Every season of Spring Cleaning stands as a gauge as to how much less I should buy throughout the year.
Consumerism becomes excessive when it extends beyond what is needed. When we begin consuming more than is needed, boundaries are removed. Personal credit allows us to make purchases beyond our income-level. Advertisements subtly reshape our desires around material possessions.
Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist
Though I don’t feel like I buy a lot, I am no doubt still an over-consumer. I still have a goal to “break free from consumerism.” However, with my new venture of “digital minimalism” I have faired much better than in years past. It may sound crazy, but I think the popularity of social media has helped me get closer to my goal to break free from the need to buy.
5 Ways I’m Using the Popularity of Social Media to Break Free From Consumerism
1. Limiting Screen Time To Reduce How Much I Consume
In today’s digital age we’ve got friends turning into micro-influencers, covertly pushing products. Specific advertisements are popping up when we simply say something aloud. And what about the ever-present showcase of what others are wearing, where they are going, and what they are buying, on the newsfeeds?
Even with these overt and covert “advertisements” I still believe we have more control than ever to minimalize our draw to consume.
With advertising increasingly limited to social media, if I intentionally limit what I do and see online, I can reduce how much I consume.
Since social media draws millions in by way of various platforms, its exactly where advertisers go to influence our spending habits. I think of it as a sort of party that I choose to sit out of but like to observe. With everyone joining in on the online world, the advertisers follow.
In choosing to spend less time online, I am simply seeing fewer products. I can’t control what advertisers, influencers, and online friends display, but I can control how much I look at it.
2. Being Selective About Who and What I Follow
I alter the few platforms that I am on to what works for me. The blog name “imnotfollowing” didn’t come out of no where. It’s the exact strategy I use to tame not only mental triggers but to curb my spending. I simply don’t follow newsfeeds.
“Consumers who are influenced by social media are four times more likely to spend more on purchases.”
Just think about that word: “influenced.” It means we are being outsmarted. We think we are simply scrolling through photos of our friends, but really are being shown products in unique and various ways.
Ask yourself, “am I influenced by social media?” I was.
When I saw an outfit, rug, or pair of boots enough times on Instagram or Pinterest all of my innate restraints to not purchase went out the window. I often didn’t even know I wanted something until I saw it cast across my screen. When we are subjecting ourselves to the influence of so many others can we ever stop buying in an attempt to be that fabulous?
3. Reminding Myself that Influencers & Advertisers are Doing a Job
Influencers on apps like Instagram can be fun or motivating but I had to think hard about whether or not they were causing me to over-consume. The beauty of Instagram photos alone draw us in – making us believe we too could be that beautiful. That’s essentially what influencers and advertisers want, for us to copy by way of purchasing what they have.
Its so important to remember that they are doing a job. Influencers and advertisers ultimate goal is the same – to encourage us to spend money. Their inconspicuous advertisements on popular platforms are essentially posts from “friends” who slowly all display the same sunglasses, kids’ brain development toys, and home accessories. If we aren’t in the right mindset, we somehow find ourselves buying in.
4. Being Choosey About What Emails I Open and Email Subscriptions I Join
My spouse keeps me in check here. I recently purchased a new microwave at Kohls. They almost “got me” when they told me I’d get $28 off if I signed up for their credit card. But I imagined him behind me saying no.
The questions sales associates ask don’t go away when we purchase things online. The questions: “want to save 20% with the credit card?” “Want to add one more item for 50% off?” just move to our inboxes. I need to practice the same restraint when emails pop-up claiming “flash sale: 65% off if ordered in the next 2 hours!”
In addition, cleaning out my email inbox means unsubscribing and trusting that I’m truly not missing out on anything important.
5. Using Social Media Instead of Letting It Use Me
I hear The Social Dilemma dives into this “dilemma.” When we log on without a clear purpose the platforms are sure to guide us. When I blindly scrolled through newsfeeds, there was no chance to break free from consumerism. I would magically feel the need to own the trending bathing suit or chunky orange sweater. Now I only shop when I have a specific item in mind.
Maybe it’s using a Facebook group to get advice on where to shop. Or perhaps its heading to my most fashionable friend’s page to get an idea for a new pair of jeans. The key of course is to stick to the specific item and ignore the temptation to buy more than that.
Here’s to cleaning up much less this time next year!