To think there’s too much ‘stuff’

[autumnnightsaredrawingin]

This time of year is always bad for it, and I know one can ignore the endless marketing emails, the Christmas markets, the shops full of ‘stuff’, the Instagram ‘must haves’ and on and on it goes.

We are having a big declutter at the moment, and it really brings home home much stuff there is that we’ve accumulated, but also just generally how consumerism has really got crazy. I am myself guilty of buying too much stuff.

Eg: Christmas decorations. Why do some people buy a whole new set/colour scheme every year? Same for decorations for the house, there are piles and piles of different things in shops, so much. It surely can’t all be needed/bought.

Black Friday, yes it’s a good deal if you actually need the stuff, but often it’s not things you actually ‘need’.

I just find it all quite sad and obviously from an environmental aspect it’s terrible. I am really, really going to try to cut back on this stuff. Anyone else? Or are you already pretty good? I have added things to online baskets over the last few days and then cleared them and not bought them which is a start.

Do you actually know people who buy entire new sets of decorations each year? 😳

I think Black Friday works in that I only buy things I've wanted but couldn't afford and / or Christmas presents for better value

It’s been this way for years though hasn’t it? some people buy loads of unnecessary stuff, some people don’t.

black Friday is went I bought Ds Christmas gift I was going to buy anyway, just saved myself €30 instead which is handy.

Our Christmas decorations are added to gradually over the years. But mostly 10+ years old or natural ie real tree

Members of my family buy new Christmas decoration sets each year usually there is a colour theme. One year it was black - ugh. I have no idea what they do with the old ones. We've got tree decorations older than me!

Many Black Friday "deals" aren't deals at all. There is starting to be a push back against it for the sake of the environment. Rampant consumerism has been part of our culture.

I did the big declutter that turned into minimalism a few years ago. I actively hate stuff and most things I just see as something ending up as landfill.

When I adopted the 'do I need it' view I realise I didn't need, nor want, more stuff. I have one handbag, etc. because that's all I need.

I do buy during sales, but only things we need. Well, and my coffee machine I bought last black friday - that one DOES bring me joy 😂).

It's lovely being clutter free and not constantly storing or discarding things that have never been used!

Many Black Friday "deals" aren't deals at all. There is starting to be a push back against it for the sake of the environment.

I’m cynical. A few online clothes stores I’ve had my eye on declared they are not participating due to ‘sustainability’. It’s BS as they are adding new clothes weekly to their online stores. They just didn’t want to reduce their prices and felt the need to ‘justify’ it to their customers. The same websites will have Christmas and winter sales shortly because they need to start bringing in the ‘Spring’ clothing ranges.

I get that the sheer pressure to buy buy buy (loads of crap) can take it's toll.

I've noticed this year more than ever that in the UK the quality of goods on offer has deteriorated significantly but the cost of everything has gone up.
These "Black Friday deals" are a bit of a con because they are basically selling stuff that they couldn't sell throughout the rest of the year because the insane price mark-up wasn't working.

Yes no question there is

Totally agree

Trying not to buy stuff this year unless it is for others etc then it's what they want

Christmas decs I use the old ones. I do buy the odd decoration

I bought a garland this year for the stairs but it will be used for years to come

I'm not sure anyone could argue you're wrong other than to say "it's up to each person to waste / spend money as they want". I love Christmas but don't go ott. Never did elf on the shelf or Xmas eve boxes. Kids choose one new tree decoration each year but that's out of tradition more than anything else. Im getting a laptop with BF deal but I actually need a new one.

My dh works at the local tip and the amount of almost brand new rugs that come in because the person wanted a new colour scheme is crazy!!

He brings them home instead of disposing of them. It’s clear most of these rugs cost over £100 but because it doesn’t match, it’s gone

We don't buy new christmas decs every year!!

We also ignore black friday.

I do know people who’ve got rid of their perfectly good sofas because they didn’t match the new decor, rather than redecorating to match the sofas.

I agree.

When someone at work suggested a secret Santa this year, I proposed doing charity donations instead. As an example to reduce tat.

@KimberleyClark that blows my mind - I see it a lot of that on our local Facebook page. Things like sofas, rugs and even small electrical items offered for sale because "they do not match the new decor" 😐

Our school just announced the date for their Christmas jumper day. Which I find infuriating. So much single use polyester. Very few of these jumpers get reused or passed down.

What does he do with them?

We use em? They are large rugs and we have tiled floor. They get put down for warmth

Society is programmed to want more, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements for more stuff. The very nature of capitalism is to make more money every year which can only be done by selling more stuff every year.

Children are conditioned to need to have more, why do you think kids toys packaging is so good, it’s to make them WANT it but then they open it and the dream they hooked them with suddenly disappears so they WANT something else again because the last thing has outlived it’s moment. Rinse and repeat.

Sustainability and eco friendly may as well be renamed green paint because the truth is without us buying more and more the worlds economy would simply wither and die.

Our school just announced the date for their Christmas jumper day. Which I find infuriating. So much single use polyester. Very few of these jumpers get reused or passed down.

Charity shops have sale of jumper for those dates - I'm not a big fan of Christmas jumpers let alone school Christmas jumpers but did think that was a good idea - though we've also just sewn tinsel or cut out Christmas shapes from scrap material to exiting winter jumpers.

I think a lot of us increasingly feel this way. I was thinking about getting a “more impressive” Christmas wreath for my door this year instead of the usual little real wreath I buy from the market. But every time I saw one I liked in the shops, I couldn’t bring myself to actually buy it because it’s just buying another plastic thing to replace something that is actual greenery and easily disposable in the green bin.

I also noticed a lot of small businesses deciding not to participate in Black Friday this year.

I usually treat myself to something on Black Friday, but something I've wanted, not just something at random. This year for example I've bought DP and I electric toothbrushes. I know, exciting. But it was a good deal and they are useful.

You only get dragged into the commercialism that you let yourself be dragged into.

Totally agree. I have been trying to cut down on stuff for the last couple of years. Partly from environmental concerns but partly from realising the extra mental pressure having all this stuff around, storing and sorting it is.
I've made it clear to relatives that this is my approach and I would much prefer charity donation or meal out/activity if they want to give a gift, or money towards the thing I actually need. However a couple persist in wanting to give 'something little to open' and I come across ungrateful if I reject it. Yes I like the new fluffy socks you gave me, but I already have 2 pairs I use regularly and don't actually need more. It's just taking up space in my house. I am a lot more ruthless with not buying myself or taking stuff to charity nowadays.

When DC were younger I bought fair isle jumpers because a) imo they look nicer and b) they can be worn in Jan/Feb too. DCs now want Christmas themed tops/jumpers. I tend to buy Christmas long sleeved T-shirts as they are much cheaper. But you are right they are a waste of money and are put into the charity shop presumably to go to landfill.

But how many can you use realistically and how many are the right shape for your tiled floors?

If he brings home loads, then you must have loads of them in your home? Most rooms in the UK are small so one rug per room? I’m genuinely curious.

I also noticed a lot of small businesses deciding not to participate in Black Friday this year.

But that is because they don’t want to reduce their profits. It is not to reduce consumerism. Shops that sell do NOT want to reduce consumerism.