From Constant Wanting + Buying to Finding Contentment in Less

Confession time. I was a greedy kid. (Just ask my mom about shopping with me as a kid - I’m sure she’d agree with my assessment as brutal as it may be to type out and admit.) And unfortunately, that constant wanting didn’t just disappear in adulthood.

I’d have to say my constant desire for more actually increased over the years thanks to email marketing, working retail, Instagram influencers, Facebook ads, and basically living life in the age of social media. Not to mention having my own cash to burn.

I’ve always been a self proclaimed “shopper”. I love beautiful spaces and I love feeling good in what I’m wearing. Neither of which is an issue in and of itself. The issue is the spending even after you told yourself you wouldn’t. The issue is buying something to only wear it once. The issue is ignoring financial goals because something cute (and let’s be real, it’s never just one something) called to you at Target.

Thankfully I’ve never gone to the extreme of putting myself into debt over my shopping indulgences, but maybe stopping this bad habit of the constant need for more would have been easier to kick if I had. Then it would have been harder to justify my purchases to myself. (And I’m pretty sure my hubby would have had some words for me as well.)

We sadly live in a time where fast fashion is constantly showing us the next thing we just have to have. Every time we open Instagram, someone is showing off their newest home decor, Amazon finds, best deals of the day, and more. Heck, every season you just have to decorate your home with brand new selections. But they only cost x so why not, right?

I know you see this too. Whether it’s keeping up with the Joneses or an internal dopamine hit from clicking “add to cart”, many of us struggle with overspending and extreme consumerism.

Just pause for a moment and think about all the items in your closet right now. How many have been unused for 6 months or more?

How many home decor items do you have in storage right now? Hiding in your closets? (Or in my case, our detached garage of shame.)

If we’re honest with ourselves, I believe many of us have more than we need, more than we use, and more than we’re proud of. This moment of honesty started hitting me a few years back when I decided I wanted us to downsize our home. 

The Transition 

Realizing the home we purchased just a few years earlier was more space than we needed even though everything told me that more kids meant a bigger home was a necessity (Spoiler: it’s not) was a turning point for reevaluating my consumerism. The larger the home, the more you need to furnish it and the easier it is to hoard the things that have no use.

Eliminating about 1,000 square feet by moving allowed me to part with clothes I never wore, but still couldn’t let go of and caused me to think more carefully about what came into our home. A smaller home truly helped curb my shopping because if there isn’t room it becomes really obvious that it isn’t necessary. Something I desperately needed to see.

Over time, this transition into a smaller home and slightly more mindful shopping has shifted into wanting to be a more conscious consumer. Not just purchasing less, but being more thoughtful with the items I do purchase. The process has been slow (and I will share more details in future posts), but over the past couple years I’ve thankfully become more aware of how our purchases can positively or negatively impact others. I’ve discovered how the wages of those making our garments or home furnishings can either provide dignity and help families thrive or can further ruin vulnerable communities across the globe. I’ve found businesses that care about putting humans above profits and realized that I have a choice in who I support with my purchases.

I’ve become aware of the fact that incredibly low price points are often times a sign of incredibly poor working environments for those creating the item I’m adding to my home. 

Now I am not perfect in my endeavors to be a more mindful shopper (I mean, your girl can still be found at Target now and again), but I am more likely to pause and consider why I am making my purchase. Is it for a dopamine hit that will fade or is this something I see myself using for many years to come? I’m more likely to consider who created the item which for the majority of my life was not even on my radar. And most importantly, I’m finding myself more content with less than ever before in my life. 

Moving Forward 

After a couple of years of reevaluating my shopping habits and my reasons for making purchases, I’ve had more than a few occasions of struggling with my seemingly vain interests and career. It’s a delicate balance of wanting to be content with less and still loving how a beautifully designed space can truly impact the well-being of those inside it. Or how a cute outfit can instantly transform one's confidence.

Is a thoughtfully curated space and a well-styled outfit really a valuable way to spend my time? Am I just adding to the noise of telling others they need more to be happy? Is my skill set shallow or can I really make a positive impact in the world?

After long consideration, here’s where I’ve landed:

Yes, creating beautiful spaces and stylish outfits can absolutely serve others well and positively impact communities.

How? Well, I believe that our purchasing power can be used for good in our communities and beyond; and I believe that having confidence in our personal appearance and our home can affect how we show up for others and ourselves.

So now that I’m fully convinced that my career isn’t a waste of time (whew!), it’s time to take these personal lessons and allow my business to adapt so that I can serve others in a way that incorporates my goals of mindful purchasing and contentment in less.