For me the biggest benefit is that, since I have less desire for material possessions than most people, I waste less money, so I need less money, so I'll need to work less, so I'll have more free time
Yep!! Absolutely agree! My studio is 288 square feet and love how small it is. Can’t buy shit if u don’t have room for it! And bonus, less time to clean!
Yup, I normally have more money to spare than others in my life, even though I don't have a particularly high-paying job. Way easier to save when you just... don't spend much. 😅
my greatest antoconsumerist habit is to go to the library. i'm a teacher (and just got a promotion yesterday actually!), so i have the privilege of having some time off to frequent my library in the summer. i save SO much money by just not buying books and have found so much community in my library.
shoutout to Shelby for being one of the first people I saw *consistently over time* talk about this kinda stuff, and then I recently started seeing a million other people do videos about it
The best thing for me is I’m petty AF and refuse to spend money on companies who are price gouging, treat their employees horribly, align themselves with horrible policies, or support morally corrupt practices. I’ve been saving so much money so far.
I like to say that I don't buy trash. It keeps me from buying things that I used to find standard like paper towels, paper plates, wrapping paper, or even plastic cutlery at the work cafeteria.
About repair: our swiffer wet jet broke and I found a really handy YT video explaining how to take it apart and fix it. I’ve never once before thought something like a swiffer could be fixed. 🎉
I’ve been trying to cut back on my spending lately, and it’s amazing how much money you can save by just consuming less. I’ve been rethinking my priorities, and it’s really starting to pay off.
My wife and I started doing that last year. We realized that a lot of our spending was on things we didn’t really need. Now we’re more focused on essentials and saving the rest. It’s made a huge difference in our budget.
That’s such a smart move. My husband and I have been doing something similar. We started cooking at home more instead of eating out, and it’s saved us a ton of money. Plus, we’re eating healthier too.
Same here. I’ve cut back on unnecessary subscriptions, and I’m amazed at how much I’ve saved just by being more mindful of where my money goes. It’s like, once you start paying attention, it’s easier to find places to cut back.
I’ve been doing that too. Plus, I’ve started setting aside money every month before I spend on anything else. It’s become a habit now, and it’s nice to see my savings grow without having to stress about it.
I was literally at the beach making “community” with a stranger and I ended up going home with a free inflatable kayak. If that’s not an example of community stops consumerism I don’t know what is! The even better thing is that when I’m done with it I will pass it along to someone else as well.
Same! I once found a bag of trashed veggies from the supermarket that had closed down for holidays, most of which were easy to remove the bad spots from or were just a bit beaten up. Met a couple and, in order to not look weird, since they were looking at me with a side eye, I said "look! There's a bag full of perfectly good food! Wanna share?" And we stayed there sorting veggies for a good 20 minutes. Their expression changed rapidly.
One of my biggest joys from underconsumption is spending time with people not just by going shopping but by doing art or going to a park or exploring somewhere new, I've found it makes me less superficial and able to focus on things that matter more. Also, using buying new as a last resort which means I donate more to charity. Finally using material that absolutely cannot be worn/ used anymore as cleaning rags or for pets - your local animal shelter might appreciate old stained, torn and repaired and torn again blankets :)
Okay my friend is a hyper consumer. She straight up says "why not just buy it?" If I'm questioning my need for something. She will just buy stuff she only likes 10% and if I tell her she doesn't need something, she will call people until someone tells her to buy the thing. I don't know how to introduce her into the concept of not consuming. Environmental science is my college major and she just doesn't get it. She thinks it's some cooky thing I do.
Why not just buy it? Because I have enough crap. Because I'm saving for x thing I want, or so I can get something higher quality that will last. Because the planet is drowning in trash. Because I like my space better with less clutter. Because I'd rather spend my money on experiences. Because I want to save money so I have a buffer in case something happens, or save for a house, or pay off loans
I've been doing the waitlist thing for years by bookmarking them on my phone or laptop and it's awesome! I still get the enjoyment of looking at items, comparing them, imagining them in my life, without actually spending the money. And months down the line I can go through those folders and remove the things I no longer want. And if I'm in the market to buy something from the list, I know I'm doing so with intention.
Once I hit my mid 50's, I realized that I didn't want to live in any clutter and that I had way more than I need( in beauty products, skin care, etc). We spend our money on travel.
I’m minimalist in every other way but beauty products are so hard for me to give up , but I haven’t purchased a new eye shadow in 2 years or foundation. I have much I can work through and not buy anything for a while
I think travel can be overconsumption too, if you're causing a lot of emissions. So I hope you're paying attention to that, if not overconsuming is your goal.
@@jamjamb123Any love or attention you get from make up is fake. Give it up, accept yourself for who you truly are, if people treat you differently then those are bad people. If it's rough at first it will hurt, but slowly you will hopefully find REAL people who treat you well without the makeup.
This is a lot of great advice. I think a good main rule is the vast majority of time you only buy groceries, buying new stuff should be a rare occasion. But you need ways to occupy yourself that dont involve constant money spending
Experiences (trips, nice food, restaurants) are the easiest way I found to reduce my shopping. I’m still not 100% perfect, but I’ve reduced my buying a lot. I prefer keeping my money for fun times with my loved ones than stuff.
Sinking funds to save for them help too. Between living expenses, taxes and aggressively saving for a future purchase over the course of months, I didn’t leave much in the account to spend on things I didn’t value as much.
One way to reduce consumption that works for me is to stop and ask myself whether the money that I’d spend on said item that I want could be better used for something else such as building an emergency fund, going on a vacation, saving for retirement, or paying off debt.
I do something similar, but what I think instead is the hours of my time that I've worked to earn that amount of money, and if I'd be happy if my employer had paid me with that object instead of the money
YES to the 24 hour rule. I tend to vary the 24 hour rule depending on the size of the purchase. The bigger the purchase (or the more wishy-washy I am about it) the longer I make myself wait. There are some things where I've said "I'm not buying this unless I still want it in a year." Of those things the only thing I've actually gone for was a pair of handmade shoes from a small business. I also use a wishlist saved on my computer to keep track of things I'm looking at, rather than saving it on the app I found it on. That makes even the act of saving it for later much more intentional and forces the question of "...do I even care about this enough to save it?"
