6 Ways to Stop Feeling Consumer Guilt

Maybe Madonna said it best when when she sang “Im a materiel girl, and were living in a material world.“  But that was back in the 80’s, when the world was our oyster. Well, here we are (BAM!) in a world where everyone is screaming about the sky falling.  Between the economy being in the dumps, the housing market crash, rising gas prices, an economic bailout package, Global Warming, melting glaciers, natural disasters, the environment suffering, and all of this being caused by greed and over consumption, how do we not feel consumer guilt?

I’ve talked to a lot of people and have heard everything from “My kids will figure it out” to “We need to take up voluntary extinction and go live in the woods.”  There has to be a middle ground, right?

Here are 10 things that we can all do, to help alleviate our feelings of consumer guilt.

1. The most important step, and the hardest one, is realizing that our self worth is not based on the things that we own and consume. You are not a better person because you drive an Escalade or drink Cristal champagne.  Carrying a Coach handbag does not make you cool, and only shows everyone what low self esteem you have. (Interesting fact, there are no search results for “self worth is not based on the things that you own“.  What does that say about our society?)
2. Realize that buying things to make you feel good about yourself, often have the opposite effect. Consumer debt, even though it’s on the decline, is still an epidemic, and leads to depression, feelings of personal worthlessness and problems with interpersonal relationships. How many marraiges have been ruined through financial irresponsibility.  If you have spending habits that you hide from loved ones, chances are, you are in a downward spiral.  If you think you may be a shopaholic, check out these six steps to curb compulsive spending.
3. Realize that it’s not the things that you buy, but the experiences you have in life, that make you grow. I know this is a cheap easy shot, but lets take Paris Hilton as an example. Her whole self and financial worth is based on what she is where and what she slung over her shoulder.  She has no redeeming qualities that I can see, and I’ve got to ask myself, “how happy is she really?”  Sure, she’s got a huge bank account, but if you think that makes her happy, maybe you should just surf on over to the next website right now. Why is it that make up company’s show commercials of models coming face first out of an outdoor pool of water?  Why is it that spa company’s, instead of showing someone laying on a table, show someone meditating in the middle of a field at sunset?  Because our inner animal knows that relaxation and growth comes from things that cant be bought.  Which brings me to my next subject.
4. Sure, I’m an environmental activist and freelance writer, but I cant tell you how many times I’ve seen people look at life completely differently after spending just a few days outside.  When was the last time you did an overnighter under the stars?  When was the last time you cooked over a campfire.  When was the last time you went 24 hours without using something that wasn’t plugged in to an electrical socket?  The more you crave the sun on you’re face and the wind in you’re hair, the less you will care about the latest cell phone upgrade.  I promise.
5. Find something you are passionate about, and spend you’re money on that. My wife loves to sing, and has 15 years of classical voice training.  I wouldn’t think twice about dropping 15 hundred bucks on a new acoustical base or digital piano.  I love to write, and wouldn’t think twice about dropping the same amount on a compact toughbook notebook that I can use to write articles while on the Metro.  The difference between us and a lot of people?  We purchase very few big ticket items, and the ones we do buy, last years and years.  The last time we were at WalMart? Over 5 years ago.  My Cell phone?  It makes phone calls, that’s it. This philosophy also helps you get from “I like to sing” or “I like to write” to “I am a singer” or “I am a writer”, and believe me, that feeling is worth more than anything that can be bought!
6. Buying old can be better than buying brand new. I love furniture.  But I refuse to buy cheap stuff from places like Ikea, and I hate spending huge $ at places like Ethan Allen or Broyhill.  What’s the alternative?  My wife and I love antiques, and especially Art Nouveau.  So what we do is hit Craigs List and even the Salvation Army. Just because you don’t have to shop there, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Over the last few years, we’ve bought furniture that would cost thousands in an antique shops, for a few hundred, and now have a house full of furniture that we love.

After reading this, you may be thinking “That’s all great Adam, but you’ve got a lifestyle going on there that I just don’t have time for.”  Let me tell you something about my lifestyle.  I get up for work at 5 a.m. and get home from work at 7 p.m.  I have a dog that needs walking, 7 day’s a week.  I write for two websites. I have one Novel being looked at in New York and another one I’m working on. I read, on average, 4 novels a month. I spend at least 10 hours a day outside each Saturday and Sunday.  I kayak, I camp, I hike, I refinish furniture, I make birdhouses, I work in the garden and landscape.

What is the difference between me and most people?  Instead of going to a gym, I live an active life. Instead of eating when its time to eat, I eat when I’m hungry. (I’m 5′8″ and weigh 160 lbs.) Instead of watching t.v. and living vicariously through the lives of fantasy characters, we live our own life. Instead of buying stuff, we live.

It’s 2:42 in the afternoon on Saturday.  My wife is sitting next to me on the deck, painting.  I’m doing what I love, which is talking to you.  It’s 74 degrees and there is a bird that has taken up residence in the birdhouse I built a few weeks ago.  We are feeding our passions, while not buying a thing.  What are you doing?

Related posts:

1. Ways to Go Green While Stretching Your Dollars
2. U.S. To Become World’s Largest Biodiesel Consumer by 2012
3. Earth Day – Celebration, Gimmick or Eco Guilt Forgiveness Day?