it's pretty ironic clicking on a video talking about materialism, and seeing these t-shirts for sale ads, amazon affiliate links and patreon... i guess we all have to eat tho XD
This is so true, Francis! If we stop comparing ourselves to people who have more we won't feel "poor". Cultivating gratitude for what we do have is what will make us feel content.
Catch yourself comparing and stop. Like meditating where you catch yourself thinking and stop. To catch yourself and do something about it is to control your thoughts and therefore how you feel.
Sometimes it takes something drastic for people to wake up. I reached a state of depression when I was hoarded with all stuff from travelling, buying gifts for people pressured by Omiyage (Japanese gift giving culture). Holding lavish parties as it was culture appropriate to do so. One day I wake up in the morning, looking at all those stuff and realised I was never happy. I was so depressed I lived in an Ashram for 2 months, and learned that relationships and respect can be earned without currency or gifts it was mind blowing. I agree the below comment that materialism is a phase. People need to go through that themselves drastically sometimes it take bankruptcy for one to wake up, and it's ok we only learned from our mistakes. Thanks for reading! :D
Growing up in a poor African township, we used to see the "poor" kids/people in American movies/TV_shows. It was the biggest joke ever, like seriously we thought that they were just trolling or something! They looked like they're doing way better, from our perspective obviously. Now that I am older and have travelled the world a bit, it's not as straight forward as comparing your first-world circumstances to a poorer country.
Video showing poverty in the richest country in the world, Switzerland, ruclips.net/video/OtO0ENmMiZk/видео.html we legitamitely tought this was joke, the only thing they were complining was not going to vacation with airplane but with bus...
House of Banelord. Not even after you pay off the balances? Couldn't you then afford something useless, like a remote control car, a night of bowling or a VR headset?
I'm an extreme minimalist, I'm 40 years old and I budget at $750/month for everything, rent, food etc, but even I recognize how much our economy relies on consumerism and ever growing consumption. It sucks, but it's the reality of the system we live in. Without people buying stupid things they don't need, people don't have jobs. How I live works for me, but even I wouldn't have a job right now (I work part time, less than 20 hrs/week) if people didn't buy their stupid crap since I work in the retail field.
Exactly this. This is the best summary i've ever seen. I plan to do so, working on average between 22 to 27h a week and buy less. (Well, since i'm born i've nothing but poverty so, it's easier for me to not be tempted) People don't understand that what they need isn't extra things but socialism, friends, a purpose, a true kind of blue zone actually. So they rely on consumption. And in the other side, this consumption leads to job aswell so. Jesus, why am I even trying to live that.
I believe the concept that we can't have jobs without extreme consumerism is false. I think all the additional productivity coming from the working class and the poor are going to inflated compensation to the top 0.1%. There is plenty for all (both work and resources) if we are all willing to decrease our need for excessive "wealth".
If suddenly consumption is down 50% then the economy will implode within 1 month. It makes a hissy fit with just 3% down consumption. Just eyeballing it, I think 90%+ is in excess of what we really need. We are also set up in such a way that our needs are great (i.e. cars to get to work). So in the first order, if consumption goes down, I do think many people will be out of a job. Hence something else must change rather than just everyone suddenly consume less. It wouldn't happen anyway. As an individual, you can consume a lot less and suddenly put yourself in a better position than everyone. Yes, you will be dependent on everyone else to consume but it's a step in the right direction.
It's a false idea that "consumerism" is needed to have jobs. If people stopped consuming tomorrow then the economy wouldn't "crash", it would "restructure" to the new anti-consumerist paradigm. The money that was spent on frivolous consumption would flow through financial institutions looking to get a yield on the capital. This investment wouldn't go towards beanie babies but maybe private development of new innovations. Instead of having a retail job, you might have a job at a startup.
@@kevinhan4707 I say this all the time. Sometimes Women don't fit into my budget but Porn and Lotion always does. I've never had to take my waifus Cherokee' D Azz or Pinky to the movie theaters, the mall, Abortion clinic, olive garden and we've been together for 10+ years
@@BeatTheBush Teens in the Valley get the latest model of I-Phone in order to not be a social outcast. The old one immediately goes into the trash. Trust me..I've seen it.
you have the right idea but you are approaching it backwards you don't want to focus on a thing and devalue it, because it will backfire. you want to look at a thing and ask yourself what it is worth to you. when you rely upon something like GPS, the alternative isn't choosing to abstain it, but to recognize the adventure and journey of not having having. as well as looking at GPS as depriving yourself both of the experiance and the potential interactions. it is all in rationalization, and focus. what you focus on becomes focal and causal. thus if you focus on a thing you become anchored into the vlaue of the thing and past experiances with the thing and value appraisal from within the context of access. but you will naturally reinforce your decision whatever you make, so the initial step is to change your anchor from the focal concept of having the thing to the counter intuitive concept of not having the thing. whether you buy a stuffed animal or not, you will rationalize your choice and feel self assure either when you look at the item bought, or when you see the item still unbought in the store (even if it is restock). the access to the item in teh store will reinforce the choice to not spend money. and because of this you may want to go to stores to decondition the scarcity mindset and the idea that you may lose out of a deal. "prison isn't so bad" prisson in scandinavia isn't. but prison here is. unless you have giant medical bills, i wouldn't suggest commiting crimes to be imprissoned. yes you get some stuff free but there are opportunity costs, also pay in prisson is extremely suppressed. "but other countried people have it worse" that wont help. it is pop-psychology but it wont work. thrift isn't about guilting yourself to not buy, but to reduce your tollerance for profit margins, and to delay indulgence.
I don’t compare myself to others. And I don’t care what others think of me. Not because I’m frugal or minimalist or anything. It’s because I don’t give a shit.
Shopping/spending is an addiction. Try to spend 1/2 of what u normally do & focus on making saving the other 1/2 an addiction too. U may find the value of money changes, nothing like watching your dollars grow!
I went through a materialistic phase but now I hardly ever go beyond the basics and before I make a purchase, I always ask myself if I really need it or not. Usually I don't. I agree with the 1st world country thing but I think healthcare is a necessity (especially when you get older). I don't have a car nor do I have a smartphone. I wish I could just use my landline because I am old enough to have lived through the time before cellphones and smartphones and was perfectly happy without these things. I also wish I could get away from having a computer and using one-- but that is a necessity for work. Maybe when I retire, I can get rid of these things and live a quieter, old-fashioned, slower lifestyle.
I turned minimalist now so I don't need this vlog but I'm glad you're spreading awareness. I learned not many really notice my stuff or clothes and people like me the same regardless. I'm fortunate to rent a room so I pay a small flat rate that includes everything including my meals, so I'm super blessed. I do find it harder to hang out with friends. I don't want to go to restaurants and pay for food that will be a waste and I don't want to travel because it cost money. Understand the trash bag thing, I'm used to having paper towels around but not everyone buys, and I'm used to having the lights on, but some people try to save electricity. Again. Just here for the animals lol! BTW I agree about comparing to less fortunate ones. I always advise that we are doing it wrong when taking vacation. Instead of taking luxurious vacations and coming back depressed, do the opposite and go to third world countries to come back appreciating what we have here.