Hearing you say you started doing this in college does make me feel better about doing so myself when I started university too. Sometimes I feel like I started too late
This whole new core (I’ve been on the conscious consumer path for a while now) has gotten me to think about care and repair of what I already have. Just took a bunch of stuff to the tailor and used some leather polish to make shoes and jackets look new again. Love that your channel is all about this, I hope you get so many new followers from this “trend”!
Your post about underconsumption happened at a bad time for me. Just today I bought gifts for my Sister for her birthday next month. I did try to make more mindful choices though... she wanted tea, I bought tea made locally where I live and got that in person (it came in a mason jar). My sister also wanted a CD, so I bought the CD used. I also checked my closet and I'm re-using a giftbag someone gave to me. Appreciate what you do, liked the story of passing down items to the wee ones.
You are the best kind of gift-giver! You actually listened to what your sister wanted and you went out of your way to get something unique and sustainably sourced
YESSSSS!! I'm on a no buy year right now and "the answer is no" to whether you should buy, might seem obvious or simplistic but it really is a game changer!!!! 🎉
I saw the NBC news segment that showed you A LOT and I was so excited to see you in the national media! Though, they didn’t frame less consumerism in a positive light ha they almost seemed to be warning against underconsumption by saying it has the potential to crash the economy 🙄
@@meep2253 right! And seemed to really be pushing the “but money makes the world go round” mindset! Pretty bleak if the only thing worth doing is continuing to buy more and more instead of investing in a few really quality items that will last 10-20 or more years
One of the big benefits for me is having a less cluttered house. I go to estate sales sometimes and see the sheer amount of STUFF that was in some people's houses and imagine my loved ones having to go deal with all my stuff if I died and it gives me the heebie jeebies. My husband has it even worse than I do because his parents have hoarding tendencies. We definitely do have things. We don't abstain from buying things, and I don't think most people would classify us as minimalists (I certainly don't). But there's more intentionality to it, because one of the things I think about when I consider whether to buy something is where it will go in our house. If there's no clear answer, then it doesn't really matter how awesome it is. We simply don't have a home for it.
I am a consumer-Low income. I value the things I use often, bought for less. So I thrift. As a mother my home looks like an under consumption ad, but it’s not less than I need/want it’s enough. Buy-Use (wear out)-Replace. Find value in how these items are used rather than the possession itself. Financial Minimalism - I think is what you called it in the past.
My husband and I have always loved going to antique stores with our children. Now that they are older, they love it too and that is what they like to decorate with. I was recently antique shopping with my one daughter and son when the though hit me that when your generation is older, there really won't be much worth putting into an antique store. So much that is made now is absolute crap and won't hold up.
I don’t know if you take requests for videos… but I would love for you to make a video about climate anxiety something I’ve been struggling with so much and how to navigate people who are so unsustainable. ❤
I feel like she already has a video about climate anxiety, but it’s been a long time since she last talked about it. I would love an update on how she currently deals with it. Navigating unsustainable people is a tricky one that deserves its own video I think. Tbh there may not be much to do since you can’t force people to live more sustainably and trying to do so can strain the relationship. Maybe just suggest sustainable options if they ask you for advice on something?
Growing up in New Delhi, my family was lower middle class, we had just enough and never anything extra. We were 5 people living in 1BHK. Whatever we saved, went towards travelling the country. I'm 30 now and I use the crap out of my stuff, repurpose, sew, thrift, diy, rent, cook everything at home, wait for months and years to buy anything new (even if now we can afford literally everything 🧿) so that husband and I can travel the world 😊 We moved countries a few months ago and we only bought 4 pieces of furniture coz that's all we need.
I don't have any money typically. Broke is the norm. Therefore I'm used to less & if I had funds I wouldn't be getting more because despite occasional temptation, that urge is rare. It's so important to stop seeing ads, stop seeking every shop/brand you see, & say no more. Train your brains. Ask yourself if you truly need something.
the pandemic (unable to go anywhere aside from work) and my mental illness (too depressed to want anything, too anxious to buy stuff) is what helped me save a lot of money during uni. it doesn't sound like a great time nor is it good advice to follow, but now I'm going to buy an apartment soon so at least something good came out of it. Now after being properly medicated I have other things that help me not overconsume, like being a cheapass and trying to make ethical choices lmao
I can say the more I started making at jobs the more I spend. BUT- to my defense, I buy nearly everything second hand. I saved every penny when I paid my college off as a student and never got to decorate anywhere I lived. Now that I have the extra money, I shop at many antique stores and find curated decor for my apartment. I also grew up really poor so having these things were not an option, and it’s very hard for me to reel myself in when I don’t have an adult telling me no with every wanted purchase. But, again, my compromise is buying second hand. Clothes, home decor, jewelry, etc, I aim to get all second hand either through thrifting or antique shopping. I also buy a lot of seasonal things like flowers and farmers market items, but I make sure it’s through local sellers so I am promoting the local economy. I buy whatever I can that’s reasonably priced at farm stands before I go to a grocery store. Or, like I said, I’ll go buy flowers from someone’s personal farm stand and almost never buy flowers from major grocery store retailers. I think it’s all about balance. I do my best to live sustainably with what I have, and to also support local businesses. Pretty much all my toiletry is purchased from local shops either on Etsy or in farmers markets, etc. this is my way of ensuring our local economy is supported even with such small steps, I.e. supporting the local beekeeper or the lavender farmer who makes lavender used in my skincare, etc. These are impactful steps I take that not only benefit me, and allow me to indulge in some arguably “useless” items, but I know that at least I’m not supporting the mass creation of more by purchasing from a major retailer or producer of these products.
