Smart Consumerism and the Art of Purging

So a few weeks ago I had a breakthrough.  And here it is:

It’s just as fun to get rid of things as it is to acquire them.

This is not to say that will work for everyone.  But it’s definitely working for me.

I love giving gifts.  Much more than I like receiving them.  The flip side is that I also love giving gifts to myself.  This is where finances can get messy.  It seems I’m an all-or-nothing kind of girl: I’m either on a consumerist kick and can’t stop spending money – or I’m saving money so well that I don’t feel like spending a nickel.

Currently, I’m striving for the latter.

It’s easy for me to fall into patterns.  Hence the all-or-nothing attitude.  When I’m spending money regularly, I’m usually building up a collection of something: clothes, tarot decks, books, shoes.  Once I acquire one item, the excitement directs me toward another, then another – until I’m buying more than I need or buying things just for the sake of buying.  Retail therapy and receiving mail are two of my favorite pastimes.

But recently I realized I have much more than I need, or even want.

So a few weeks ago, I started purging.  And let me tell you, I’ve never felt more liberated.

What set me over the edge for good was this talk by Bruce Sterling.  At first, I was skeptical this talk would matter to me in the least (ie. just another nerdy thing my boyfriend got excited about).  But around the 24-minute mark, it starts to get really good.  I implore you to watch it:

You need to re-think your relationship to material possessions in terms of things that occupy your time.  The things that are physically closest to you.  Time and space.

It’s not bad to own fine things that you like.  What you need are things that you GENUINELY like.  Things that you cherish, that enhance your existence in the world.  The rest is dross.

The things that you use every day should be the best-designed things you can get.  Anything placed next to your skin for long periods is of high priority.  For instance, you cannot possibly spend too much money on a bed. You’re spending a third of your lifetime in a bed.  Get a decent ergonomic chair.  Get excellent tools and appliances.  Not a hundred bad, cheap, easy ones.  Get the genuinely good ones.  Get radically improved everyday things.  You should spend more time on shoes than you do on cars.

You will need to divide your current possessions into four major categories.

1. Beautiful things.
2. Emotionally important things.
3. Tools, devices, and appliances that efficiently perform a useful function.
4. Everything else.

“Everything else” will be by far the largest category.  Anything you have not touched, or seen, or thought about in a year – this very likely belongs in “everything else.”  (Source)

The fact that you really like a dress or a pair of shoes doesn’t mean you need to own it.

I have so many articles of clothing that they spill out of my closet and drawers onto the floor, get draped over tables and boxes, shoved into bags.  Every once in a while I’ll discover something I forgot I had – and haven’t even worn yet.  This is why I’m selling a large portion of my wardrobe, as soon as I get some good photos together.  Another large chunk is going to Goodwill.

Besides, I’m absolutely inspired by Nubby Twiglet’s immaculate closet, and the idea of only having things I really, truly adore.  The more things I have that I absolutely love, the more often I want to wear them, and the fewer I’m tempted to buy “just because.”  This also allows me to save more money for the things I really love, when I’m not constantly buying cheap things I only like to wear once a year.  On the other hand, having a decent stock of basics makes it so much fun to mix and match – a basic black t-shirt can take me miles if I remember to have an imagination of my own.

I also love the idea of having a more clearly-defined sense of style, so I’m less tempted to buy clothing that doesn’t fit my image.  Example: If I decide I prefer to dress rock & roll or utilize a mostly black color palette, I’m less likely to get stuck with hordes of unused floral sundresses just because they’re lovely.  I may like looking at something, but that doesn’t mean there’s not someone out there who’d love and wear it a lot more.

It’s as much fun collecting dollar bills as it is collecting poetry, self-help books, and tarot cards.

Really, who needs all that stuff?  Not me.  I can read poems online for free.  This is not to say I won’t buy poetry, but that I don’t need to own every book by every poet I like.  I have so many how-to books I don’t read (books about the process of writing, living consciously, learning witty French, you name it), and in many cases, have never read.  My tarot collection peaked at the 70-deck mark recently, because why not?  They’re beautiful.

But when I’m constantly seeking out new and beautiful decks and books to collect, I lose sight of what’s already on my shelves, the ones I actually truly love to flip through and read.  So I’ve started donating and selling books and tarot decks I never look at – and the funny thing is, it’s not even hard!  As soon as I rationalize selling something, hoarding it no longer appeals to me.

And as if that weren’t enough of a reason, I’m inspired by people who live out of suitcases.  I love the idea of not having to cart all my books and decks around when I move (which is something I’ll be doing again soon, and something that was a major hassle last time).  I’m tired of collecting so many books and tarot decks that I don’t have time to use the ones I have.  When I actually sit down and pull out my favorite book or deck, I end up having a great day, and have less reason to lust after more possessions.

If you see something beautiful, crafty, and want to buy it – give it away instead.

Sounds weird, right?  But here’s an example: I am obsessed with paper crafts and stationery.  If I walk into a bookstore, I always visit the stationery section – and without fail, every time, I struggle not to buy things.  I have mounds of pretty letter paper, stacks of pretty journals I’ve had since high school.  And guess what?  All empty.

Now why would they be unused if I love them so much?  Because I’m attracted to the idea of stationery, but don’t actually need my own.  Ninety percent of the time, if I’m actually going to use it, I prefer to write with calligraphy on simple 8.5 x 11″ paper I buy at the grocery store.  Also, it turns out I have as much interest in sharing paper crafts with others as I do in using them myself.

Two summers ago, I bought a bunch of card stock and started making blank greeting cards with pastel colors and buttons and pretty ribbon, just for fun – and guess what?  The urge to consume dissipated.  Not only did I realize I was more than capable of making my own stationery, should I ever want to use it – I also found solace in the activity of giving myself something to do with my time and creativity, which made me less interested in spending money.

Conclusion: Getting rid of things you don’t need makes you appreciate the value in the things you love.

Blog about the stuff that excites you (ie. let a jacket that you love – but don’t need – languish on your blog instead of in your closet).  Sell clothes and shoes and books you don’t really use – think about all the people who will enjoy them, even though you can’t, or won’t.  Consider making and selling crafts on Etsy instead of buying cute things you don’t need – and keep pictures of all the beautiful things you’ve made.

We all have something we don’t need.  Spread the joy – let it go.

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