Consumerism or Minimalism

What I have found on socials, TikTok, and the like is that there are two camps in consuming consumerism or minimalism. Where everyone seemingly starts at the former and should aspire to end at the latter.

I am not talking about consuming the way most people do. No, I am talking about the type of consumerism, where one buys a new Stanley Cup each year, buys all the new micro trends and is, most importantly, either happy or overwhelmed by all the stuff they spend money on.

Then, the decluttering starts, the project pans and the like. Everything has got to go until there are two shirts left and no knickers, as they didn’t bring you joy, all in the name of minimalism.

Sure, these archetypes are an exaggeration of what really happens for most people, but I am here to counter it by saying most of us don’t fit in either category in the first place.

Hence, the hundreds of comments under “underconsumption” posts saying that it’s “normal”, but then what is normal anyway?

Of course, you don’t need a hundred backups, but frankly, don’t be a thief of your own wallet. If it’s buy one, get one free, or you are somewhere where the product is cheaper (for us European girlies, crossing the border into another country might save you a lot of money). Why wouldn’t you?

Now I don’t mean to do this with something new you are trying out, but your favourite shampoo? Or a deodorant you like? I would say go for it. I also rotate products (once they are finished) as I have found using the same shampoo for months and months doesn’t work that well with my hair and the changing seasons. The same might be for creams and the like. It’s being intentional with spending while helping yourself spend less.

There are items I don’t want, nor need frequently, but I do keep. Not for sentimentality, although again, there is nothing wrong with that. My Christmas jumper that I wear once a year, a shirt I don’t wear but that is perfect for doctor’s appointments, and finally my funeral dress. Now I don’t mean for my own funeral, that would be morbid, and I don’t even like that dress in that way.

It’s decently warm, but not overly so. Quarter sleeve, modest length (grazing the knee). It’s fine, I don’t love it, but it’s the dress that I wear when I have a funeral. And I hope every year that I won’t need it.

I have had it for a while and worn it to a few funerals. The thing is, for me, when I wear an outfit to a funeral, that memory is attached to it for a long time. I had gotten it for some work party event where we needed to wear black. I wore it to a funeral after that, hence the funeral dress. Look, it’s a bit morbid to have in storage, but really, if you are distressed due to a death, you don’t want to go out and buy an outfit. Not to mention that death usually comes unexpectedly, and funerals come fast. I won’t declutter it because it’s not clutter. It’s intentional owning. Something I think most of us do.

As people, we are allowed to have options, we are allowed to have things that bring us joy. We can have a hobby or two. Sure, we need to pay attention to what we buy and use the products we spend our money on, but we can have multiple options. We are allowed to find joy in things, we can keep things for ‘someday’, and it doesn’t make us a worse person than someone who doesn’t keep anything they might want to keep.

I believe it’s better for our world if we use the products we have and do so with joy, than to declutter everything every day and then buy things because they are ‘better’. Or to sit at home consuming media every single day for hours because there is nothing else for you to do.

We deserve nice things; we deserve a hobby. We only live once, let us be mindful but joyful. So, sure, if it’s a personal choice and decision, you can absolutely be a minimalist. If it brings you peace, absolutely go for it. But don’t do it for social media.

Mindful can be minimal, but it doesn’t have to be.