Hey I just saw your picture on the NEWS! I live in NJ, and the News is based in NY. They did a segment on under consumption and showed a clip of you- no sound- but it was definitely you ❤
Honestly one of the things that have helped me most in avoiding consumerism is being a teenager lol- I don't have my own money, so I can't buy everything I see and think 'oh i'd like that'- it's really not like I could ask my parents for money for a little shein dress every week or every month like I see some people doing (not bashing, just not my thing). I think as an adult, this can be replicated by saving up some money and 'hiding' it from the main account, so you have a physical (financial) limit for your consumption. Not sure if all banks do that, but some brazilian banks do and i think it's genious
You mentioned tricking your brain and I think one good way to do that is by still doing consumer adjacent activities but with no consumption actions. That might not make much sense so here's a couple of examples. #1 Go "shopping" in your own closet. In other words, try to make outfits from clothes you rarely wear or mix and match things rarely worn together. The novelty can make your brain feel like you have a new outfit even thought you don't. #2 Do a swap party with friends (they borrow your lamp, you borrow their bookends). "New" furniture without the money spent or environmental impact.
Question everything! YES! I love this one. So many things that we feel like we need are just because we've been marketed to. I think sometimes people forget that manufacturers'' main goal isn't to make your life better, it's to SELL PRODUCTS.
Im trying to cut down my clothes spending coz its getting out of hand...and here I am...thinking..and aiming at your stripes sunflowers shirt....its so adorable..im into sunflowers now 🌻🌻🌻
I had to delete Temu and Shein bc I'd buy SO MUCH stuff. Not clothes, nail stuff. My hobbies and visions would get my cart nearly $60. Fake tattoos, jewelry... I had to delete it
I am a very frugal person so a lot of times I need to convice myself to buy something instead of not. It will get to the point that my husband or mom will beg me to replace something because it is falling apart and hardly usable anymore. I love wishlists and have quite a few of them that I try to keep up to date for birthdays and holidays. My husband and I are trying to save money by eating out less often, not that we do it a lot (maybe once or twice a week) but it is so expensive anymore. We are challenging ourselves to not go out to dinner for an entire month...unless someone invites us. We did it awhile ago and really loved it. We cooked at home all the time and came up with some delicious meals and genuinely enjoyed our time at home together. I am looking forward to doig it again.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and honestly have had to buy so much stuff in years. Have managed to get most of it second hand thank god but bringing things into my home makes me so stressed now
Totally agree with making a shopping list for later! I usually bookmark stuff on my laptop (which is harder for me to access than a tab in my phone) and most of the time when I actually go back and look at the stuff I’ve bookmarked, I just end up deleting it. It also forces me to have a waiting period because I don’t open my laptop nearly as often as my phone, and I’m usually not lookin at my bookmarks anyway cause they are tucked away!
THIS! So 👏 much 👏 this! Also, along the lines of not following trends in fashion or decor, I don't know what it is, but I am so annoyed seeing the same stuff EVERYWHERE! Everyone wears the same clothes, everyone's house is a copy and paste of Joanna Gaines. It's so boring and unoriginal. It's a weird ick, but oh well lol.
Hey honey I heard that I am afraid everyone hates me and I am here to tell you please do not think like that about yourself 💙 I really get the feeling but you seem so kind and caring so please do not ever think people hate you. You were created fine❤
I dont know if you have anyone you could collab with, but as a doll collector, I'd really be interested in a video on underconsumption/ecofriendly/less waste in different people's hobbies. I feel like i don't hear about hobbies in talks about these.
This is so true, hobbies and collecting never really come up. I watched one by Ana Goldberg recently about hobbies without clutter, which was more about minimalism but still very relevant I think.
My problem is i only shop second hand and have for years but with my job (DoorDash) im out and about for hours and when its slow i go check out a thrift store or if i pass an estate sale sign you bet im going! And I get small things but knowing second hand is a better option, i got carried away and now I thrift almost daily :(
Thanks for continuing this series on under-consuming. It’s something that I am really putting more effort in. Still a lot of work in progress. Can you also share some methods/thoughts put into choosing product based on their packaging so they are more environmental friendly? Compostable packaging is the only thing I know to opt for. But what else can i do to maximize recyclability of packaging?
Me and my roommate had a paid-off SUV which needed a lot of repairs and people constantly told us that it wasn’t worth it to repair,but we kept repairing it until we absolutely couldn’t. If we hadn’t we would have ended up buying a whole stream of crappy vehicles, because we couldn’t afford to actually replace the quality of vehicle that we had, even though it needed to be repaired. We never regretted it, but we were constantly pressured to stop trying to fix the literal best vehicle we ever had. “It’s not worth the cost to repair it,” was something we were constantly told. (Because we could have bought a less dependable crappy vehicle for less) Even though it absolutely was. There is so much pressure to replace over repair… (even when it really doesn’t make sense)
While I’m working towards consuming less generally through learning about the green movements, one area I do allow is flexibility on vacation because a) it’s vacation and b), sometimes I want things on a wishlist that have been on it for months, and when I finally see the item or experience somewhere, I will buy it. The rest of the year however, I do my best to be disciplined and use up what’s on hand. However, if a mistake is sometimes made, the easiest thing I’ve found is not to beat yourself up about it and move on. But yes, compared to my early 20’s (34 now), things have definitely improved since then and I try way more experiences first. 😊
I try to think about 1. Where I will keep the item in my house and 2. How many hours of work it take me to buy it (I.e., if I make $20/hr and it costs $40, is it worth 2 hours of my life?)
I’ve been struggling with the community component. Part of it is similar to your fears but a large part is that it doesn’t exist/or not currently active.
Great video! Big fan of your content. I'm in the middle of going through all my plastic bottle products in the bathroom and swapping to non plastic products. So far back to using bar soap, and shampoo/conditioner bars. Have started making my own laundry liquid too - I find it works better than most bought products! Also, loving your hair these days - the highlights are a vibe 😊🤌🏼
What’s your laundry liquid recipe? I was gifted detergent sheets for Christmas but I’m running low so I’d love to hear a homemade recipe if you’re open to sharing? :)
@@horribledevilgirl I use sunlight soap - grate it and melt it in a pot with some water. And washing soda and more water. You can also use borax and essential oils if you want - but I didn't have those and works fine 😊
I do like Thrive Market! I got their discovery pack of the pea protein based cereal. It was very good. Fine alternative to anything Kelloggs branded. Less expensive than magic spoon too.