You didn't notice Trex and his stash? Lol. Vacationing is a delicate subject I think. While I go myself I have my reservations about 'jetting' everywhere. @NADIA While your friends might buy stuff at malls, you could possibly still hang out and just window shop. Eating out is a bit harder because if you come late, don't eat, order small, it doesn't seem as much as a group activity. Hence you still have to order a proper meal.
Watching all your videos has really made me try to save as much as I can and buy way way less. Your videos really acts as a psychological support for me. It’s really hard when most people around me spend and buy and no one’s frugal. Any hints of being frugal publicly is seen as either I’m cheap or poor and it really hurts! When I feel enticed by all that materialism that’s around me I just choose one of your videos and it immediately pulls me back to the right direction. So thank you for making these videos. I don’t feel alone in this!
I'm glad you are able to do this! It seems you are facing great social pressures to do the spending. I find if you work at something the defines you then you do not need things to define you. No longer are you that person, he/she has that expensive thing. I have been introduced this way btw. Instead, people will know you by your accomplishments. So it takes work to have that.
I no longer own a car and use city buses for transportation. A monthly bus pass cost 40 dollars a month for unlimited rides which is cheap when compared to the cost of gas and car insurance along with a car payment.
In my case, I only stopped being materialistic when I started to have the financial means to afford stuff....I don't see a need to buy a lot of stuff just to have it......same goes w/ high end cars....unfortunately it took a lot of years to learn this. I go to the coffee shop at the mall occasionally and to see the folks buying stuff kind of it interesting to watch ----it's almost a disease to see them purchasing stuff they don't need. There's so much to this topic (Psychology, Sociology, Economics) explaining why people buy or feel the need to have "stuff". Nowadays, I feel cathartic to get rid of the stuff I've accumulated and donate it to secondhand stores. I also would rather buy secondhand stuff if I really need to bring it in the house rather buy new.
It might be correlated to age. Perhaps a certain age is peak consumerism until you realize it kind of sucks to clean everything that you have all the time.
Lately I stop buying useless things as I used to but instead I spend that money (beside my savings) creating memories. I enjoy a lot going to the cinema, shows, restaurants and also traveling. I feel good in this way, if I have to spend must be creating memories instead of keeping my house full of junk.
I suppose if not buying things, one can potentially put that same amount of money on experiences as you state. I think how much value you get out of each is really up to you to determine. There is certainly a opportunity cost here.
This is a hard pill to swallow when you want to tackle your financial situation but don’t want to touch a root cause. Great message! I’ve been addressing materialism in my own life and it’s an honest look at yourself to say the least.
I am very fortunate, living in the USA, yet liking to be different. I got rid of my home wifi (using phone data right now) and I really do feel better. I pay in tiers for data (I use Ting) so it forces me to use it consciously, instead of whenever. People thought I was crazy, and maybe I am, but I'm better off too. I do feel a need for a cell phone though (the thought of not being able to contact a doctor if I get suddenly ill terrifies me.) But anyway, I also fall into the trap of materialism (notebooks and color pens are my weaknesses.) It's helpful to be reminded of how blessed I am though. Thanks BeatTheBush!
i don't really understand why you need high end camera gear. the bulk of your content is through the ideas you put forth and explain... if i watch it in HD or in 144p (which i almost always do unless theres an important frame i need to see more clearly), the value of your content is still the same?
Lol. A preference for low resolution... who knew. At least you can choose the resolution. As I am the provider of the video, I need to provide for as wide an audience as possible including those who enjoy and use the 4k 60fps format.
@@BeatTheBush Lol i'm not even watching the video when I put you on. I listen to what you have to say and scroll through the comment section. As always, thanks for your quality uploads and continue to preach minimalism. We will have to pay for our consumption now because we are borrowing from future generation.
Minimalism is a lifestyle, delaying gratification help's as you find out you don't need things while waiting. I find avoiding dating & reproductive behaviour also helps as a lot of consumption takes place behind the scenes to produce greater convenience. Including hidden costs, which mindset consumes more, a capitalist or a communist?
I think reason cultures become materialistic is that consumerism distracts us from our mortality. I thought this after I watched my strange feeling of elation walking out of a Cosco store. It was like I felt powerful because I could purchase any item there to improve my life. I had a feeling of invincibility. But as I grow older I just realize how really worthless most items are. Have you ever wonder why some old people will just wear the same clothes. And watch a 30 year old TV? They realize that the new clothes and TV will probably just hassle their lives and they have already lived 90% of their life perfect happy with the old stuff. I noticed at Christmas every single gift hassled my life from Gift cards, Peppermint cake desserts, tea I won't use, kitchen utensils etc. Gifts are hassles. Is it just me after Christmas I get irritable... don't have the correct batteries, electrical connections, room on the counter etc?
I live in a small town. They're are three trash companies and they will not take off your trash if it's not in trash bags. Because picking up groceries store bags would slow them down. And make their jobs much harder and there days longer here. Now, if you live in a housing complex you can do that. Because they're going to lift up the trash bins that the whole complex uses. At one point I didn't have a phone. But after having an asthma attack, I got a cell phone for emergency only. I agree with you we have way to much stuff. Did you know it's cheaper to by another printer than it is to by ink for your printer?! Pure madness!
Love the Channel. May not necessarily completely change my lifestyle and spending habits drastically, but brings perspectives I never thought of before.
I have noticed that we as a people have been very brainwashed into thinking that we have to purchase everything. Many things can be made at home. I’ve made recently three skirts, homemade yogurt, bread , homemade tortillas, soap, hand lotion, dish cloths and dish towels. Maybe it’s a hobby, but I like to make it myself if I can. Good ideas from you, Beat the Bush.
I think going to a poor country is less about making yourself feel better, and more about getting in better perspective about the world. There are people who think that the standard in first world countries is universal and don't realize just how much luxury is in everyday life.
great video! the more I despise consumerism the more I realize how much we are convinced we need things that are not needed. happiness isn't having the best its making with best with what you have! cheers
Once you see through the ploy, it's much easier to laugh it off. But then look at the things you still DO buy, I guess you cant really avoid everything but at least most of it.
This video is so needed, thank you for making it, l walk and take transit everywhere, and quit throwing my money away on so much stuff it wasn’t easy cause l’m born and rise in nyc but l learned how to live a good life with less. 💗
They are Wrong! Savings is what drives economic growth not consumption. interest rates are the most important prices and they are artificially low thanks to the FED.
People should do a marketing SWAT analysis of themselves and try to come to terms with who they are - they should avoid competition above their capacity and save a ton of frustration, time and money
It's true what you meant about visiting 3rd world countries. I felt bad when I visited myanmar timor leste cambodia or even lesotho. The people there are happy to have food and shelter. Here in the states, we fight over little things and people complain, they forget their gender...
Most people solve every problem with money. I try to find ways like repairing clothes and shoes. I have an acquaintance who has no cell phone. I have a hard time grasping the idea that she doesn’t need it. My neighbor can’t understand that I can deal with having no microwave.
Another reason why people buy is because they may have had trauma in their past, which consumerism can fill that void. Hoarders for example, find stuff as security. We need to get to the root of the problem and understand why we buy it and work on oneself.
