The current economic challenges are causing many of us to think long and hard about running out and spending money. If you listen to our government you’d think WE were the cause of all this – how dare we not run out and spend money we don’t have on junk we don’t need. However, I believe the art of not consuming is going to be the new consumerism. After decades of wants being placed into the same column as needs, we are finally beginning to realize we don’t need all of this stuff.
Take for example Monday. I went over to my local Staples and was just browsing around – I don’t know why, but I like to shop at Office Supply stores – when I came across a really nice desk and hutch set. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not writing this on cinder blocks and plywood. I have a rather nice L-shaped desk that has served me well for 3 years. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done and doesn’t look half bad. Yet I caught myself standing in Staples looking at this new desk for well over 15 minutes.
That’s when I heard the voice inside me saying, “You don’t need this – just walk away.”
Almost like pulling myself away from a strong magnetic field, after I made the first few steps I never looked back. Sure, it would have been nice to have a fancy new desk with a hutch, but what would the desk have done for me? It wouldn’t make me more productive, and I can tell you right now it wouldn’t do a darn thing for my organization skills!
There was a time when I’d have walked out of the store with the desk, the hutch and probably a laser printer tucked under the other arm. I wouldn’t have needed a new laser printer or desk, but the flashy and coolness of it all would have torn my wallet open and thrust my money upon the counter.
Not anymore.
Even though I’m one of the lucky one and my family is weathering the storm right now, I still believe it is time for me (and all of us) to re-examine why I buy stuff. Sure, if my desk was laying on the floor in pieces it might be worthwhile to invest in a new desk. Otherwise, I have more important things to do with my money – like save it, buy a new garage door (which we do need sooner rather than later), etc.
The New Consumerism 101: Realizing that no, you don’t need it after all.
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