If you want things to pass down get a cast iron pan!Its a little pricey for a pan in the short term but that thing will outlive my hypothetical grandchildren! Assuming I change my mind on being child free and adopt
It's been a long road for me. I remember seeing your dumpster diving videos maybe a decade ago and thinking that's ridiculous. Now I buy my socks in thrift shops.
I do agree with the concept of this video but struggle with the community part, specially since I get so much joy out of my hobbies community but that often pushes to buy so many things as part of the hobby, I get those new things aren’t necessary to do the hobby but is hard when there is a new product being pushed every 5 mins 😞
“I can put it on a wishlist so that when my family insists on buying me things during the holidays, I can give them something to buy” I have never related to something so specific SO MUCH LOL
I think my biggest struggle isnt consuming items so much as takeout food? Any tips for meal prep or "easy" meals so the transition to cooking more isnt so hard? I find myself getting discouraged and falling back in buying takeout food when I dont have the energy to cook. But that happens more often than I'd like...
Do you travel extensively? I’ve been watching your videos for a few years now. I recently moved to Kosovo (for my husbands job) and please come see what I’m witnessing. I have a guest room 😂
We just had a second child and everyone is assuming we will get a “family vehicle” which basically means a large gas guzzling car. We considered it seriously but I don’t see why we can’t just use my sedan hybrid for as long as it will let us.
I wonder how i should deal with the guilt of having to throw plastic or other things out just because i cant afford not to for one way or another. For example our fridge is six years old and seems to be near broken, we believe the oil leaked out, and the drain has an issue too. I cant afford to have it repaired, and it would not be safe for me to repair a fridge myself. But i feel alot of guilt that we are replacing it with a new one, even though we intend to take that one with us when moving and hang on to it for a long time. How should one handle the guilt they feel for making a less sustainable choice (despite doinfg sustainable things on other fronts)?
I like giving gifts, but don’t always participate if I don’t come up with something worthwhile. I’d start by saying it’s ok to not gift. I 1st attempted to buy the most recent gift secondhand. Experiences can be gifts. Bake something or do a homemade coffee syrup. I’ll gift a luxury or kind of high-end version of something like toiletries and consumables which Im sure that person must use regardless. It can even be a more sustainable swap. Giving gift cards vs. cash can be touchy, but either way + I’d appreciate a month of subscription services, gift cards can support small businesses. Ecards don’t have the plastic. Some people will just buy the drinks of the birthday person. Take it easy if you don’t know a person very well. I feel like plants are always a good idea, but maybe more sustainable than alternatives but not quite more sustainable than nothing.
This is one of the few benefits of having ADHD 😂 I am physically incapable of having too many things because my brain can’t keep track of them, so I’ve always been a minimalist.
I always look up the thing online and can usually find it cheaper so it kills the desire to get it in person and I always put off buying it online because Im lazy and then when I see the open tab again Im like I don't even want this anymore
She doesn't. She used a ladder looking thing and decorated that bc that's what she had around the house. She also made her own decorations. It was really cute
I dont think thats why most people shop my mom is an over consumer and she shops not for community but for dopamine. I think most people shop for their own pleasure for dopamine hit.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to upcycle old worn out denim pants, into usable items? I was thinking of making a blanket or pillow cases but the inspiration pics I'm finding look ugly af. 😅
Maybe coasters or place mats or rugs? Denim is a durable material so something like that makes more sense than a blanket which is supposed to be cozy, denim feels like the opposite of that.
For me the biggest benefit is that, since I have less desire for material possessions than most people, I waste less money, so I need less money, so I'll need to work less, so I'll have more free time
Seeing co-workers with $700/month vehicle leases is just.. brain melting. It looks like setting money on fire from over here
@@supernova622 wow. Reminds me of someone I know, who is renting a 6 bedroom giant house when they are just 2 people
Yep!! Absolutely agree! My studio is 288 square feet and love how small it is. Can’t buy shit if u don’t have room for it! And bonus, less time to clean!
Yup, I normally have more money to spare than others in my life, even though I don't have a particularly high-paying job. Way easier to save when you just... don't spend much. 😅
Feelings this rn so hard 🫡 Godspeed
my greatest antoconsumerist habit is to go to the library. i'm a teacher (and just got a promotion yesterday actually!), so i have the privilege of having some time off to frequent my library in the summer. i save SO much money by just not buying books and have found so much community in my library.
shoutout to Shelby for being one of the first people I saw *consistently over time* talk about this kinda stuff, and then I recently started seeing a million other people do videos about it
She is the real deal!!
You were THE underconsumption core queen before it became trend ❤ Thanks.
The best thing for me is I’m petty AF and refuse to spend money on companies who are price gouging, treat their employees horribly, align themselves with horrible policies, or support morally corrupt practices. I’ve been saving so much money so far.
That's not petty, that's ethical!
I like to say that I don't buy trash. It keeps me from buying things that I used to find standard like paper towels, paper plates, wrapping paper, or even plastic cutlery at the work cafeteria.
About repair: our swiffer wet jet broke and I found a really handy YT video explaining how to take it apart and fix it. I’ve never once before thought something like a swiffer could be fixed. 🎉
You can fix anything if you're clever and persistent - or you just have UA-cam or Google 😂
🎉🎉🎉
I’ve been trying to cut back on my spending lately, and it’s amazing how much money you can save by just consuming less. I’ve been rethinking my priorities, and it’s really starting to pay off.
My wife and I started doing that last year. We realized that a lot of our spending was on things we didn’t really need. Now we’re more focused on essentials and saving the rest. It’s made a huge difference in our budget.
That’s such a smart move. My husband and I have been doing something similar. We started cooking at home more instead of eating out, and it’s saved us a ton of money. Plus, we’re eating healthier too.
Same here. I’ve cut back on unnecessary subscriptions, and I’m amazed at how much I’ve saved just by being more mindful of where my money goes. It’s like, once you start paying attention, it’s easier to find places to cut back.
I’ve been doing that too. Plus, I’ve started setting aside money every month before I spend on anything else. It’s become a habit now, and it’s nice to see my savings grow without having to stress about it.