So true. There was a time when i made 2x or more than now and i could not save at all. Im trying to buy less. I see my friends struggling w money, where 8m actually saving money now
I feel like you could have shot this video on your iPhone and uploaded it directly to RUclips and the quality would only be about 20% lower. For the hours of time editing you'd save, I think it would be a good tradeoff. No expensive cameras or editing rig needed.
I've really cut back and kept only what I need. It's freeing! We really have to dial back our expectations financially and materially, it's unsustainable.
One day I was like why am I buying garbage bags just to throw them away. So to me it was like throwing money away. I was buying bags and using grocery bags. Needless to say I no longer buy them.
In regards to cellphone and data plans; i used to have a $70CND plan with 6Gigs of data and unlimited talk/texts. I go to univeristy (free-wide area WIFI) and I have WiFI at home, so I felt like I didn't need data at all. I went to a prepaid plan for only texting ($15/mth, with another 10% off for preauth payments). I haven't been missing having data at all, only one time I got lost driving in Montreal due to road block constructions. Since then, I bought a small data block (I think it was like 100mb for $5-10); so what I do now is that, whenever I need to use Google Maps: I turn my Mobile Data on (I always leave it off by Default), I do my search, get my bearings and move toward my destination. As soon as I know that I can figure out the rest of the way on my own, I turn my mobile data off. I paid that 100MB data block months ago and I have yet to through it, I used it many times. Just make sure that you turn off auto-update on mobile data of all your apps so that you don't accidentally use your mobile data for that.
Great way to really get your mobile data down. Most the time, people are near wifi and so you can get away from a mobile data plan. It might take some getting used to and also may cause slight inconvenience though.
I often like to think of what life would have been like in the past. Imagine only traveling by horse, or wagon. The most crappy car is an amazing thing relative to that. Think of the fact that we eat food for enjoyment and that is a huge luxury. We all live such rich lives. I feel gratitude when I think about how lucky I am to live in this particular time in history.
We are indeed. I wonder if people back then was thinking the same of people that lived even earlier. Maybe in the future, people will look upon us and take pity on how silly we are at wasting our lives chasing money with nothing to show for at the end.
It is a really interesting thought. How do you quantify the most satisfying life. In some aspects having to work for something makes you feel good. I imagine there is some point where luxuries create diminishing returns. I kind of think there are aspects of that in current society.
A life true to yourself and not what others expect of you. Work hard at things that interest you. If you can spend most your time doing that, then that must be bliss.
I've spent $120 this month, eating 3 meals and having one set of drinks at a restaurants in the first 17 days of this month. It's too much. I only go because it's how I see friends.
Damn... you have no idea how much this title made me think. ,,Death of Materialism" immadietely made me think about ,,Ego death". I feel that when the world advances further some ideas latch onto us and become parasitic to our very own existence - either because of other people's malevolence or just because of the partial nature of the advancement itself. I feel that in order to become happy, first nightmares of the present that we live in - nightmares often cloaked under beatiful coat of promises, have to be consciously evaporated / mitigated. Both materialism and ego are in my opinion, one of the forms of decreasing our wellbeing. I don't think that we need much to be truly happy or fulfilled. After all in the past we were worried about not getting eaten, being gossiped etc. most of the time, so we were constantly in stressed and alerted state. Such state of living had mostly been preserved to this day. How easily we can snap to instinctive animals if all the safety and pleasures that we've layered ourselves in would vanish in a moment. We are imperfect internally in so many ways, so let's just limit the ones we acquire externally and it should be a okay.
To be without any one of food, water, shelter, or warmth can indeed turn all of us into animals. Once those are met, then we can start being more civilized. With any huge shift of the way a society works, there will be a lot of friction and pain. But who knows if it will ever shift this way. Maybe not in my lifetime.
And of course, stores encourage people's consumerism. I get it, its their business but Target has been trying to make every trip to their store worth $50 or higher. If people think about it, when was the last time you spent less than $50 at any big box store? Most people spend that and more each trip. So this video was right on time. It's not too late to save our money and ourselves.
BTB I know them too. And I can't seem to get them to realize what a money trap it is and how their quality of life isn't better because of what they buy.
That's a fine point. I do think certain goods do improve your quality of life. But you can keep on climbing this and make yourself broke. Such as things that makes you do things faster or better AND you actually use it for long duration. Not just try it for the first 2 months and then gets pushed back in the closet.
I think materialism is a sales gimmick that companies work into their commercials. They just want to take people's money. Once you see this, it almost diminishes the value of that product and makes me want to avoid it.
Are you a Hikikomori ? do a video on that. I am frugal but I do like buying things like small gadgets because i get bored and these things provide value for me although i don't need them. I don't invest in status symbols or society but at the same time how far down the "minimalist, frugal, anti consumer rabbit hole can you go before life begins to feel pointless and we lose motivation and feel a void within yourself
I don't know.. maybe it seems I am tending towards that. However, I still do social activities that I do not show on my videos. I visit friend and family on a regular basis. Using things to fill the void is one way but I feel you don't need much things to do it. Obtaining skills, learning, achieving goals true to yourself might be much more rewarding than unpacking all these material goods and taking the time to learn to use them.
@@BeatTheBush Thank you for responding , it makes perfect sense to strive towards more intangible goals like personal development and learning skills. Those things provide a true freedom and power because they can't be taken away or lost. Like your Electrical Engineering or Finance Knowledge.
Good video as per usual. Still more strangling of my inner child necessary to minimize want of thrill or excitement. I've been in want of a Japanese cruiser bike! Have to appreciate the basics and be content with those things a la Timothy.
I turned the corner on my spending habits once I realized how much of my time (not money) was being lost on shopping and then looking after the goods I brought home. I had other, more important things to do with that time. So now I don't shop without a compelling reason to do so. Even if it's groceries, I wait until I'm well and truly out, and spend as little time as possible in the store. Consumerism is a waste of time as well as money.
My daughter saw your video while I was watching. She said "He must have needed more Walmart trash bags so he bought those stuffed animals to get the extra bags!" I got a kick out of it. Good video 👍, contentment is something I think we really struggle with in the U.S. (because we have so much available to us).
Seneca the Roman Stoic frequently mentions that nature requires very little for the human being. That if one realizes how little one truly needs, there's great "wealth" in that perception. He's also eager to dismiss desires which are nonessential -- many of these are bottomless pits in that they will never be satisfied.
lol I have the best deterrent for materialism. It's called being poor.. But I will finally be financially stable as of December 2019. . Only 4 more month's to go. But once the money starts coming in I'm going to have to be very careful with my spending and this time I'm going to put back money for a rainy day. I don't want to ever again end up poor ... Four and a half years was enough. But I was able to run a household on very little and so I did learn an important lesson. I've decided to forgo on a car and continue to take advantage of the city buses. They get me everywhere I need to go and it's cheaper than a car. And since there is a 2 bag limit I won't be going on any spending spree's. I plan to use part of the money for badly needed home repairs. All the plumbing in my bathroom is going to have to be replaced and that's going to a very expensive job. Thankfully, I own my home but it is also 100 years old and old houses are always in need of repairs. I'm going to binge watch your video's for financial advice and strength. Beat the bush says, '' Don't buy it. You don't need it'' . LOL
I just had to "skip" a youtube commercial for facebook...zuck boy is down to his last $8 million. He has to fit in with his rich peers or was it his chinese inlaws having a talk with him?
