The amount of stuff we own these days isstaggering.
The average American home size has grown from 1,000 square feet to almost 2,500 square feet. Personal storage generates more than$24 billionin revenue each year. Reports indicate we consume twice as many material goods today as we did 50 years ago. All while carrying, on average,nearly $15,950 in credit-card debt.
These numbers should cause us to start asking some difficult questions of ourselves. For example, “Why do we buy more stuff than we need?”
I mean, when you really stop to think about it, this becomes a fascinating question. What thinking would compel somebody to spend moneyon thingsthey didn’t actually need in the first place?
If we could successfully answer this question, we could more easily free our lives and our resources for more important pursuits.
But this question can be difficult. It forces us to admit weakness in our lives. Consider some of the lies we have believed:
1. We think it will make us secure. Our logic goes like this: if owning some material possessions brings us security (a roof, clothing, reliable transportation), owning excess will surely result in even more security. But after meeting our most basic needs, the actual security derived from physical possessions is much less stable than we believe. They all perish, spoil, or fade. And they can disappear faster than we realize.
2. We think it will make us happy.Nobody would ever admit they search for happiness in material possessions—we all just live like we do. We buy bigger houses, faster cars, cooler technology, and trendier fashion hoping we will become happier because of it. Unfortunately, the actual happiness derived from excess physical possessions is fleeting at best.
3. We are more susceptible to advertising than we believe. On average, we see 5,000 advertisem*nts every day. Every advertisem*nt carries the same message: your life will be better if you buy what we are selling. We begin to hear this messaging so many times and from so many angles, we begin to subtly believe it. This is not a complete condemnation of the marketing industry. This is simply a call to realize their messaging affects us more than we realize.
4. We are hoping to impress other people. In a wealthy society, envy quickly becomes a driving force for economic activity. Onceall of our basic needs have been met, consumption must become about something more than needs. It becomes an opportunity to display our wealth, our importance, and our financial success with the world.
5. We are jealous of people who own more.Comparison seems to be a natural state of our humanity. We notice what other people are buying, wearing, and driving. Our society encourages these comparisons. And all too often, we buy stuff we don’t need just because people in our friendship circles have done the same. A culturefixated on praising excess will always misdefine true success.
6. We are trying to compensate for our deficiencies. We mistakenly look for confidence in the clothes that we wear or the car that we drive. We seek to recover from loss, loneliness, or heartache by purchasing unnecessary items. We seek fulfillment in material things. And we try to impress other people with the things that we own rather than the people that we are. But these pursuits will never fully satisfy our deficiencies. Most of the time, they just keep us from ever even addressing them.
7. We are more selfish than we like to admit.It can be difficult to admit that the human spirit is hardwired toward selfishness and greed, but history appears to make a strong case for us. We seek to grow the size of our personal kingdom by accumulating more and more things. This has been accomplished throughout history by force, coercion, dishonesty, and warfare. Unfortunately, selfishness continues to surface in our world and our lives even today.
Excess material possessions donot enrich our lives. In fact, buying things we don’t need keeps us from experiencing some wonderful, life-giving benefits. We would be wise to realize the cause and become vigilant in overcoming it.
There is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be discovered in pursuing more. (tweet that)
FAQs
We mistakenly look for confidence in the clothes that we wear or the car that we drive. We seek to recover from loss, loneliness, or heartache by purchasing unnecessary items. We seek fulfillment in material things. And we try to impress other people with the things that we own rather than the people that we are.
Why do humans buy so much stuff? ›
Buying stuff is part of our quest for fulfillment.
However, research suggests that materialism doesn't lead to a happy and fulfilled life. Buying more stuff brings a temporary boost of happiness, but that boost doesn't last over the long run.
Why do people buy more than they can afford? ›
Lack of Budgeting and Financial Planning: Without a clear budget or financial plan, it can be challenging to track and control spending. People may not have a comprehensive understanding of their income, expenses, and savings goals, which can result in overspending.