Those are all great tips. My wife and I took it a step further and decided to meet with a financial advisor.
right after you said "say no" i had a commercial that was like "just say YES! for less" the irony lol
I was literally at the beach making “community” with a stranger and I ended up going home with a free inflatable kayak. If that’s not an example of community stops consumerism I don’t know what is! The even better thing is that when I’m done with it I will pass it along to someone else as well.
Same! I once found a bag of trashed veggies from the supermarket that had closed down for holidays, most of which were easy to remove the bad spots from or were just a bit beaten up. Met a couple and, in order to not look weird, since they were looking at me with a side eye, I said "look! There's a bag full of perfectly good food! Wanna share?" And we stayed there sorting veggies for a good 20 minutes. Their expression changed rapidly.
One of my biggest joys from underconsumption is spending time with people not just by going shopping but by doing art or going to a park or exploring somewhere new, I've found it makes me less superficial and able to focus on things that matter more. Also, using buying new as a last resort which means I donate more to charity. Finally using material that absolutely cannot be worn/ used anymore as cleaning rags or for pets - your local animal shelter might appreciate old stained, torn and repaired and torn again blankets :)
Okay my friend is a hyper consumer. She straight up says "why not just buy it?" If I'm questioning my need for something. She will just buy stuff she only likes 10% and if I tell her she doesn't need something, she will call people until someone tells her to buy the thing.
I don't know how to introduce her into the concept of not consuming.
Environmental science is my college major and she just doesn't get it. She thinks it's some cooky thing I do.
Why not just buy it? Because I have enough crap. Because I'm saving for x thing I want, or so I can get something higher quality that will last. Because the planet is drowning in trash. Because I like my space better with less clutter. Because I'd rather spend my money on experiences. Because I want to save money so I have a buffer in case something happens, or save for a house, or pay off loans
Sometimes you need to let people deal with their own voids
You can’t force people 😢😢 maybe she’ll follow your example in a few years but for now, let her do what she needs to do
Just wait, one day her car will break down and she will have 0 in the bank
"She calls people until someone tells her to buy it" 😮 So she needs to be influenced.
underconsumption core is working!!! consumer spending is slowing!!!
Awesome video. Don't mind me, I'm just leaving a comment for the algorithm because sooo many people should watch this type of content.
I've been doing the waitlist thing for years by bookmarking them on my phone or laptop and it's awesome! I still get the enjoyment of looking at items, comparing them, imagining them in my life, without actually spending the money. And months down the line I can go through those folders and remove the things I no longer want. And if I'm in the market to buy something from the list, I know I'm doing so with intention.
Once I hit my mid 50's, I realized that I didn't want to live in any clutter and that I had way more than I need( in beauty products, skin care, etc). We spend our money on travel.
I’m minimalist in every other way but beauty products are so hard for me to give up , but I haven’t purchased a new eye shadow in 2 years or foundation. I have much I can work through and not buy anything for a while
I think travel can be overconsumption too, if you're causing a lot of emissions. So I hope you're paying attention to that, if not overconsuming is your goal.
@@raapyna8544 I don't know about emissions. I'm flying and I won't stop traveling so If I'm overconsuming with that, I'm ok with it.
@@jamjamb123Any love or attention you get from make up is fake. Give it up, accept yourself for who you truly are, if people treat you differently then those are bad people. If it's rough at first it will hurt, but slowly you will hopefully find REAL people who treat you well without the makeup.
Yeah… flying is a lot of emissions. Like one flight can be more emissions than a person living in India will emit in their entire life.
This is a lot of great advice. I think a good main rule is the vast majority of time you only buy groceries, buying new stuff should be a rare occasion. But you need ways to occupy yourself that dont involve constant money spending
Experiences (trips, nice food, restaurants) are the easiest way I found to reduce my shopping. I’m still not 100% perfect, but I’ve reduced my buying a lot. I prefer keeping my money for fun times with my loved ones than stuff.
Sinking funds to save for them help too. Between living expenses, taxes and aggressively saving for a future purchase over the course of months, I didn’t leave much in the account to spend on things I didn’t value as much.
One way to reduce consumption that works for me is to stop and ask myself whether the money that I’d spend on said item that I want could be better used for something else such as building an emergency fund, going on a vacation, saving for retirement, or paying off debt.
I do something similar, but what I think instead is the hours of my time that I've worked to earn that amount of money, and if I'd be happy if my employer had paid me with that object instead of the money
@@anthropomorphicpeanut6160 thats really smart!
YES to the 24 hour rule. I tend to vary the 24 hour rule depending on the size of the purchase. The bigger the purchase (or the more wishy-washy I am about it) the longer I make myself wait. There are some things where I've said "I'm not buying this unless I still want it in a year." Of those things the only thing I've actually gone for was a pair of handmade shoes from a small business.
I also use a wishlist saved on my computer to keep track of things I'm looking at, rather than saving it on the app I found it on. That makes even the act of saving it for later much more intentional and forces the question of "...do I even care about this enough to save it?"
Hearing you say you started doing this in college does make me feel better about doing so myself when I started university too. Sometimes I feel like I started too late
Anytime is a great time to start! Just move forward with your new knowledge 😊
This whole new core (I’ve been on the conscious consumer path for a while now) has gotten me to think about care and repair of what I already have. Just took a bunch of stuff to the tailor and used some leather polish to make shoes and jackets look new again. Love that your channel is all about this, I hope you get so many new followers from this “trend”!
Your post about underconsumption happened at a bad time for me. Just today I bought gifts for my Sister for her birthday next month. I did try to make more mindful choices though... she wanted tea, I bought tea made locally where I live and got that in person (it came in a mason jar). My sister also wanted a CD, so I bought the CD used. I also checked my closet and I'm re-using a giftbag someone gave to me. Appreciate what you do, liked the story of passing down items to the wee ones.
Well done, you've made the best possible choises in this situation! ❤
You did good with your choice!
