Ok advice needed, I want o become less consumerist

[electricbarbarella]

if that is a word however I am fairly good already but the more I think right I am not going to buy anbything at all this month the more I think I will just buy this and this and this to set me up so then I won't have to buy anything. IYSWIM. It's like being on a diet the more I think I should do it the more I want to eat.
I really do want to stop wasting money on crap that i don't need when my family have everything we need so how do you do it?

Just don't buy it.

electricbarbarella I know just what you mean. Our family also rarely buys things, but I do hate being part of the system at all. I especially hate that the products we buy fall apart or break so easily, and often instead of trying to fix them we just buy new ones. I find clothes are my weakness. I'm by no means a clothes horse, but where I should buy second-hand clothes when I need them, I rarely do.

Maybe if you try not to think of it as one big decision to not buy anything, and just think about each separate decision as a one off it will be easier? I know what you mean about diets - if I find myself thinking "I'm on a diet, I can't have that", then the next thought is "I want it, gimme" and it's a struggle. I find it works much better if each time I see something I want, I say to myself "Well yes I do want that, but I also want to be thinner, and that's a decision I've made because it's more important to me right now". So it feels like a positive choice to not have it IYSWIM?

The other thing I do is put it off till later, then hopefully I've stopped wanting it by then - maybe if you say "If I still really want it next month I'll get it then"? Mostly things are tempting when they're right in front of us, but when they're out of sight we're less interested.

That sounds like some good tactics, I have managed to not buy anything today. I just convince myself that we need something and then that is it I have to go and get it, while we are there we then tend to get something for each of the dc to keep them happy, lunch out etc. Should just stay away from the shops tbh.

Just an alternative way of looking at it...ignore if you don't find useful!

Personally, I don't think buying things is too much of a problem (money permitting!). I think that the problem is keeping things when you have no further use for them. Sometimes it can be quite economical and ethical to buy something new, keep it in good condition and sell it on eBay when finished.

If you buy something that you use a couple of times and don't get on with it, put it on eBay/charity shop so someone can put it to good use. It is not a crime to buy something with good intentions and then find that it is not what you need - just get rid of it ethically (ie don't landfill it). Likewise, things you have used a lot in the past, if you no longer need, get rid to someone who does need.

I had a boy and then a girl. I felt a bit guilty about not reusing some of the boyish stuff for my DD so I gave all the boyish stuff to someone who recently had a surprise baby boy and she has put it to great use. I am really happy about this as those clothes could have just sat gathering dust and cluttering up the place.

I know someone else who was really busy with 4DC. She got in such a pickle that her entire garage was piled up to the ceiling with stuff, much of it was unopened brand new stuff that they hadn't got round to using. Also, some wedding presents from 10 yrs ago! Her kettle broke and she knew she had a brand new one in the garage, but could not face the mountain of stuff to find it so she had to get a new one from the shops. Decluttering is a great solution! Also, one in one out - if I buy anything (at all other than food/consumables) then something else must go out to eBay/friend/charity shop.

The things that worked for me were:
no magazines (therefore no adverts for beauty products that I just "had to try" - twas one of my big weaknesses - plus no fashion pages or "lifestyle" pages to make you feel crap about yourself)
no going to the shops just to wander about/for something to do
I had been in the habit of going into town as a bit of a hobby to see what was in the shops, and I never came home empty handed. If you work outside the home, then taking in lunch is good, otherwise you end up popping into Boots of for a sandwich and coming out with a new lipstick ( again).

I think you are right MrsTM, I went into town yesterday just to have a coffee and ended up spending the entire months spending money. It was all on stuff that we need long term but very annoying all the same.

I think not reading magazines is a help - i hevan't read one for a few years and it has definately made me less 'wanty'.
What about buying everything with cash. Then you can only spend what you've put in you wallet.
For clothes you could try to buy just a few more expensive things each season that you love and will last and you will wear loads rather than more cheap 'fashion' things. You could spend ages carefully choosing them. I reckon that on the 'cost per wear' it works out cheaper.

Go on a consumption holiday - only buy necessities.

I just don't go shopping!
MIl thinks I am seriously wierd because I don't want to go and treck round the Trafford Centre with her every sunday afternoon....
I only go to the shops if there is something I need, and I don't even bother with Tesco/asda/sainsbury;s much. Ijust shop at the local market and local shops so don't get pulled in by the aisles of clothes and electrical goods.

(Have to admit I am waiting in for delivery of my new telly, but the existing one is 10 years old, and the kids go bezerk while mummy thumps it to get a picture.... and we only have one tv in the house.... and the new one is only £299.... first thing I've bought in months.....)

erm what are you buying? I live in a rural location so am lucky to buy a stamp..

My thinking is that I don't want to part with my cash so if I do buy something I do my research. Ultimately your making other people richer at your expense and shackling yourself. I'd prefer to pay off my mortgage than by stuff. The other question I ask myself is how much will it be worth in a year's time?

I can buy a stamp but anythong else is a 30 min minimum drive away and can't be bothered.

I'd rather do my garden than shop. You need a hobby.

Also agree that not buying magazines help as they tend to be advertising mainly anyway and are very consumerist and materialistic. As a result, I've not bought new items of clothing since January. Do weekly meal plans before heading to the supermarket. Or even better, get a veg box delivered and then make the meal plan and see what else you'll need before shopping for groceries.