I often remark that Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s keep me in business. Frequently, the first thing I recommend to my clients is that they reduce their purchases to essential items. I recognize “essential” is a relative concept, but people understand that we often consume needlessly & impulsively. The heart of disorganization often comes from having an abundance of merchandise. We are exhorted to over purchase by all the agencies of mass media. Their business is to encourage spending and our business is to purchase with discretion.
Purchasing has a complicated physiology; why do rational people over purchase? There are several factors at play here. Mass media is not the only culprit; the availability of credit cards enables people to consume beyond their needs. According to Los Angeles clinical psychologist and wealth consultant James Gottfurcht, PhD, “They’re conditioning people into building debt at a very young, vulnerable age.”
Other major factors that contribute to overspending according to research by Florida State University social psychologist, Roy Baumeister, PhD is too many demands in stressful situations and dealing with difficult relationships.
Finally the idea that consumerism leads to happiness has proven to be an illusion; according to a study by Lan Nguyen Chaplin and Deborah Roedder John. “Researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem.”
In conclusion when we find ourselves losing control over our environment we have to ask ourselves why and put ourselves back in charge of our lives by making conscience decisions based on real needs. As Thoreau so aptly stated “simplify.”