That’s exactly the mindset! Intentional, mindful purchases of items that will be loved not just impulsive mindless shopping for the next trend
You are the best kind of gift-giver! You actually listened to what your sister wanted and you went out of your way to get something unique and sustainably sourced
YESSSSS!! I'm on a no buy year right now and "the answer is no" to whether you should buy, might seem obvious or simplistic but it really is a game changer!!!! 🎉
I saw the NBC news segment that showed you A LOT and I was so excited to see you in the national media! Though, they didn’t frame less consumerism in a positive light ha they almost seemed to be warning against underconsumption by saying it has the potential to crash the economy 🙄
Omg I saw this too and I was so upset they were insinuating that people are only under consuming because they are broke!!!
@@meep2253 right! And seemed to really be pushing the “but money makes the world go round” mindset! Pretty bleak if the only thing worth doing is continuing to buy more and more instead of investing in a few really quality items that will last 10-20 or more years
tbh when I give something away on my buy nothing group i get the same hit of dopamine that i would usually get shopping
Me too!
One of the big benefits for me is having a less cluttered house. I go to estate sales sometimes and see the sheer amount of STUFF that was in some people's houses and imagine my loved ones having to go deal with all my stuff if I died and it gives me the heebie jeebies. My husband has it even worse than I do because his parents have hoarding tendencies. We definitely do have things. We don't abstain from buying things, and I don't think most people would classify us as minimalists (I certainly don't). But there's more intentionality to it, because one of the things I think about when I consider whether to buy something is where it will go in our house. If there's no clear answer, then it doesn't really matter how awesome it is. We simply don't have a home for it.
12:36 you don't shave?? I'm glad I found another woman who doesn't! There are dozens of us, dozens!!
non-shaver here too (unless for a wedding or something)!
There are very very many of us in reality lol
@@xerrias I don't know anyone else who doesn't irl sadly :( but it always makes me happy when I find it online at least
Me too!! My body hair is quite light, that's my excuse. The truth is I'm just lazy 😂
@@anthropomorphicpeanut6160I’ve seen one woman in person who doesn’t shave, and to be honest they might be non-binary
I am a consumer-Low income. I value the things I use often, bought for less. So I thrift. As a mother my home looks like an under consumption ad, but it’s not less than I need/want it’s enough. Buy-Use (wear out)-Replace. Find value in how these items are used rather than the possession itself.
Financial Minimalism - I think is what you called it in the past.
I hope you're well! Thanks for a new video
My husband and I have always loved going to antique stores with our children. Now that they are older, they love it too and that is what they like to decorate with. I was recently antique shopping with my one daughter and son when the though hit me that when your generation is older, there really won't be much worth putting into an antique store. So much that is made now is absolute crap and won't hold up.
I felt a big relief watching your video it made me feel good about following this path. Thanks for sharing
I don’t know if you take requests for videos… but I would love for you to make a video about climate anxiety something I’ve been struggling with so much and how to navigate people who are so unsustainable. ❤
I feel like she already has a video about climate anxiety, but it’s been a long time since she last talked about it. I would love an update on how she currently deals with it. Navigating unsustainable people is a tricky one that deserves its own video I think. Tbh there may not be much to do since you can’t force people to live more sustainably and trying to do so can strain the relationship. Maybe just suggest sustainable options if they ask you for advice on something?
Growing up in New Delhi, my family was lower middle class, we had just enough and never anything extra. We were 5 people living in 1BHK. Whatever we saved, went towards travelling the country. I'm 30 now and I use the crap out of my stuff, repurpose, sew, thrift, diy, rent, cook everything at home, wait for months and years to buy anything new (even if now we can afford literally everything 🧿) so that husband and I can travel the world 😊 We moved countries a few months ago and we only bought 4 pieces of furniture coz that's all we need.
I don't have any money typically. Broke is the norm. Therefore I'm used to less & if I had funds I wouldn't be getting more because despite occasional temptation, that urge is rare.
It's so important to stop seeing ads, stop seeking every shop/brand you see, & say no more. Train your brains. Ask yourself if you truly need something.
Thanks Girl for your time and videos!!! Love and hugs from Florida!
That color is amazing on you Shelby 🤩
Shelbi you are giving so much to us these days ❤❤❤🎉🎉 thank you!!
the pandemic (unable to go anywhere aside from work) and my mental illness (too depressed to want anything, too anxious to buy stuff) is what helped me save a lot of money during uni. it doesn't sound like a great time nor is it good advice to follow, but now I'm going to buy an apartment soon so at least something good came out of it. Now after being properly medicated I have other things that help me not overconsume, like being a cheapass and trying to make ethical choices lmao
Off topic but I’m in awe of all your beautiful plants 🪴
You are always so inspirational and educational! Thank you!
i've also found it really helpful to ask myself "am i actually going to use this" before buying something
I can say the more I started making at jobs the more I spend. BUT- to my defense, I buy nearly everything second hand. I saved every penny when I paid my college off as a student and never got to decorate anywhere I lived. Now that I have the extra money, I shop at many antique stores and find curated decor for my apartment. I also grew up really poor so having these things were not an option, and it’s very hard for me to reel myself in when I don’t have an adult telling me no with every wanted purchase. But, again, my compromise is buying second hand. Clothes, home decor, jewelry, etc, I aim to get all second hand either through thrifting or antique shopping.
I also buy a lot of seasonal things like flowers and farmers market items, but I make sure it’s through local sellers so I am promoting the local economy. I buy whatever I can that’s reasonably priced at farm stands before I go to a grocery store. Or, like I said, I’ll go buy flowers from someone’s personal farm stand and almost never buy flowers from major grocery store retailers.
I think it’s all about balance. I do my best to live sustainably with what I have, and to also support local businesses. Pretty much all my toiletry is purchased from local shops either on Etsy or in farmers markets, etc. this is my way of ensuring our local economy is supported even with such small steps, I.e. supporting the local beekeeper or the lavender farmer who makes lavender used in my skincare, etc.
These are impactful steps I take that not only benefit me, and allow me to indulge in some arguably “useless” items, but I know that at least I’m not supporting the mass creation of more by purchasing from a major retailer or producer of these products.
Love the idea of getting skincare locally!