Recently read "goodbye, things" by fumio sasaki and it had awesome view about material stuff. I think it's just the way of seeing "things" differently before you can free yourself from all these "stuff".
I need to buy trash bags, the one given in the supermarket always have holes. Also, need different sizes. Grew frustrated going through supermarkets bags to find one with no holes. Also, go to Aldi, use Ikea bags.
Well technically you don't need the phone. You would however be unreachable while your not home. when at home you would have email and other forms of correspondence.
This is something I am still working on.. not associate happiness with material things. I think it's also a confidence thing, getting respect because of things you have. Although, what a person wears, car or house he has is not an indication of how rich he is. It could all be credit for all you know.
You actually can't have fun about "depriving" yourself about the extra requirements. You know why ? Cause if you do so, you end up in a poor society based on money and consumption. You'll feel so alone that the fun won't come at all. Why do you think many teenagers stay in their bedroom ? or on the computer ? Cause the outside isn't appealing. We're just so desperate about our society that we try to find happiness somewhere else. *However* your point of view is still excellent, but I do think that the main issue is about society's structure, purpose of it and relationships. It's either you adapt to modern slavery without any purpose or you feel sad and lost. That's where the circle begins, no real purpose so you begin to just consume what the system you're working for brings you to feel better and it goes like that forever.
We need a structure where we tap into everyone's true ability. Like one of those tests that tries to figure out what type subject you enjoy most and at the job, it must focus on implementing practices that emphasis making a difference in people's lives. Will all mundane paper work get eliminated? Probably not though.
BTB I think "Materialism" play an important role in our economic. For example, if everybody buy 30% less products, then factories will produce 30% less and fire 30% of they workers. Secondly, I think "going on vacation" can be another form of "Materialism", it is not necessary for living, people in 3rd work countries don't go on vacation. Since going on vacation is for pleasure, then it is no different than buying a car / iphone, which also consider pleasure for some people. I agree that we should sell our old toys to clean up the house, before getting something new.
It doesn't have to be 30% less. If people buy 5% less, the economy would be considered in a recession. A 5% contraction for a few months will likely result in massive layoffs.
I wear clothes outside only to avoid getting arrested.
Don't we all
Cheaper to stay inside though
Stupid clothes. I walked into a restaurant without a shirt on because it was tropical weather outside. They wanted me to put on a shirt, lol.
Don't support places with dress code! Especially restaurant! Formal wear? Eat elsewhere!
Come to hawaii and you can go shopping in a bikini or speedo
I feel Like I've been waiting all my life to find someone at least as frugal as me, happy I ran into beatthebush's channel a few years back
=D Well, I hope to bring some new concepts in. =D
Chang I am worth milions and follow the same principles.
I know right... what a fucking genius!
it's pretty ironic clicking on a video talking about materialism, and seeing these t-shirts for sale ads, amazon affiliate links and patreon... i guess we all have to eat tho XD
@Chang Is that a meme?
This is so true, Francis! If we stop comparing ourselves to people who have more we won't feel "poor".
Cultivating gratitude for what we do have is what will make us feel content.
Catch yourself comparing and stop. Like meditating where you catch yourself thinking and stop. To catch yourself and do something about it is to control your thoughts and therefore how you feel.
@@BeatTheBush yes, absolutely! 😊
Never had cable and therefore never missed it. You tube and over the air tv is good enough for me and helped me in a small way to retire very early.
=D It sure does help if you're not paying $90/month for the cable bill.
Did you do any investing
yep, 10 years ago , I stopped buying cable.
Materialism maybe dying a bit in the US but it is picking up in other countries like China.
Naturenerd1000 true.
Perhaps this is another step in evolution. Being materialistic is like a phase.
@@BeatTheBush Agreed. Great therory.
Ive thought about that too @beatthebush
Definitely rising in South Korea
Sometimes it takes something drastic for people to wake up. I reached a state of depression when I was hoarded with all stuff from travelling, buying gifts for people pressured by Omiyage (Japanese gift giving culture). Holding lavish parties as it was culture appropriate to do so. One day I wake up in the morning, looking at all those stuff and realised I was never happy. I was so depressed I lived in an Ashram for 2 months, and learned that relationships and respect can be earned without currency or gifts it was mind blowing. I agree the below comment that materialism is a phase. People need to go through that themselves drastically sometimes it take bankruptcy for one to wake up, and it's ok we only learned from our mistakes. Thanks for reading! :D
If only people can learn without going through it themselves. Lots of wasted time and energy.
Growing up in a poor African township, we used to see the "poor" kids/people in American movies/TV_shows. It was the biggest joke ever, like seriously we thought that they were just trolling or something! They looked like they're doing way better, from our perspective obviously. Now that I am older and have travelled the world a bit, it's not as straight forward as comparing your first-world circumstances to a poorer country.
Very true. There are things you cannot see by just the way people look and things you can easily observe.
Video showing poverty in the richest country in the world, Switzerland, ruclips.net/video/OtO0ENmMiZk/видео.html we legitamitely tought this was joke, the only thing they were complining was not going to vacation with airplane but with bus...
I stop using credit. So now I can't afford to buy useless things
House of Banelord. Like a house
You need credit to have some jobs. Or for buying a house. It's easy to manage a credit card. Credit is not free money. Credit is a tool.
You can use your credit card to buy basic food and get 5% off while you're at it.
@@BryanAgapito I own one already, I was talking about credit cards.
House of Banelord. Not even after you pay off the balances? Couldn't you then afford something useless, like a remote control car, a night of bowling or a VR headset?
I love your videos in general, but this is my favorite.
Great Video man, thank you for sharing your thoughts on materialism, I needed this
=D you're welcome!
Willy Ruiz same here.
I'm an extreme minimalist, I'm 40 years old and I budget at $750/month for everything, rent, food etc, but even I recognize how much our economy relies on consumerism and ever growing consumption. It sucks, but it's the reality of the system we live in. Without people buying stupid things they don't need, people don't have jobs. How I live works for me, but even I wouldn't have a job right now (I work part time, less than 20 hrs/week) if people didn't buy their stupid crap since I work in the retail field.
Yea i feel the same way want to live without buying so much junk but my paycheck depends on others buying junk
Exactly this. This is the best summary i've ever seen.
I plan to do so, working on average between 22 to 27h a week and buy less. (Well, since i'm born i've nothing but poverty so, it's easier for me to not be tempted)
People don't understand that what they need isn't extra things but socialism, friends, a purpose, a true kind of blue zone actually. So they rely on consumption. And in the other side, this consumption leads to job aswell so.
Jesus, why am I even trying to live that.
I believe the concept that we can't have jobs without extreme consumerism is false. I think all the additional productivity coming from the working class and the poor are going to inflated compensation to the top 0.1%. There is plenty for all (both work and resources) if we are all willing to decrease our need for excessive "wealth".
If suddenly consumption is down 50% then the economy will implode within 1 month. It makes a hissy fit with just 3% down consumption. Just eyeballing it, I think 90%+ is in excess of what we really need. We are also set up in such a way that our needs are great (i.e. cars to get to work).
