As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m working on practicing mindful spending this year. The idea of mindful spending (and its partner- decluttering) is very trendy right now; it seems like a lot of people have been self-soothing with shopping! And to be honest, opportunities to shop are proliferating. Last week, when I ordered some cotton pads from amazon ($2.88), I thought about how I would have handled it before the internet. I would have started a list for Target, worked on it for a few weeks, edited it, and then headed to the store to pick it all up. Now, we’ve gotten to the point where an Amazon box arrives almost daily (and I’m not alone in this!)
I know Americans are big shoppers, but it feels like it’s getting out of control. Part of it is the pandemic- the need to feather our nests, to replenish the sweatpants we had no idea we’d still be wearing two years later. But you may suspect that learning about new stuff and buying it is getting easier- and you’re not wrong. NPR’s Planet Money had a recent segment on how many people are shopping on TikTok, and honestly most of the stuff they are buying sounds like complete junk. Well, maybe we do need Pink Stuff??
Instagram. YouTube. Pinterest. Retailer emails. The endless 40% promotions at Banana Republic! Enough! It’s time to get a grip and take back control. Time for some tough love with our credit cards. Time for some mindful spending.
And I’m not promising to be perfect. I will continue to buy some things, I have no doubt. I also have a teenaged daughter who is about to enter into prime shopping time- end of senior year and preparation for freshman year in college. (Decorating your dorm room is a whole thing, y’all.) So there will be shopping done in 2022- guaranteed. But can we aim for mindful spending?
What is mindful spending, to me?
For me, mindful spending has a few aspects. First, of course, I want to save some money. I don’t like wasting money, and you probably don’t either. So buying things I don’t need is a waste. Second, I want to have what I need and what I will use. I don’t want to acquire things for the person I wish I were, or the person I may be in the future or might have been in the past. Third, mindful spending requires separating myself from influences (like TikTok!) that may not have my best interests at heart.
So mindful spending is about slowing down and honoring who I am right now, at this point in my life. I want to have enough to be comfortable but not too much.
I am at the beginning of this journey, but here’s what I’m doing to achieve my goal of mindful spending in 2022.
Remove external influences
I’m not on TikTok, and I don’t hang out on Instagram too much. But I do spend a bit too much time with some YouTube influencers. And I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I had placed an order or two based on their videos. So, I am sorry dear Emma Hill, but I can’t follow you anymore! Even though I think your English accent is just adorable!
Same goes for those tempting apps… goodbye The RealReal, Net-a-porter, Nordstrom, Matches. It has been great, but I need a break!
And if you really want to be good- clear out your shopping carts and all those wishlists/”save for later” lists. Turn off all those notifications like “The shirt you wanted is back in stock!” Trust me, it’s for the best.
Implement a waiting period
This is a very old advice, but there’s a reason it’s still given- it works. If you insist on doing some online browsing, write the item down (don’t leave the item in your cart!) for a sufficiently long period of time. If you are still thinking about it a week later, give it a second thought.
The flip side of this is to look at what you already have. Remember how much you wanted those shoes/sweater/fountain pen? And have you even given it much thought at all since you received it months ago? What makes you think this new item will be any different?
I am pairing this tip with the advice to not make online browsing a default activity. It is so tempting to just scroll through the new arrivals while watching Netflix. I’m replacing this bad habit with more Sudoku!
Shop your stash
This is a common phrase in the fountain pen/stationery community- shop your stash. Something about pens and paper really encourages serious amounts of accumulation- perhaps because it’s generally not that expensive to end up with a lot of stuff. But this same principle works for anything- stationery, makeup, workout clothing, cashmere sweaters. And that’s why a regular closet/stash clean out is a great idea. Once you see everything you’ve got in one place, your desire to acquire more will decrease significantly.
Don’t be afraid to return things
This is not a problem that I have- Dear Husband has referred to be as a champion “un-shopper” in the past by the stack of returns sitting by the backdoor for UPS drop-off. But seriously, try things on promptly, decide on whether you want to keep them, and if not, off they go back to the store! Make the process easier: Buy a tape gun and log all your returns so you can keep track that they are being processed on your credit card. I am always amazed when I read stories of people who just can’t be bothered to return something.
Buy thoughtfully, buy quality
One of the nice things about being in my 50s is that I really doubt my style is going to change much in the coming decades. And I also have an eye for classics and what works for me. So I have confidence in buying clothing since I know I will still love it in 10, 20 years. I can invest in higher quality items (in sustainable fabrics) with the knowledge that they aren’t going to get tossed in the next 6 months.
So when I do buy something, I am making sure that it works with everything else I own and that I absolutely love it. Any little feeling of “meh” means it is going back! Be ruthless, be thoughtful, and we’ll save money and all become mindful spenders.
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