Hey I just saw your picture on the NEWS! I live in NJ, and the News is based in NY. They did a segment on under consumption and showed a clip of you- no sound- but it was definitely you ❤
Honestly one of the things that have helped me most in avoiding consumerism is being a teenager lol- I don't have my own money, so I can't buy everything I see and think 'oh i'd like that'- it's really not like I could ask my parents for money for a little shein dress every week or every month like I see some people doing (not bashing, just not my thing). I think as an adult, this can be replicated by saving up some money and 'hiding' it from the main account, so you have a physical (financial) limit for your consumption. Not sure if all banks do that, but some brazilian banks do and i think it's genious
You mentioned tricking your brain and I think one good way to do that is by still doing consumer adjacent activities but with no consumption actions. That might not make much sense so here's a couple of examples. #1 Go "shopping" in your own closet. In other words, try to make outfits from clothes you rarely wear or mix and match things rarely worn together. The novelty can make your brain feel like you have a new outfit even thought you don't. #2 Do a swap party with friends (they borrow your lamp, you borrow their bookends). "New" furniture without the money spent or environmental impact.
Question everything! YES! I love this one. So many things that we feel like we need are just because we've been marketed to. I think sometimes people forget that manufacturers'' main goal isn't to make your life better, it's to SELL PRODUCTS.
Im trying to cut down my clothes spending coz its getting out of hand...and here I am...thinking..and aiming at your stripes sunflowers shirt....its so adorable..im into sunflowers now 🌻🌻🌻
I had to delete Temu and Shein bc I'd buy SO MUCH stuff. Not clothes, nail stuff. My hobbies and visions would get my cart nearly $60. Fake tattoos, jewelry... I had to delete it
Ive recently incorporated a wait to buy time for many things I see especially online and it works!
I am a very frugal person so a lot of times I need to convice myself to buy something instead of not. It will get to the point that my husband or mom will beg me to replace something because it is falling apart and hardly usable anymore.
I love wishlists and have quite a few of them that I try to keep up to date for birthdays and holidays.
My husband and I are trying to save money by eating out less often, not that we do it a lot (maybe once or twice a week) but it is so expensive anymore. We are challenging ourselves to not go out to dinner for an entire month...unless someone invites us. We did it awhile ago and really loved it. We cooked at home all the time and came up with some delicious meals and genuinely enjoyed our time at home together. I am looking forward to doig it again.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and honestly have had to buy so much stuff in years. Have managed to get most of it second hand thank god but bringing things into my home makes me so stressed now
Celebrate the small wins. It sounds like you're being very intentional!
I was watching a news clip of underconsumption core and they played clips of your videos.
Totally agree with making a shopping list for later! I usually bookmark stuff on my laptop (which is harder for me to access than a tab in my phone) and most of the time when I actually go back and look at the stuff I’ve bookmarked, I just end up deleting it. It also forces me to have a waiting period because I don’t open my laptop nearly as often as my phone, and I’m usually not lookin at my bookmarks anyway cause they are tucked away!
"the default is no" has helped me soooo much tbh
Thank you!! This is really helpful :)
THIS! So 👏 much 👏 this!
Also, along the lines of not following trends in fashion or decor, I don't know what it is, but I am so annoyed seeing the same stuff EVERYWHERE! Everyone wears the same clothes, everyone's house is a copy and paste of Joanna Gaines. It's so boring and unoriginal. It's a weird ick, but oh well lol.
Hey honey I heard that I am afraid everyone hates me and I am here to tell you please do not think like that about yourself 💙 I really get the feeling but you seem so kind and caring so please do not ever think people hate you. You were created fine❤
I dont know if you have anyone you could collab with, but as a doll collector, I'd really be interested in a video on underconsumption/ecofriendly/less waste in different people's hobbies. I feel like i don't hear about hobbies in talks about these.
This is so true, hobbies and collecting never really come up. I watched one by Ana Goldberg recently about hobbies without clutter, which was more about minimalism but still very relevant I think.
Hi Shelby, I would love a video on bikes from your perspective. I have so many questions. Also Goodwill. I get kinda torn on shopping/donating there.
My problem is i only shop second hand and have for years but with my job (DoorDash) im out and about for hours and when its slow i go check out a thrift store or if i pass an estate sale sign you bet im going! And I get small things but knowing second hand is a better option, i got carried away and now I thrift almost daily :(
Thanks for continuing this series on under-consuming. It’s something that I am really putting more effort in. Still a lot of work in progress. Can you also share some methods/thoughts put into choosing product based on their packaging so they are more environmental friendly? Compostable packaging is the only thing I know to opt for. But what else can i do to maximize recyclability of packaging?
also try repairing shoes/ getting them repaired before you buy new - I was amazed when my strap repair only cost £7!
Me and my roommate had a paid-off SUV which needed a lot of repairs and people constantly told us that it wasn’t worth it to repair,but we kept repairing it until we absolutely couldn’t. If we hadn’t we would have ended up buying a whole stream of crappy vehicles, because we couldn’t afford to actually replace the quality of vehicle that we had, even though it needed to be repaired. We never regretted it, but we were constantly pressured to stop trying to fix the literal best vehicle we ever had. “It’s not worth the cost to repair it,” was something we were constantly told. (Because we could have bought a less dependable crappy vehicle for less) Even though it absolutely was. There is so much pressure to replace over repair… (even when it really doesn’t make sense)
Love your videos always but gotta start out by saying your hair looks AMAZING this video
While I’m working towards consuming less generally through learning about the green movements, one area I do allow is flexibility on vacation because a) it’s vacation and b), sometimes I want things on a wishlist that have been on it for months, and when I finally see the item or experience somewhere, I will buy it. The rest of the year however, I do my best to be disciplined and use up what’s on hand. However, if a mistake is sometimes made, the easiest thing I’ve found is not to beat yourself up about it and move on. But yes, compared to my early 20’s (34 now), things have definitely improved since then and I try way more experiences first. 😊
I try to think about 1. Where I will keep the item in my house and 2. How many hours of work it take me to buy it (I.e., if I make $20/hr and it costs $40, is it worth 2 hours of my life?)
