Free Yourself From American Consumerism
Since there has recently been news of a scientific link between materialism and self-esteem and it seems as though all of us are in some way affected by this overwhelming burden, I wanted to share some of my experience in obtaining freedom from things (it sure is a great place to be). My hope is that it will challenge you to look within yourself and see how materialism affects your own life, relationships and happiness.
Once out of college I was a part time employee searching for a good job, while living on my own in New York City. Needless to say the search did not go as planned and when I finally found a job I accepted its indecency despite my tribulations. By this time, I was already in thousands of dollars of credit card debt. I had bills to pay and in trying to maintain the miniscule lifestyle I had I’d quickly swiped more often then I could handle. I hadn’t realized how easily I created this and was in over my head. My new job left a lot to be desired and one of my bi-weekly paychecks barely paid my rent. I had always made comments about being “broke”, about “never having any money” (as it seems many young, urban twenty-somethings always do) but I had never experienced something like this, where a $6 manicure had to be chosen over fresh fruit, when cutting my hair was an expensive luxury and pasta a great necessity. It wasn’t about paying for the dinner out; it was about affording any dinner. Initially I took to this rather poorly. I bitched, I moaned, I cried and whined my way through the first few months. Much like the illicit drug it had become I went through withdrawal. When the consumerism itch wore off my perception changed and I started noticing the abundance I had in my life.
Given that I could no longer purchase new clothes I started to rake through the remnants of my previous life and found new adventurous ways to wear things. I had always wanted something new or better, but when I stopped searching I found just that crumbled in the back of my closet. Clearly, I had issues because as I could no longer identify with purchases and dinners out I couldn’t identify with much. The consumerist detox that correlated with my new entry-level lifestyle brought my self awareness to heights otherwise reached before. All the time I now spent with friends consisted of homebrewed coffee in my kitchen rather then nightclubs and trendy eateries. This was a valuable lesson because without the entertainment of externalities I learned how little I had in common with many of them. Real friends became apparent, those that were supportive and understanding accepted my new choices. Unfortunately, most were surprisingly judgmental and snobbish. Instead of focusing on the negative, I committed myself to paying off my credit cards. I used my irritation with the situation as a catalyst to succeed. I worked full time during the week and kept my Saturday mornings at a local gym where I not only got paid but also received a free membership. I started babysitting for a local family on the weekends, never saying no regardless of how I felt. Turning frugality into a challenging game gave me the initiative to seek out better and more insightful ways to budget. I’d clip coupons, read blogs, prepare all my food – anything that helped me to pay off my debt. Within seven months I’d paid off almost $4,000 in debt on a $30,000 a year salary while working and living in New York City. The joy I felt in achieving that goal was unlike any other I’d had.
I had always longed for things, stuff and other unnecessary crap but I never realized how all this wanting took away from how much I had. In my time of economic downturn I was given a wonderful lesson in gratitude, changing me forever. The genetic lottery of this world has allowed me great opportunities and I’m sometimes overcome by my previous insidiousness. I will never be poor again and I see now that have always been rich. Rich with loving relationships, self acceptance, abundant education and endless opportunity. Now I hold it all dear, close to my heart, blessed just to be free, loved and alive.
To free yourself from consumerism, do a Crap Detox.
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Can you embellish where and how you differ.? I welcome some discussion. Thanks for commenting!
December 15th, 2007 at 2:52 pmAbsolutely true. Nothing is more important to America then to appreciate our abundance and to stop buying cheap consumer entertainments produced in sweat shops at near slave pay. The world needs America, when we stop living in debt we can begin to look around at the way we are being governed by lobbyist and manipulated by corporate goals totally alien to our happiness.
To the rest of the world the USA equals debt, expansionist military power and totalitarian government. I don’t believe in isolationism but I have to agree controlling ones personal approach to debt, realizing the priorities in life and discovering the ‘real’ friends and family we are blessed with is the answer.
Step outside the shopping malls, log off the internet and live your LIFE. Consumerism will still be there if you find you can’t live without that 50″ LCD television. I would hazard that by living without that OBJECT of consumer desire and the debt that it creates you will find life as full and enjoyable as you always imagined it could be.
What do you have to lose other than a few less strings controlling your life?
December 21st, 2007 at 11:51 amCarnival of Debt Reduction #120 – Eleven Resolutions for 2008
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March 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pmThis is THE most favorite subject of mine- Materialism. In fact I was just talking about this for few of my co-workers only yesterday. When I mentioned that I am going to retire from fulltime working at 40 (thats in 4 years), they were surprised and curious. I said, its all about the expectation level we set. For me, I just need few acres of land where I can do some plantation or something and spend my life around nature. My knowledge and intentions are clear, simplicity is directly proportionate to the happiness. I was able to strengthen my spirituality after my marriage failed couple of years ago. Its easier to follow this path when there is no dependants involved. Now that I have decided the path, I will prefer a companion with similar thoughts. Being spiritual is the everything in our lives.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:58 pmI know its not easier for most of as the Corporate Economy and the government care just about peoples spending not the saving. I am sure we have the power to resist these materialistic temptations and lead a very happy, peaceful life.
Elu,
That was so well put!
I really want to have that opportunity when I am 40 as well. I think nothing is as valuable as freedom.
Congrats on being able to achieve it!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm[...] Ever since I’ve freed myself from American consumerism, I’ve noticed the feeling of freedom increases with each day. Like any other addiction the more you feed it the more you crave it or the farther you are from it, the more you wonder why you ever needed it. A year ago I would never have guessed the huge release it would bring. My wish list was excessive, as is the majority of Americans, and it was one of the causes of my stress and unhappiness. [...]
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April 15th, 2008 at 4:06 pmBravo, beautifully written! I’m glad you’re on the path to finding nirvana of being debt-free. I’m fortunately not in consumer debt (no more school debt either, hooray) but I had a filthy spending habit where I was, countless times, hair’s breath away from reaching a negative on my account. A particular day off from work, I decided it was time to organize and put some structure back into my life. I literally just stood back and realized in HORROR just how much useless CRAP I’ve accumulated, wasted $$ down the drain, let alone being able to recall where in the devil I purchased some of them in the first place. It was sickening. It was unacceptable. I sold whatever I can and gave the rest to goodwill. It took THRICE the effort and time to get rid of the crap than it took to bring them into my home. It took 2 months before liberation. After the ordeal of having to fill up boxes and boxes and boxes of literally “crap,” I shudder to think I’d ever have to deal that again. Never again.
If I’ve learned anything from it, it’s that we come into the world empty-handed and will leave empty-handed. The only thing that counts in the end is what’s inside the head, our spirit, the consciousness. All the tangible, even our own bodies (a protective encasing for our “21 grams”), is just that- stuff.
May 8th, 2008 at 1:48 amDebby,
Thanks for your comment.
“The only thing that counts in the end is what’s inside the head, our spirit, the consciousness.”
I love it when readers can put things better than me!
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July 20th, 2009 at 7:59 am