So in the first order, if consumption goes down, I do think many people will be out of a job. Hence something else must change rather than just everyone suddenly consume less. It wouldn't happen anyway.
As an individual, you can consume a lot less and suddenly put yourself in a better position than everyone. Yes, you will be dependent on everyone else to consume but it's a step in the right direction.
It's a false idea that "consumerism" is needed to have jobs. If people stopped consuming tomorrow then the economy wouldn't "crash", it would "restructure" to the new anti-consumerist paradigm. The money that was spent on frivolous consumption would flow through financial institutions looking to get a yield on the capital. This investment wouldn't go towards beanie babies but maybe private development of new innovations. Instead of having a retail job, you might have a job at a startup.
Modern day monk with a relentless passion
Much of what we buy is to fit in with the crowd we hang around with. So ask yourself the question... new laptop, or new friends?
Kevin Han 🤣 Lmao 🤣
@@kevinhan4707 I say this all the time. Sometimes Women don't fit into my budget but Porn and Lotion always does. I've never had to take my waifus Cherokee' D Azz or Pinky to the movie theaters, the mall, Abortion clinic, olive garden and we've been together for 10+ years
Doesn't it depend on the type of friend. Rate of spending is important. I.e. not cost of one laptop every time you go out.
@@BeatTheBush Teens in the Valley get the latest model of I-Phone in order to not be a social outcast. The old one immediately goes into the trash. Trust me..I've seen it.
You dont have to fit in, just be yourself and over some time you will meet similar people.
Wait people actually buy trash bags for regular use? Wow
Yes. Most do.
people also pay tax services to get tax refunds back.
I get a bunch of bags from using a pellet stove. So i just use them for free.
you have the right idea but you are approaching it backwards
you don't want to focus on a thing and devalue it, because it will backfire. you want to look at a thing and ask yourself what it is worth to you.
when you rely upon something like GPS, the alternative isn't choosing to abstain it, but to recognize the adventure and journey of not having having. as well as looking at GPS as depriving yourself both of the experiance and the potential interactions.
it is all in rationalization, and focus. what you focus on becomes focal and causal. thus if you focus on a thing you become anchored into the vlaue of the thing and past experiances with the thing and value appraisal from within the context of access. but you will naturally reinforce your decision whatever you make, so the initial step is to change your anchor from the focal concept of having the thing to the counter intuitive concept of not having the thing.
whether you buy a stuffed animal or not, you will rationalize your choice and feel self assure either when you look at the item bought, or when you see the item still unbought in the store (even if it is restock). the access to the item in teh store will reinforce the choice to not spend money. and because of this you may want to go to stores to decondition the scarcity mindset and the idea that you may lose out of a deal.
"prison isn't so bad" prisson in scandinavia isn't. but prison here is. unless you have giant medical bills, i wouldn't suggest commiting crimes to be imprissoned. yes you get some stuff free but there are opportunity costs, also pay in prisson is extremely suppressed.
"but other countried people have it worse" that wont help. it is pop-psychology but it wont work. thrift isn't about guilting yourself to not buy, but to reduce your tollerance for profit margins, and to delay indulgence.
Cell phone and internet is necessary to connect with friends and family otherwise what's the point of saving money if you're miserable and lonely.
There's always an alternative. Problem solve.
this was such a well thought out video and really important ideas were talked about. loved this!!
Thank you!
I don’t compare myself to others. And I don’t care what others think of me. Not because I’m frugal or minimalist or anything. It’s because I don’t give a shit.
Having high self esteem and being able to meditate properly also helps as well😊
I love how your stuffed animals are always in different positions. I wait anxiously for your next video 👌🏼🤣
Anxious? Thank you, I'll make sure to upload consistently. =D
@@BeatTheBush I agree, your stuffed animals are very funny!!
Every weekend I feel like I need to spend money, if I don't I feel like it wasn't a good weekend. Do I have a serious problem?
Yes you have a serious problem. The cure is to drink me
yes
Do the opposite, watch your bank account grow and I think your attitude will shift.
That’s a bad problem to have. I feel the other way around.. Spending causes me nausea. 😂
Shopping/spending is an addiction. Try to spend 1/2 of what u normally do & focus on making saving the other 1/2 an addiction too. U may find the value of money changes, nothing like watching your dollars grow!
Refreshing to hear someone that thinks like myself. Keep up great content!
Thanks! Will do!
I think showing us how you deal with trash and your store bags would be an interesting video!!!
I went through a materialistic phase but now I hardly ever go beyond the basics and before I make a purchase, I always ask myself if I really need it or not. Usually I don't. I agree with the 1st world country thing but I think healthcare is a necessity (especially when you get older). I don't have a car nor do I have a smartphone. I wish I could just use my landline because I am old enough to have lived through the time before cellphones and smartphones and was perfectly happy without these things. I also wish I could get away from having a computer and using one-- but that is a necessity for work. Maybe when I retire, I can get rid of these things and live a quieter, old-fashioned, slower lifestyle.
I turned minimalist now so I don't need this vlog but I'm glad you're spreading awareness. I learned not many really notice my stuff or clothes and people like me the same regardless.
I'm fortunate to rent a room so I pay a small flat rate that includes everything including my meals, so I'm super blessed.
I do find it harder to hang out with friends. I don't want to go to restaurants and pay for food that will be a waste and I don't want to travel because it cost money.
Understand the trash bag thing, I'm used to having paper towels around but not everyone buys, and I'm used to having the lights on, but some people try to save electricity.
Again. Just here for the animals lol!
BTW I agree about comparing to less fortunate ones. I always advise that we are doing it wrong when taking vacation. Instead of taking luxurious vacations and coming back depressed, do the opposite and go to third world countries to come back appreciating what we have here.
You didn't notice Trex and his stash? Lol.
Vacationing is a delicate subject I think. While I go myself I have my reservations about 'jetting' everywhere.
@NADIA While your friends might buy stuff at malls, you could possibly still hang out and just window shop. Eating out is a bit harder because if you come late, don't eat, order small, it doesn't seem as much as a group activity. Hence you still have to order a proper meal.
@@BeatTheBush I missed that LOL. My focus was on my writing 😅
@@cherrypai44 sad! Me too!! But its okay. Focus on your goals. Thank yourself later. Economy is not stable. Unfortunately.
BTW I'm going out to celebrate friends birthday but I'm not ordering anything and you don't have to. 🤷♀️ I don't care what anyone thinks really.
Interesting. I guess you can do that.
EXCELLENT video Mr. Bush! Very true
=D
Watching all your videos has really made me try to save as much as I can and buy way way less. Your videos really acts as a psychological support for me. It’s really hard when most people around me spend and buy and no one’s frugal. Any hints of being frugal publicly is seen as either I’m cheap or poor and it really hurts! When I feel enticed by all that materialism that’s around me I just choose one of your videos and it immediately pulls me back to the right direction. So thank you for making these videos. I don’t feel alone in this!
I'm glad you are able to do this! It seems you are facing great social pressures to do the spending. I find if you work at something the defines you then you do not need things to define you.