I’ve been struggling with the community component. Part of it is similar to your fears but a large part is that it doesn’t exist/or not currently active.
Needed this!!
Great video! Big fan of your content. I'm in the middle of going through all my plastic bottle products in the bathroom and swapping to non plastic products. So far back to using bar soap, and shampoo/conditioner bars.
Have started making my own laundry liquid too - I find it works better than most bought products!
Also, loving your hair these days - the highlights are a vibe 😊🤌🏼
What’s your laundry liquid recipe? I was gifted detergent sheets for Christmas but I’m running low so I’d love to hear a homemade recipe if you’re open to sharing? :)
@@horribledevilgirl I use sunlight soap - grate it and melt it in a pot with some water. And washing soda and more water. You can also use borax and essential oils if you want - but I didn't have those and works fine 😊
I do like Thrive Market! I got their discovery pack of the pea protein based cereal. It was very good. Fine alternative to anything Kelloggs branded. Less expensive than magic spoon too.
If you want things to pass down get a cast iron pan!Its a little pricey for a pan in the short term but that thing will outlive my hypothetical grandchildren! Assuming I change my mind on being child free and adopt
Solid video. ❤
I am so glad that I have stopped shopping as a hobby- life has become so much more fulfilling.
It's been a long road for me. I remember seeing your dumpster diving videos maybe a decade ago and thinking that's ridiculous. Now I buy my socks in thrift shops.
For me I do like have my nails done sometimes because they are my dads and he is very triggering for me, so I like covering that part of me up
As a fellow 'everyone hates me introvert', I hope I find that community soon!
Love this!❤
I do agree with the concept of this video but struggle with the community part, specially since I get so much joy out of my hobbies community but that often pushes to buy so many things as part of the hobby, I get those new things aren’t necessary to do the hobby but is hard when there is a new product being pushed every 5 mins 😞
We used to go through like maybe 20 phone cords a year because of our rabbits! Well, I’ve stopped putting them in reach of them!
You’re a genius.
Heather Gallman has a good YT channel for crochet tutorials. You'll love the reusable water bottle holder!
“I can put it on a wishlist so that when my family insists on buying me things during the holidays, I can give them something to buy” I have never related to something so specific SO MUCH LOL
Your hair is beautiful ❤❤❤❤
I think my biggest struggle isnt consuming items so much as takeout food? Any tips for meal prep or "easy" meals so the transition to cooking more isnt so hard?
I find myself getting discouraged and falling back in buying takeout food when I dont have the energy to cook. But that happens more often than I'd like...
Do you travel extensively? I’ve been watching your videos for a few years now. I recently moved to Kosovo (for my husbands job) and please come see what I’m witnessing. I have a guest room 😂
We just had a second child and everyone is assuming we will get a “family vehicle” which basically means a large gas guzzling car. We considered it seriously but I don’t see why we can’t just use my sedan hybrid for as long as it will let us.
I wonder how i should deal with the guilt of having to throw plastic or other things out just because i cant afford not to for one way or another. For example our fridge is six years old and seems to be near broken, we believe the oil leaked out, and the drain has an issue too. I cant afford to have it repaired, and it would not be safe for me to repair a fridge myself. But i feel alot of guilt that we are replacing it with a new one, even though we intend to take that one with us when moving and hang on to it for a long time. How should one handle the guilt they feel for making a less sustainable choice (despite doinfg sustainable things on other fronts)?
Try a mini fridge if you can. They're a little cheaper and you'll be forced to buy less bc you'll have less space
What do you do about birthday and gifts for holidays for friends?
I like giving gifts, but don’t always participate if I don’t come up with something worthwhile. I’d start by saying it’s ok to not gift. I 1st attempted to buy the most recent gift secondhand. Experiences can be gifts. Bake something or do a homemade coffee syrup. I’ll gift a luxury or kind of high-end version of something like toiletries and consumables which Im sure that person must use regardless. It can even be a more sustainable swap. Giving gift cards vs. cash can be touchy, but either way + I’d appreciate a month of subscription services, gift cards can support small businesses. Ecards don’t have the plastic. Some people will just buy the drinks of the birthday person. Take it easy if you don’t know a person very well. I feel like plants are always a good idea, but maybe more sustainable than alternatives but not quite more sustainable than nothing.
@@Maverickgoudaagreed. As a gift I'm gonna send my family to the Caribbean and pay a month of my Uncle's rent
Love this.
Have you heard of the grab bag to get rid of clothes?
This is one of the few benefits of having ADHD 😂 I am physically incapable of having too many things because my brain can’t keep track of them, so I’ve always been a minimalist.
I always look up the thing online and can usually find it cheaper so it kills the desire to get it in person and I always put off buying it online because Im lazy and then when I see the open tab again Im like I don't even want this anymore
Do you own a Christmas tree? I don't want to buy one this year although I have small kids just want to get gifts and use up the wrapping paper I have.
She doesn't. She used a ladder looking thing and decorated that bc that's what she had around the house. She also made her own decorations. It was really cute
@@weirdmyst7963 okay I was going to just get the green stuff from dollar tree and let my kids make ornaments
would love to hear what you think about the algae oil after using it!
Same!! It sounds like it makes food taste fishy 😂
I dont think thats why most people shop my mom is an over consumer and she shops not for community but for dopamine. I think most people shop for their own pleasure for dopamine hit.
How’s the algae oil in the Misto? Does it spray good? 5:30
This is hard because I have small kids and we do no screens. Now I want to get them the nuggets couch but man oh man I'm not sure
💚
Do you follow this same process when thrift shopping?
Does anyone have any ideas on how to upcycle old worn out denim pants, into usable items? I was thinking of making a blanket or pillow cases but the inspiration pics I'm finding look ugly af. 😅
Maybe coasters or place mats or rugs? Denim is a durable material so something like that makes more sense than a blanket which is supposed to be cozy, denim feels like the opposite of that.
I’m not an activist but I share my values of less is peace.
I noticed you have a store that UA-cam is promoting me to buy from…. Seems a tad hypocritical?