Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of equating personal happiness with purchasing material possessions and consumption. It is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Karl Marx and Thorstein Veblen. It can be traced back to the first human civilizations. (according to wikipedia: Consumerism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )

I've also read something that made me think a little, that we are filling our brains with sports, television and non-essential information and not learning important things for survival, such as growing our own food and learning how to live with only the necessities in life.

I looked for ways I can overcome consumerism. Here are some things I found:

Buy used items whenever possible.
Buy things made/grown closer to home.
Resist impulse buying urges.
Resist buying "collectibles"
Buy/trade/sell/donate things you don't need or will never use again.
Pool resources with neighbors so you won't need to buy new (i.e. tools)
Refuse to buy products from companies that export labor or destroy service jobs in place of automation
Pay cash whenever possible
Give food as gifts

These are just a few examples. Is there anything you are doing or can do to overcome consumerism?

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

Sadly, if everyone overcame consumerism there would be a huge depression and loss of jobs.

I don't think it necessarily follows that there would be a depression. Curing thoughtless spending doesn't mean you are putting your extra cash under the mattress. You could be supporting charitable causes that might buy necessities with it for the needy. You could be investing it in new technologies that improve the world and our lives. Even leaving it in the bank means it is being lent out as mortgages and business loans. All economic activity that keeps people employed.

At worst, there would be a shift in industry profits.

If we keep our focus on what makes ourselves and our families secure, healthy, happy, and moral the big picture takes care of itself.

Cathleen

I don't think everyone would be able to "overcome consumerism", but I am interested in knowing why you think this?

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

I am viewing it like this: We will still need to buy things, so buy locally and from local businesses (I'm guilty of shopping at Walmart often, this I can change). This will keep jobs in demand in your community and hopefully alleviate costs. By using someone else's thrown away television (or whatever), you are saving it from a land fill. That helps "save the earth" a little. I don't think jobs would be lost, I think it would just create different jobs for people. Times are hard, no matter what we do right now. It doesn't appear they are going to get better. I'm not going to go out and spend money on things I don't need or want (and certainly don't want cluttering up my house), or can get second hand just to keep someone from losing their job. I have kids to feed, too.

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"It's time to move from what we can do, to what we must do, to what we will do." ~Hillary Clinton

My biggest weakness is fashion. I love everything about the whole industry-- the design, sewing, runway shows, wearing it, the magazines-- everything. But it can get a little out of control so I limit how many fashion magazines I buy. I have limited it to that I only buy them when I go on a plane trip (just a couple of times a year.) This helps a lot!!!

Aghhh, the thing I have problems with the most is impulse shopping. I'll keep an eye on this thread for new ideas!

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You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi

I struggle with this... don't we all?

My biggest probelm is that I love clothes and fashion. It's been about balance for me. I try to buy fewer pieces of well-made clothing that will stand the test of time rather than buy lots of trendy stuff. I try to stay out of the stores more which curbes those "I want it!" urges. Now, I would rather spend $100 on a couple pieces I absolutely LOVE than twelve off the clearance rack. I just make sure they're going to last and not go out of style in a year or two. TJ Maxx is my friend. I can get great quality clothing there for great prices.

Decluttering my house has really helped curbed the urge to buy more. Now whenever I think about buying a trinket, gadget, or something I really don't need, I think of it in terms of having to declutter it from my house one day.

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I don't know all the right ways to do it - but I know that it has been just being outside with the family & not in the stores. That is my way right now. We used to go to Target or the mall because we were bored. DD used to have more clothes then she could wear - lots of stuff I would be getting rid of that still had tags ~ but since we aren't going to shop when we are bored, I have been saving around $100 a week.. there was no way before January that I would escape Target or the Mall without spending $100 or more!
But since becoming an active 'mommysaver' (thanks Kim!) We have been fighting it by spending more time doing other things. Which has had amazing results within the family! (less $ going out & more happy times coming in!)

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"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." ~ Phyllis Diller

I have to say that I do do a lot of the suggestions you made Wendy about "overcoming" consumerism

I pay cash for everything
I try to avoid impulse shopping, and when I do I keep the tags on it because I know I will end up returning it out of guilt besides that I don't have the time to just shop anymore, since I'm always with the boys
We don't use the "one time use" things either. (aside from diapers of course)

My problem is "doing lunch" with friends. It's the only time in the day when we moms can get together without the hussle of our kids with us. It's so relaxing too to just sit and talk. I do lunch probably once or twice a week. (and I do the MOMS night out once a month if dh is home to watch the kids)