Anti Consumerism is the New Rich
The Case for Anti Consumerism
I saw an expert on TV who claimed that we would need four planet Earths in order to sustain the whole world at the level the US consumes good. Of course, this is his estimate, and there is no way to prove or disprove it. But it has to make us sit back and think about the resources we consume, and if there is a way to cut back.
We need to conserve resources for multiple reasons. Our first thoughts may be about recycling and creating a sustainable economy that future generations will enjoy. But most of us could look inside our own homes and find a lot of waste. If you are having trouble sticking to your budget, saving money, or even paying all your bills, anti consumerism may be something to consider.
What is Consumerism?
This is the term that is used to describe an attitude that material possessions will make us happy. It may also be used to describe the effects that our market based economy has on individual people. So consumerism, as displayed on any number of TV or internet ads, tells us that what we buy and consumer will make us happier, more social, and better looking.
But is this true. Do we need to drink a certain soft drink to satisfy our thirst when water will do? Will people respect us more if we drive a specific car, buy a famous brand of clothes, or live in a big house? Maybe they will, but that may because they are simply being influenced by our consumer culture as well.
Examples of Consumerism
I did not own a cell phone for the first 4 decades of my life. Now I have owned cell phones for about a decade. If I leave the house without my cell phone, I feel anxious. So how could I have left my house for the first 40 years of my life without worrying about it?
There is no doubt that my cell phone makes my life more convenient, and it may make me a bit safer. But I doubt that conditions have changed so much that I could survive without it. And at first, a basic cell phone was fine so I could have it for emergencies. But now the new 3G phone ads are catching my attention. I have this urge to keep up the latest technology even though it will cost even more because I will need to pay for broadband access.
I keep reminding myself that I already pay for cable internet at home. I really do not need to be online 24 hours a day.
And in the past, our family only had one phone bill. Now everybody in my home has a phone. Instead of worrying about one phone bill, I have 4! I am spending money on something that seems needed, but that I could live without very well a few years ago.
Examples of Anti Consumerism
Let us argue that buying a basic cell phone may be a good idea. And we could even argue that everybody in my family should have one. It seems like a reasonable purchase to make our lives more convenient and safer.
An anti consumerist might accept this. But they would say that we did not need the latest and most expensive device on the market, but should only purchase the minimum to satisfy our needs.
Your Budget
Maybe it is time to really sit down and evaluate your own budget through the eyes of an anti consumerist. Do you need a gym membership you seldom use when you could exercise by walking or planting a garden that could also provide you with fresh produce? The cost of that gym membership should be enough to get your garden started. You can get a great workout by weeding your plot, and you can reap the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables later.
That was just one example, and the point is not to convince you to give up things you like and use. The point of discussing anti consumerism is to help you evaluate things you spend your money on to see if you could be just as satisfying by saving money.
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