Why do I always want to buy more stuff? ›
The most common reason we buy things is simple — boredom. When we don't have anything else to do, when we don't have a purpose, we simply get something new to spice up our day and we believe that this will make us happy. What to do instead: If you really need something more, indulge in experiences.
Why do I buy stuff I don't need? ›
The act of buying something can also trigger the same release of dopamine into the brain. And that's why you might feel the urge to buy something whenever you don't feel that well. You're just craving dopamine because that's what makes you feel good. Whenever people feel down, some run to the fridge to get ice cream.
Why do Americans buy so much stuff? ›
An easy story to tell is that marketers and advertisers have perfected tactics to convince us to purchase things, some we need, some we don't. And it's an important part of the country's capitalistic, growth-centered economy: The more people spend, the logic goes, the better it is for everybody.
Does buying more stuff make us happier? ›
But does shopping really help us feel better? Yes, in fact it does, says clinical psychologist Scott Bea, PsyD. “Research suggests there's actually a lot of psychological and therapeutic value when you're shopping — if done in moderation, of course,” he says.
Why do we always want more stuff? ›
A large part of our brain is dedicated to reward processing. When we imagine something as better, it feels rewarding. Rewards are all the things you look forward to in life—vacations, a new home, a good meal, a new relationship. Rewards are things we believe would make our life better if we had them.
Why people are buying expensive things? ›
Some people have a lot of money and simply enjoy spending it. The more expensive the product, the more they spend. This behavior is known as “conspicuous consumption” and is often associated with the ultra-wealthy. Many people who lack self-confidence may end up buying expensive brands to boost their self-worth.
Why do people buy more? ›
People buy things simply because they want them, for no other reason. If you sell products that fall into this category, you should not be ashamed. Not every product has to satisfy a need, have a deep purpose, or express some centuries-old cultural ideal. Sometimes, you just want to treat yourself.
Buying is how we define ourselves, how we identify and fit in with groups and, often, how we spend time together. As social creatures in a society built around consumerism, it makes sense that we're willing – or even eager – to buy things we don't need and maybe can't afford in order to be part of the group.
What causes more spending? ›
The key factor that determines consumer spending is income and employment. Those who have steady wages have the ability to make discretionary purhcases, thereby generating demand. Other factors include prices, interest, and general consumer confidence.
Why do people buy more wants than needs? ›
These reactive purchases have become known as the Diderot Effect. The Diderot Effect states that obtaining a new possession often creates a spiral of consumption which leads you to acquire more new things. As a result, we end up buying things that our previous selves never needed to feel happy or fulfilled.
Why am I shopping so much? ›
Over time, shopping may have become a habit and something that you consistently resort to as a distraction from life's problems. A shopping addiction can also be a way for a person to cope with difficult emotions, feelings or memories. It can become a way of numbing and muting pain or distress.
How to stop buying so much stuff? ›
Identify and remove your spending triggers
- Unsubscribe from store newsletters or lists of things you can buy.
- Delete apps that make buying easy from your phone.
- Don't save credit card information on sites where you shop—if you need to purchase something, enter the card info manually.
As we earn more, we may be more likely to compare ourselves to others who have a similar or higher income. We may feel pressure to keep up with our peers by buying a nicer car, taking more luxurious vacations, or living in a more expensive neighborhood.
Why do we spend money on things we don't need? ›
These reactive purchases have become known as the Diderot Effect. The Diderot Effect states that obtaining a new possession often creates a spiral of consumption which leads you to acquire more new things. As a result, we end up buying things that our previous selves never needed to feel happy or fulfilled.
Why many people buy things they don t need when they go shopping? ›
People buy things they don't need all of the time because people enjoy spending money. They enjoy the freedom of buying more and having more than they need. People like indulging themselves. It's great to be able to focus on having more than struggling and doing without.
Why do people spend more than they can? ›
"Overspending is often more than just a lapse in financial judgment; it frequently signals underlying emotional or psychological triggers. For instance, some people may overspend as a form of escapism, temporarily distracting themselves from stress or emotional pain," Hathai says.
