How to be less materialistic / consumerist psychologically?

[wheresmymojo]

As with most people I'm trying to cut down on the amount of 'new' stuff that I buy - partly for environmental reasons and partly for financial reasons.

I've always been pretty driven by material things - I enjoy experiences and time with family, friends and pets as much as anyone does - but I've always been a motivated consumer!

One of those people who swaps their phone every time the contract is up, very into interior design and getting things for the home. I used to spend a lot on clothes and make up but that has got better because I'm now fat so less vain

I'm trying very hard. I don't need practical tips like using Ebay, etc to buy second hand.

It's the psychological side - I talk myself into cutting down and living more simply but then see so many things I 'want' and feel like I 'need' (obviously I don't, they're not essentials).

I watch documentaries/ read books about the climate crisis and make pledges but then one day later I'm looking at hot tubs or wanting to buy new clothes for a holiday

Has anyone become less materialistic?

I unfollowed everyone on social media that wasn’t a friend / relative. So much happier for not having shops / bloggers showing me “stuff” all the time. So if I don’t see it, I don’t know that I “want” it

Can you book in for free family time so you can value the time and experiences e.g. day out at the beach/farm/park with DC/nieces/nephews if you have them? Friends with kids etc? Are you an outdoorsy person? Can you and a friend go on a long scenic walk?
I guess maybe just spend more time doing the free/worth more than money stuff to value what you have that can't be valued if you are what I mean?

Have you read 'My year of less' by Cait Flanders? It's about how the author went one year without buying stuff. She still bought consumables (toothpaste, shampoo etc.), and went on holiday, but didn't shop for fun; replacement items were bought consciously and thought about. It was really inspiring.

I think if you’re that kind of person you need to remove temptation, do like a pp poster said unfollow, unsubscribe to offers (this is where I get caught out the most - by ‘bargains’). Prevent yourself having access to shopping options. Also replace the shopping with other things that might be treats but don’t involve accumulating things. There’s no point thinking about the planet, and hoping that makes you act differently, you understand all the reasoning, you have to try and change your behaviour.

If Eckhart Tolle 'A New Earth' doesn't do it nothing will.

Make a wish list and read through it once a month.
Allocate some money to buy 1-2 items. The rest needs to be ditched!!!
I bet some of the things on there will sound unnecessary a few weeks later.

Don’t go near the shops. Also, use your consumer abilities to pick out and identify the things you really want - make it very special when you do buy things.

Try to imagine all the stuff you could buy cluttering up your living space, collecting dust , filling up your wardrobe, needing you to look after it. Imagine it all accumulating over the years in piles. Then imagine how you can relieve yourself of all that responsibility of ownership by just not buying it !

These tips work for me:

Try to avoid going to physical shops and supermarkets as far as possible because you end up wanting things you never even knew about.

Unsubscribe from all marketing emails.

Track everything you purchase each month and analyse your purchases at the end of the month.

If you decide you want something, NEVER buy it the same day. The odds are that the next day you won't want it anymore.

Decide on your financial priorities for the year and the month and review them every month. Maybe you want to save a certain amount or pay down your mortgage or go on a special holiday. This helps to focus you on not frittering money away.

Join a website or FB group with folk who are trying to do the same thing for Tips and support.

Get a dog
Reduced my shopping massively as spend days at home and dog walking/cooking more rather than wander around shops for entertainment
Get a bit more cynical maybe? I can get myself really irritated at shops full of shite that make the most of female insecurities - cosmetics halls in dept stores, posters like 'this summer's bolds' to try and make me buy stuff I don't need.
Also, I loathe having too much stuff in the home or cupboards that are too full. So I think carefully about if I need stuff or not - e.g that new kitchen gadget

Do you think your sense of self-worth is tangled up with your desire for materialistic things? Perhaps buying new, exciting and/or fancy things is what makes you feel important, especially in other people's eyes. Also, the rush of buying something new can be very powerful and addictive.

For me, I learned a very long time ago that "things" just don't matter. They are not a comfort and they can push out people and experiences that really do add value to your life.

I've stopped buying magazines and that has helped.

I don't really go shopping anymore (online groceries and just avoid wandering around towns because it makes me want things).

I probably need to cut a load of people/companies off Insta or just stop using it.

I'll definitely look up the 'year of less' book!

I'm having exactly the same issue at the moment OP. I'm on maternity leave with my second baby and to be honest I'm a bit bored and lonely so turn to the internet a lot for entertainment and always find something I "need" which will of course be the one item to magically improve my life, make me look amazing etc etc.
I am definitely going to have an Instagram clear out as although I always thought I was really conscious of what the influencers are doing but now I have more time on my hands (compared to when I'm at work) to idly scroll through feeds and stories I have found myself sucked in and have definitely bought a few things on the back of Instagram which is something I want to stop.
Off the back of a thread about phone addiction last week I also realise that I'm addicted to my phone so have installed the Forest app which came recommended by a poster to try to cut down on phone use.
I'm also trying to fill my evenings with things other than messing about on my phone so knitting, reading and yoga videos online and am seeing benefits.

I think Aquamarine asks a good question.

Actively giving away stuff like clothes is an eye-opener as I have realised no one else wAnts my second hand stuff.

This makes me try to buy stuff that will last me a long time and not need replacing ( so this year's trend is a no-no!) Plus I'm trying to buy natural fibres I can compost at the end of their life.

I'm using the library for books more too. No more bookshelves allowed!

Home design I just keep putting off replacing stuff. Always buy quality to last. I'm not trendy though as I've been that way for years and have moved house with curtains and rugs adapted to my new homes. It's a mindset you will cultivate over time.

I don't have a clear answer to Aquamarine's question.

I'm pretty sure it's not related to wanting to look good in the eyes of others...I'm not very concerned with what people think of me in that way.

A fair amount of spending goes on things inside the house but most people wouldn't see inside my house very often (I live on the fringes of the area my main friendship group live on so we tend to meet in the middle).

The house thing is an aesthetics thing for me - I just love beautiful things (they don't have to be expensive) and I love making the space beautiful and I guess 'perfect' whatever that means.

Getting the newest phone is because I'm a bit of a gadget geek - I spend a lot of time on my phone so like to have the latest technology. I'm really interested in technology and where it's going in the future, etc so that's the motivation for keeping up with the latest thing.