No longer are you that person, he/she has that expensive thing. I have been introduced this way btw. Instead, people will know you by your accomplishments. So it takes work to have that.
I no longer own a car and use city buses for transportation. A monthly bus pass cost 40 dollars a month for unlimited rides which is cheap when compared to the cost of gas and car insurance along with a car payment.
In my case, I only stopped being materialistic when I started to have the financial means to afford stuff....I don't see a need to buy a lot of stuff just to have it......same goes w/ high end cars....unfortunately it took a lot of years to learn this. I go to the coffee shop at the mall occasionally and to see the folks buying stuff kind of it interesting to watch ----it's almost a disease to see them purchasing stuff they don't need. There's so much to this topic (Psychology, Sociology, Economics) explaining why people buy or feel the need to have "stuff". Nowadays, I feel cathartic to get rid of the stuff I've accumulated and donate it to secondhand stores. I also would rather buy secondhand stuff if I really need to bring it in the house rather buy new.
It might be correlated to age. Perhaps a certain age is peak consumerism until you realize it kind of sucks to clean everything that you have all the time.
noticed the 100 dollar bills till the very end!!
HA! you're the only one!
Hahaha I just saw them! How funny!
Lately I stop buying useless things as I used to but instead I spend that money (beside my savings) creating memories. I enjoy a lot going to the cinema, shows, restaurants and also traveling. I feel good in this way, if I have to spend must be creating memories instead of keeping my house full of junk.
I suppose if not buying things, one can potentially put that same amount of money on experiences as you state. I think how much value you get out of each is really up to you to determine. There is certainly a opportunity cost here.
Well done BTB! Do some more videos on this in the near future! I appreciate your enthusiasm on this topic, I hope you have a great day (-:
This one took some time in the making, I will do more certainly.
This is a hard pill to swallow when you want to tackle your financial situation but don’t want to touch a root cause. Great message! I’ve been addressing materialism in my own life and it’s an honest look at yourself to say the least.
Look at the last thing you bought. I did. I cant say I am immune to buying only food, water, shelter, and warmth.
I am very fortunate, living in the USA, yet liking to be different. I got rid of my home wifi (using phone data right now) and I really do feel better. I pay in tiers for data (I use Ting) so it forces me to use it consciously, instead of whenever. People thought I was crazy, and maybe I am, but I'm better off too. I do feel a need for a cell phone though (the thought of not being able to contact a doctor if I get suddenly ill terrifies me.) But anyway, I also fall into the trap of materialism (notebooks and color pens are my weaknesses.) It's helpful to be reminded of how blessed I am though. Thanks BeatTheBush!
Constantly trying out a cheaper plan, product, or service is good to learn how far you can go without causing too much time wasted.
i don't really understand why you need high end camera gear. the bulk of your content is through the ideas you put forth and explain... if i watch it in HD or in 144p (which i almost always do unless theres an important frame i need to see more clearly), the value of your content is still the same?
It attracts more views.
Ha ha... so if I did not have it in high res, you wouldn't see the important information then.
@@BeatTheBush i've grown up on anime in 360p split in 3 parts so i dont need HD! lol 😆 its called minimalism! you taught us so! 😆
Lol. A preference for low resolution... who knew. At least you can choose the resolution. As I am the provider of the video, I need to provide for as wide an audience as possible including those who enjoy and use the 4k 60fps format.
@@BeatTheBush Lol i'm not even watching the video when I put you on. I listen to what you have to say and scroll through the comment section. As always, thanks for your quality uploads and continue to preach minimalism. We will have to pay for our consumption now because we are borrowing from future generation.
Minimalism is a lifestyle, delaying gratification help's as you find out you don't need things while waiting. I find avoiding dating & reproductive behaviour also helps as a lot of consumption takes place behind the scenes to produce greater convenience. Including hidden costs, which mindset consumes more, a capitalist or a communist?
Sometimes renting the thing you are interested might make you realize you don't want it after all.
I think reason cultures become materialistic is that consumerism distracts us from our mortality. I thought this after I watched my strange feeling of elation walking out of a Cosco store. It was like I felt powerful because I could purchase any item there to improve my life. I had a feeling of invincibility. But as I grow older I just realize how really worthless most items are. Have you ever wonder why some old people will just wear the same clothes. And watch a 30 year old TV? They realize that the new clothes and TV will probably just hassle their lives and they have already lived 90% of their life perfect happy with the old stuff. I noticed at Christmas every single gift hassled my life from Gift cards, Peppermint cake desserts, tea I won't use, kitchen utensils etc. Gifts are hassles. Is it just me after Christmas I get irritable... don't have the correct batteries, electrical connections, room on the counter etc?
I live in a small town. They're are three trash companies and they will not take off your trash if it's not in trash bags. Because picking up groceries store bags would slow them down. And make their jobs much harder and there days longer here. Now, if you live in a housing complex you can do that. Because they're going to lift up the trash bins that the whole complex uses. At one point I didn't have a phone. But after having an asthma attack, I got a cell phone for emergency only. I agree with you we have way to much stuff. Did you know it's cheaper to by another printer than it is to by ink for your printer?! Pure madness!
If you must then you must. You could minimize landfill trash and compose the rest. It's amazing how much you can reduce by doing just that.
Love the Channel. May not necessarily completely change my lifestyle and spending habits drastically, but brings perspectives I never thought of before.
=D The prospects of being able to work less really gets many people fired up to save a lot more.
I have noticed that we as a people have been very brainwashed into thinking that we have to purchase everything. Many things can be made at home. I’ve made recently three skirts, homemade yogurt, bread , homemade tortillas, soap, hand lotion, dish cloths and dish towels. Maybe it’s a hobby, but I like to make it myself if I can. Good ideas from you, Beat the Bush.
More you can make or know how to make, the more you can save. Sometimes, you can even do without certain things creatively.
I think going to a poor country is less about making yourself feel better, and more about getting in better perspective about the world.
There are people who think that the standard in first world countries is universal and don't realize just how much luxury is in everyday life.
Isn't the two highly tied together? Getting a better perspective will result in your feeling better.
@@BeatTheBush they are closely related the biggest difference is intent as far as I can tell.
Still my favourite intro ever ...
Thank you!
great video! the more I despise consumerism the more I realize how much we are convinced we need things that are not needed. happiness isn't having the best its making with best with what you have! cheers
It's all subjective.
Once you see through the ploy, it's much easier to laugh it off. But then look at the things you still DO buy, I guess you cant really avoid everything but at least most of it.
This video is so needed, thank you for making it, l walk and take transit everywhere, and quit throwing my money away on so much stuff it wasn’t easy cause l’m born and rise in nyc but l learned how to live a good life with less. 💗
Happiness comes from the freedom of choice and having the ability to buy something, but not necessarily actually buying it.
Or you can buy it at a reduced price and sell it when you don't want it anymore for a profit.
I was told the other day if everyone lived like me the entire economy would collapse.
They are Wrong! Savings is what drives economic growth not consumption.
interest rates are the most important prices and they are artificially low thanks to the FED.
If the earth stopped it would collapse into the sun. Both events highly unlikely.
