The world around us often feels like a giant marketing strategy. There are adverts everywhere we look, we get constant scam calls trying to sell us things, and there’s an underlying implication that we’re missing out if we don’t have the latest, shiniest new thing.
In the face of all of this pressure, many people may feel obligated to partake in this “more economy” instead of being happy with what they already have.
If you’ve been feeling this kind of pressure, here’s how to opt out instead of buying in.
How to opt out of wanting more and appreciate what you have instead:
1. Don’t discard that which is already perfectly serviceable: change it.
Our tastes change over time, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But with those changing tastes often comes the temptation to replace everything we no longer like.
There is an alternative, though.
For example, we’re currently in the process of redecorating our home with a more whimsical, rustic, hobbit-like aesthetic.
As a result, a lot of our existing homeware items didn’t match our new vibe. There was nothing wrong with them, though. They were perfectly serviceable, so there was no need to discard them.
As such, instead of replacing them, I got some different dyes from a local craft store and changed the hues of all our kitchen linens.
Our dish towels, oven mitts, tablecloths, etc. now coordinate beautifully with the new shelving, tiles, and ceramics. All it cost us was around five dollars’ worth of dye packets, and there was minimal waste involved.
2. Focus on authentic living rather than the façade.
Some people are so focused on keeping up appearances and being admired by those around them that they have no idea what their authentic preferences are.
They may have huge homes that they barely inhabit, full of furnishings they don’t actually like, books they’ll never read, and designer appliances that they don’t know how to use.
Deep down, many of these people would likely be far happier in smaller, cozier quarters full of things that make them happy, but they’re afraid of being judged for not adhering to others’ expectations.
You cannot let someone else define your idea of happiness. It’s more important to prioritize your own joy and authenticity over what others expect from you.
If people in your life are judging you for being real instead of acting the way they want you to, why are you even choosing to spend time with them?
3. Repurpose things creatively to get the dopamine hit that comes from buying new stuff.
The phrase “retail therapy” was coined in the mid 1980s, and it refers to the little rush of dopamine that happens when you buy yourself something that delights you. It’s one of the big reasons it’s so hard to resist the lure of wanting more.
But you can often get that hit of feel-good chemicals from repurposing existing items, too.
Given how much stuff we accumulate, there’s a good chance that you already have a ton of items in your home that can be reused or repurposed creatively instead of being thrown out and replaced by something newer and shinier.
For example, if you’re looking for new ways to organize various rooms in your home, go through your closets, attic, basement, etc., to see what you can use in new ways.
If you’re stuck for ideas, search “upcycling” on Pinterest to see how other people have reused items in creative ways.
You may discover that you have real treasures lurking in storage that deserve to see the light of day.
If, however, you go through all those boxes and don’t find anything that’s either beautiful or useful, as designer William Morris famously once said, then donate them to a thrift shop so someone else can use them.
This will free up more space and change your environment for the better.
4. Ask yourself: “Do I need this new thing? Or do I just want it?”
A lot of people end up with borderline (or actual) shopping addictions because of the giddy thrills associated with acquisition.
It can feel great in the moment, but the downside to this behavior is the clutter that accrues from buying things you don’t actually need, not to mention the financial repercussions.
As such, before you spend money on any new items, pause and ask yourself if it actually adds value to your life, or if buying it will just make you feel a bit better temporarily.
Some people find the 24-hour rule helpful here. Leave the item in your cart for a full 24 hours (assuming it’s an online purchase) while you consider whether you truly need it.
If you don’t need this item for practical purposes, and if it’s just going to take up space in your home, don’t buy it.
Remind yourself that the good feeling it’ll give you is only fleeting, and then you’ll simply be back to your baseline level of happiness. Or, in fact, you may be even less happy, because you’ll have the guilt, clutter, and credit card bill to deal with.
5. Bask in your own timeless preferences rather than following trends that exist solely to sell more products.
Fashion trends exist to sell clothing. The same goes for home design trends, which aim to generate revenue for home goods stores, and culinary trends promoted by the food industry.
Rather than buying into these trends, choose to cultivate lifestyle choices that you sincerely love and that reflect you well instead.
For example, if you have clothes that you love and that suit you well, wear them confidently instead of choosing temporary, trendy styles instead.
Do you have a phone or computer that works well and that you know like the back of your own hand? Excellent. Decorate it with some fun stickers and enjoy it.
6. Learn to make and mend things yourself.
There are few things that are quite as satisfying as being able to make or repair things with your own two hands.
I find it immensely fulfilling to mend clothes that have been torn so they’re as good as new, and to polish or paint furniture to breathe new life into it. I’ve even unraveled sweaters so I could remake them into cowls, mittens, hats, and so on.
It’s highly likely that you already have a ton of supplies at home that you rarely even look at, let alone work with, but could easily be put to good use if you chose to do so. And there are endless tutorials online that can teach you the skills you’ll need to do so.
Use what you have to its fullest potential before buying anything else, and there’s a good chance that you’ll also feel great satisfaction from doing so.
You can get that little dopamine hit you would have got from shopping when you see your handiwork in all its glory.
7. Ask yourself what you are actually lacking.
If you didn’t see adverts promoting items to buy, or other people weren’t showing off their latest and shiniest acquisitions, would you feel any sense of lack in your life? Or would you feel perfectly content with everything you already have?
Think of it this way: if a catastrophe were to happen, would you have everything you needed to keep you safe, happy, and comfortable at home? Or would you feel that you were lacking vital items?
It’s one thing to buy items that you feel may be useful at some point in the future, and another thing entirely to feel that you’re missing out simply because you aren’t constantly upgrading the things that have been making you perfectly happy for years.
8. Appreciate the lack of stress that comes with having less.
Constantly trying to expand materially can be extremely stressful. After all, you’d need to work long hours or take out loans (and by extension, debt) in order to constantly acquire the latest and greatest on the market.
And for what? A short-lived high and the ability to post some photos online of “stuff” that you wouldn’t miss?
What’s more, more stuff just means more things to store and clean and sort through, if you ever move.
Embracing what you already have and living more simply takes immense pressure off your life. You’ve probably amassed enough things in the past that you’ve never used, so why not enjoy those instead of perpetually grasping for more?
You don’t have to partake in this madness. You can choose not to participate, and spare yourself a tremendous amount of anxiety and obligation in the process.
Final thoughts…
If the things you already have make you sincerely happy, then don’t feel pressured to “trade up” for anything that others might deem to be better.
Believe it or not, this even goes for your personal relationships as well as material possessions.
Some people are so fixated on something “better” that they fail to recognize the wonderful things they already have in their lives, and that includes partners.
Many don’t know what they have until they lose it, and by then it’s too late to fix things. Always make a point of appreciating your blessings while you still have them, whatever they are. You don’t need more.
