alternative if you don't have a car. I do understand that if it's not expensive, it could be considered as cost of living (I don't know how it is in Japan though). I think each country has different ideas what "normal" costs of living are. As a German, I think it's weird that (some) Americans consider a 100$ gym membership per month normal, or how much they drive everywhere with their cars. On the other hand, it might seem weird to Americans that I used to pay 162 Euros for my monthly public transportation card. Each country has their own individualities 🙂
this is such a great and well thought out video! 👍
Wow, all on super sharp point! This I learned the hard way after 10 years of over consumption. I started invest on good items I will keep for a long time and use vintage stores a lot more. Also start to find the way to give away or sell anything that I want to get rid of, instead of trashing them.
Thank you for sharing! 😊
Your channel is such a breath of fresh air
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me ❤️
What’s really unfortunate as well is that the people who need to watch this the most probably won’t because they don’t care
thank you for bringing up this topic
Thanks for watching!
Great presentation, Rebekka. Such a wonderful topic that the majority of people SHOULD be aware of.
Thank you so much!
very valid poinst you bring up in this clip. i walk the middle ground in life, thought things still throw me off balance and i stear into this or that extreme slightly for a bit, though i am aware of it, and i course correct then ...
Tolles Video - super zusammengefasst und sehr anschaulich! 😊Ich habe mich auch in einigen Bereichen wiedergefunden und möchte noch vieles ändern. Das Video hat mich wieder daran erinnert und motiviert weiter daran zu arbeiten. Mein Lieblingstipp: secondhand kaufen & verkaufen! 🛍 PS: Oftmals ist es eine Sache der Gewohnheit ... manchmal muss man einfach aus seiner Komfortzone rauskommen und Gewohnheiten ändern, auch wenn es anfangs schwierig ist.
Freut mich, dass dir das Video gefallen hat! Das stimmt - oft hängen wir sehr an unseren alten Gewohnheiten und kaufen oft neu, weil "man das schon immer so macht" und wir es gewohnt sind...
Thank u for this video!!
I buy the majority of clothes second hand ❤
Me too ! 😅
Love going round the charity shops !
Live simple , below your means . This was great thank you . Very hard to be perfect but I’m trying to buy only what I need and buy from thrift shops ect… the world is nuts . There is always a sale on things you don’t need lol
I love this video. Really got me thinking about how I spend my money. New subscriber here. ❤
Welcome to the community ❤️
My wife can sew & used to sew most of her clothes & still does hemming & repair
I combat the feeling of overconsumption by getting a lot of trendy styles from the thrift stores. As a matter of fact I’m wearing an olive jumpsuit from thrift. It looks great a flows nicely. I paired it with sandals from Macy’s and my purse is Kalvin Klein from 2014! I do what I can for the environment
That's wonderful!
1- When anxious and cope with shopping, be aware and do something else, like running or any sport that implies movement.
2- When you are looking for a specific iteme, ask for exchange between friends
3- Take part/organise swap parties
4- Take a look at vintage/second hands shops
5- If any of those options worked out, look for a product that is valuable and can also have a low impact on the enviroment.
Remember: quality and well kept items are better than quantity.
Thankfully I've taught my daughters not to over spend and over buy.
That's wonderful!!
I used an iphone 4 up until 2 years ago. no, that's when i got a used iphone 8, but i still used the old one. I still listen to music on it at times. i really should recycle it, i guess. my laptop is a 10 year old sony vaio O.O still works fine.
Food having become expensive and 9 pets keep me in a poorish state. ;p but i see it as a blessing to be able to care for 9 souls that don't know they needed someone to rescue them.
I resolute, and replace heel corners (even on runners) extends life a lot.
I use retail therapy to combat grief, my aunt died recently and I went out and bought a new plant and some shoes that I’ve been wanting for while. Material items won’t bring my aunt back, but for a short amount of time I have something to distract myself from the loss.
Don't begrudge what makes you feel better in a time of grief. A plant and a pair of shoes is not going to break the bank. In a very short time span I lost my marriage, my home, my mother, my friend, my cat, and my job. So be gentle with yourself. It takes a while to find your footing.
I'm so sorry for both of your losses 😥 and I totally agree, a couple of things here and there don't break your bank. Don't feel too bad about it, you seem to be still be intentional and aware of your spending. We're all going through different seasons and challenges and our finances will kind of reflect that. It's normal. Wishing you all the best!
I'm surprised she got that many bags for $1,200 at Sephora, lol
For me the worst thing people overconsume is beauty things and I am not even mentioning make-up or skin care: I am mentioning fillers, botox, lash extensions, and surgeries in general.
More and more people do that not to correct something but because it's fashionable, they're bored or they're addicted.
As a shop assistant, only two things annoy me: leaving things on the floor - i'm old and stiff, but also people leave trip hazards for other customers to fall over, that's horrible - and not telling us if your dog / baby weed/ you spillt coffee on the floor. We can mop it up, that's our job, we get paid for it. But it's not very nice to discover it
This was a great video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
I value my iPhone 12 Pro Max that I owned since March 2021. I plan to make it last another 2 years or more. I love valuing my stuff.
That's perfect! I bought my phone on 2019 and it still works fine.
Preach Bekka we need to live more and buy less. I try to buy less and repurpose the things I have. I don’t replace things unless I have another use for what I’m replacing.
Thank you for your comment! That's a good approach to repurpasing and replacing 😊
Coffee is my experience. If I’m saving money, I want to enjoy my drink. I agree with the clothes. My shirts are kept for a good ten years. Same with jeans.
Love that!