People should do a marketing SWAT analysis of themselves and try to come to terms with who they are - they should avoid competition above their capacity and save a ton of frustration, time and money
It's true what you meant about visiting 3rd world countries. I felt bad when I visited myanmar timor leste cambodia or even lesotho. The people there are happy to have food and shelter. Here in the states, we fight over little things and people complain, they forget their gender...
Forget their gender!?!? O_O
Most people solve every problem with money. I try to find ways like repairing clothes and shoes. I have an acquaintance who has no cell phone. I have a hard time grasping the idea that she doesn’t need it. My neighbor can’t understand that I can deal with having no microwave.
Another reason why people buy is because they may have had trauma in their past, which consumerism can fill that void. Hoarders for example, find stuff as security. We need to get to the root of the problem and understand why we buy it and work on oneself.
Advertising really greases the wheels on buying new things. You first are made aware of it and over time you start to think you really do need it.
So true. There was a time when i made 2x or more than now and i could not save at all. Im trying to buy less. I see my friends struggling w money, where 8m actually saving money now
jhsung79 - I’m addicted to the smell of cash. Spending makes me hurt inside. 😭
Lol... get a bunch of ones and put it in a cup so you can smell it?
Im addicted to watching my savings/robinhood/acorns grow lol
I feel like you could have shot this video on your iPhone and uploaded it directly to RUclips and the quality would only be about 20% lower. For the hours of time editing you'd save, I think it would be a good tradeoff. No expensive cameras or editing rig needed.
Possibly. But gasp! Lower quality!? Shooting on an iPhone does not reduce the amount of time editing.
I've really cut back and kept only what I need. It's freeing! We really have to dial back our expectations financially and materially, it's unsustainable.
Most people in first world countries have a chance to live like a king if the mind can control it. What sorcery would that be?
There's an old saying, the best things in life are free.
One day I was like why am I buying garbage bags just to throw them away. So to me it was like throwing money away. I was buying bags and using grocery bags. Needless to say I no longer buy them.
=D Glad to hear it! An item you never buy again will save you so much. You still get the same ability though which is throwing trash away.
I like the philosophy in this video !
TY!
In regards to cellphone and data plans; i used to have a $70CND plan with 6Gigs of data and unlimited talk/texts.
I go to univeristy (free-wide area WIFI) and I have WiFI at home, so I felt like I didn't need data at all. I went to a prepaid plan for only texting ($15/mth, with another 10% off for preauth payments). I haven't been missing having data at all, only one time I got lost driving in Montreal due to road block constructions. Since then, I bought a small data block (I think it was like 100mb for $5-10); so what I do now is that, whenever I need to use Google Maps: I turn my Mobile Data on (I always leave it off by Default), I do my search, get my bearings and move toward my destination. As soon as I know that I can figure out the rest of the way on my own, I turn my mobile data off. I paid that 100MB data block months ago and I have yet to through it, I used it many times. Just make sure that you turn off auto-update on mobile data of all your apps so that you don't accidentally use your mobile data for that.
Great way to really get your mobile data down. Most the time, people are near wifi and so you can get away from a mobile data plan. It might take some getting used to and also may cause slight inconvenience though.
Thank you..Gr8 to be back.
=D
Very good video!
I often like to think of what life would have been like in the past. Imagine only traveling by horse, or wagon. The most crappy car is an amazing thing relative to that. Think of the fact that we eat food for enjoyment and that is a huge luxury. We all live such rich lives. I feel gratitude when I think about how lucky I am to live in this particular time in history.
We are indeed. I wonder if people back then was thinking the same of people that lived even earlier.
Maybe in the future, people will look upon us and take pity on how silly we are at wasting our lives chasing money with nothing to show for at the end.
It is a really interesting thought. How do you quantify the most satisfying life. In some aspects having to work for something makes you feel good. I imagine there is some point where luxuries create diminishing returns. I kind of think there are aspects of that in current society.
A life true to yourself and not what others expect of you. Work hard at things that interest you. If you can spend most your time doing that, then that must be bliss.
This video is brilliant, thankyou so much for sharing !
Thank you!
I've spent $120 this month, eating 3 meals and having one set of drinks at a restaurants in the first 17 days of this month. It's too much. I only go because it's how I see friends.
Sometimes, you have to do it to keep up relationships.
Damn... you have no idea how much this title made me think. ,,Death of Materialism" immadietely made me think about ,,Ego death". I feel that when the world advances further some ideas latch onto us and become parasitic to our very own existence - either because of other people's malevolence or just because of the partial nature of the advancement itself.
I feel that in order to become happy, first nightmares of the present that we live in - nightmares often cloaked under beatiful coat of promises, have to be consciously evaporated / mitigated.
Both materialism and ego are in my opinion, one of the forms of decreasing our wellbeing. I don't think that we need much to be truly happy or fulfilled.
After all in the past we were worried about not getting eaten, being gossiped etc. most of the time, so we were constantly in stressed and alerted state. Such state of living had mostly been preserved to this day. How easily we can snap to instinctive animals if all the safety and pleasures that we've layered ourselves in would vanish in a moment. We are imperfect internally in so many ways, so let's just limit the ones we acquire externally and it should be a okay.
To be without any one of food, water, shelter, or warmth can indeed turn all of us into animals. Once those are met, then we can start being more civilized.
With any huge shift of the way a society works, there will be a lot of friction and pain. But who knows if it will ever shift this way. Maybe not in my lifetime.
I got rid of facebook and blocked web store mailers and it's amazing how much stuff I don't even know about and therefore don't buy anymore.
I live in SoCal we get charged for grocery bags. Is it different in NorCal?
Nope. They charge here too but produce bags are still free but smaller.
The most important is to donate , money ,time , food That what the more fortunate people should do 🌎🌈🌻✌🏻
Very true.
And of course, stores encourage people's consumerism. I get it, its their business but Target has been trying to make every trip to their store worth $50 or higher. If people think about it, when was the last time you spent less than $50 at any big box store? Most people spend that and more each trip. So this video was right on time. It's not too late to save our money and ourselves.
Target is a huge trap for many. I know people that gets hooked. Somehow Target is able to get people to buy everything.
BTB I know them too. And I can't seem to get them to realize what a money trap it is and how their quality of life isn't better because of what they buy.
That's a fine point. I do think certain goods do improve your quality of life. But you can keep on climbing this and make yourself broke. Such as things that makes you do things faster or better AND you actually use it for long duration. Not just try it for the first 2 months and then gets pushed back in the closet.
Great video, helps put things into perspective.
=D
I think materialism is a sales gimmick that companies work into their commercials. They just want to take people's money. Once you see this, it almost diminishes the value of that product and makes me want to avoid it.
Are you a Hikikomori ? do a video on that. I am frugal but I do like buying things like small gadgets because i get bored and these things provide value for me although i don't need them. I don't invest in status symbols or society but at the same time how far down the "minimalist, frugal, anti consumer rabbit hole can you go before life begins to feel pointless and we lose motivation and feel a void within yourself
I don't know.. maybe it seems I am tending towards that. However, I still do social activities that I do not show on my videos. I visit friend and family on a regular basis.
Using things to fill the void is one way but I feel you don't need much things to do it. Obtaining skills, learning, achieving goals true to yourself might be much more rewarding than unpacking all these material goods and taking the time to learn to use them.
