Archive for July, 2009

Do you ever wake up and just think, “I want something.” ? I’m not hugely materialistic, probably moderate to low on the scale of American consumerism. Sure, I like nice clothes and have an obsession with shoes of all sorts. But, I don’t have debt from over-shopping. I don’t collect anything. We live lean. I could pack up my house and move in 2 days, but I still get the urge to just get something new.

Maybe it’s our overexposure to advertising and product branding everywhere we look. Americans are notorious for buying junk to feed the “need something” hunger or fill some void in our lives. Hence, the success of junk pushers like WalMart and Target. Don’t get me started on that rant.

I have found a few ways to curb those urges without buying something and sometimes, they are even more satisfying. Next time you get the “need” bug, try one of these:

- go through all your clothes, shoes, collections and find something you haven’t seen in a long time. You’ll be amazed at how new it feels.

- Gather things you no longer want/need and donate to a local shelter or charity. It reminds you of how much you really have.

- Look through the Sunday sales of your newspaper, and take note of all the stuff you don’t need. It really works.

- Make a wish list. Often times writing down the things you want makes you realize how insignificant they really are. And, when someone asks you for gift ideas for a holiday, you might actually have some ideas.

- If you really want something, designate a savings cup and begin putting “extra”  money in it towards your prize.