@@BeatTheBush Thank you for responding , it makes perfect sense to strive towards more intangible goals like personal development and learning skills. Those things provide a true freedom and power because they can't be taken away or lost. Like your Electrical Engineering or Finance Knowledge.
Or how to fly a drone. I have a video on how to do that cheaply too. =D
Are trash bags more ecological than a grocery store bags?
Great video, man! :D
Fernando from Brazil.
Thank you!
Good video as per usual.
Still more strangling of my inner child necessary to minimize want of thrill or excitement. I've been in want of a Japanese cruiser bike! Have to appreciate the basics and be content with those things a la Timothy.
I know what you mean. I am not without wants myself.
I turned the corner on my spending habits once I realized how much of my time (not money) was being lost on shopping and then looking after the goods I brought home. I had other, more important things to do with that time. So now I don't shop without a compelling reason to do so. Even if it's groceries, I wait until I'm well and truly out, and spend as little time as possible in the store.
Consumerism is a waste of time as well as money.
Waiting for food to really run out is a good point. EAT everything. Like purging all the food once in a while to make sure everything gets cycled.
My daughter saw your video while I was watching. She said "He must have needed more Walmart trash bags so he bought those stuffed animals to get the extra bags!" I got a kick out of it. Good video 👍, contentment is something I think we really struggle with in the U.S. (because we have so much available to us).
I bought a bag one time so I can get cash back.
@@BeatTheBush Hahaha good stuff! Thanks got your content, keep up the good work!
Seneca the Roman Stoic frequently mentions that nature requires very little for the human being. That if one realizes how little one truly needs, there's great "wealth" in that perception. He's also eager to dismiss desires which are nonessential -- many of these are bottomless pits in that they will never be satisfied.
You're cooler and cooler everyday. Like a modern day enlightenment. Big respect man
=D Thank you.
I mean it sincerely. Your recent content is approaching genuine philosopher level. Really relevant and impressive.
I would love to turn into a ball of energy and just be, lol.
lol I have the best deterrent for materialism. It's called being poor.. But I will finally be financially stable as of December 2019. . Only 4 more month's to go. But once the money starts coming in I'm going to have to be very careful with my spending and this time I'm going to put back money for a rainy day. I don't want to ever again end up poor ... Four and a half years was enough. But I was able to run a household on very little and so I did learn an important lesson. I've decided to forgo on a car and continue to take advantage of the city buses. They get me everywhere I need to go and it's cheaper than a car. And since there is a 2 bag limit I won't be going on any spending spree's. I plan to use part of the money for badly needed home repairs. All the plumbing in my bathroom is going to have to be replaced and that's going to a very expensive job. Thankfully, I own my home but it is also 100 years old and old houses are always in need of repairs. I'm going to binge watch your video's for financial advice and strength. Beat the bush says, '' Don't buy it. You don't need it'' . LOL
that b-roll of the asian crossroads gave me anxiety. holy smokes... i feared for so many peoples lives in just a matter of seconds :D
Love it!!!
=D
“Go to less fortunate places.”. Got it. Planning my trip to the hood in Detroit right now.
Bjg government ruined motor city
You might be kidding but if you actually do it, you might gain a new perspective.
Ive never been materialistic in my life but i came to see what the videos about.
Socal has no more free store bags...Prob better for the environment anyway.
How about produce bags?
@@BeatTheBush Still have those ma man! Love your videos Bush, been following you for a while man.
Thank you! =D
I just had to "skip" a youtube commercial for facebook...zuck boy is down to his last $8 million. He has to fit in with his rich peers or was it his chinese inlaws having a talk with him?
Serious? I think he's still a billionaire.
People also need a sense of purpose. Sometimes people need to struggle.
Recently read "goodbye, things" by fumio sasaki and it had awesome view about material stuff. I think it's just the way of seeing "things" differently before you can free yourself from all these "stuff".
It also helps to not get so attached thereby shielding yourself from feeling bad about a loss of an item.
Fabulous advice!
=D
Thanks for this video man!...i want to condition myself to be a minimalist.....videos like this make me feel like ive made a good decision:)
I'm trying to do the same. Slowly reducing the number of things I own. =D
I need to buy trash bags, the one given in the supermarket always have holes. Also, need different sizes. Grew frustrated going through supermarkets bags to find one with no holes. Also, go to Aldi, use Ikea bags.
Ahhh.. fair enough.
Well technically you don't need the phone. You would however be unreachable while your not home. when at home you would have email and other forms of correspondence.
A few services provided by apps in my smartphone makes it a necessary work and social tool. Finding directions is one.
Buying trash bags and using reusable bags for groceries is a better option in my opinion. Unless you live in a country where they are free of course
The produce bags are smaller but free. I do use reusable bags for groceries.
@6:10 I thought plastic grocery bags were banned in California? BTW, I do the same thing, I just my plastic grocery bags as my trash bags.
They are but not the produce bags which are smaller.
Fabulous topic!
=D
This is something I am still working on.. not associate happiness with material things. I think it's also a confidence thing, getting respect because of things you have. Although, what a person wears, car or house he has is not an indication of how rich he is. It could all be credit for all you know.
Something to work on myself as well. But it's okay to be a work in progress. It's great to only buy a tiny fraction of what I used to buy.
l have been buying less and less and paying off some cards...l truly feel better, like l have the freedom l wanted...
Check out how much you save in credit card interest every month. That will be like free money you get back.
❤️ thanks!
=D
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Great content as usual!
Dunno what that means but sounds good to me! TY!
You actually can't have fun about "depriving" yourself about the extra requirements. You know why ? Cause if you do so, you end up in a poor society based on money and consumption. You'll feel so alone that the fun won't come at all.
Why do you think many teenagers stay in their bedroom ? or on the computer ? Cause the outside isn't appealing. We're just so desperate about our society that we try to find happiness somewhere else. *However* your point of view is still excellent, but I do think that the main issue is about society's structure, purpose of it and relationships.
It's either you adapt to modern slavery without any purpose or you feel sad and lost.
That's where the circle begins, no real purpose so you begin to just consume what the system you're working for brings you to feel better and it goes like that forever.
We need a structure where we tap into everyone's true ability. Like one of those tests that tries to figure out what type subject you enjoy most and at the job, it must focus on implementing practices that emphasis making a difference in people's lives. Will all mundane paper work get eliminated? Probably not though.
Enchantingly Entertaining and Educational 👍
TY!
strangely , people in poorer countries than the USA are sometimes very happy people . Thats why I love Thailand and especially rural Thailand .
That’s great to know!
BTB I think "Materialism" play an important role in our economic. For example, if everybody buy 30% less products, then factories will produce 30% less and fire 30% of they workers. Secondly, I think "going on vacation" can be another form of "Materialism", it is not necessary for living, people in 3rd work countries don't go on vacation. Since going on vacation is for pleasure, then it is no different than buying a car / iphone, which also consider pleasure for some people. I agree that we should sell our old toys to clean up the house, before getting something new.
It doesn't have to be 30% less. If people buy 5% less, the economy would be considered in a recession. A 5% contraction for a few months will likely result in massive layoffs.