Nowadays, advertisements surround us from every direction. We are constantly encouraged to purchase items we would never have considered needing. A simple online search on our mobile devices triggers an avalanche of offers and eye-catching images that eventually persuade us to make unnecessary purchases, whether they be gadgets, clothing, or accessories.
The 'AntiConsumption' online community fights against consumerism, one post at a time. Its members share insightful content that inspires us to change our habits and reduce the accumulation of goods simply because they were suggested, rather than because we genuinely need them.
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Why Have I Never Seen Anything Like This?
What's Yours?
Yes! You Should Wear Stuff For Years
all of my shoes that i’ve worn till they’re literally falling apart: hi 🫠
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Some of my clothes have been in my wardrobe for a decade. As long as it fits, both size and personal style wise, I'm happy with it. Otherwise it goes to donations.
Those babies were put together back then. Clothing (and other items) were made to last, be repaired, and go on some more.
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Completely agree. I have a summer jacket I bought in 2005. Still looks great. Helps if you do a good job looking after them.
I have stuff from as far back as the mid-nineties.
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My ex had a bunch of t-shirts with massive holes in them, I mean really massive, so I took them away, cut them into strips, and made a couple of rugs.
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Yup! I had a leather jacket (second hand) and wore it till it literally fell apart. Over the 20ish years I had it I cleaned it and repaired it until it was more repairs than original. Had to eventually put it out of its misery - the lining, padding and stitching were destroyed. Ended up using the leather to make sheaths for some of knives.
I've almost finished replacing my whole wardrobe with higher-quality classic pieces that I'm going to wear for decades. No more cheap polyester "fashion" items for me!
This is the goal! I need to start doing this as well! Do you have any recommendations on brands?
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I wear my stuff out until it doesn't fit, or my style changes in like 4 years (by then it will probably by too small or too big) so yeah! I'll wear the same shirt for 3 times a week, who can stop me?
You should buy good stuff, according to what you can afford but good, and wear it until it doesn't look ok. I mean, I'd rather have one good pair of warm winter boots then four pairs of rubbish, and I wear them several winters until they start to look "too worn". Sane with t-shirts and clothes in general, good quality lasts much longer. Also, if you look after your clothes, choosing the right program in the washing machine, using soft soap and separating light and dark colours they last longer in good shape.
The fashion industry is responsible for a very large fraction of the waste that we produce. They have a constant need for things to change, so they can sell more. But don't give into that scam that plays on group pressure. Instead you should be smart and realise that there are certain items that is evergreens (like a quality dress shirt, in a muted colour and with kind of simple pattern like stribes or a checkered pattern), of which you can build a wardrobe that can last for years, while you avoid the cheap fast fashion items.
People at my school are mad at me because I've rocked the same three or four outfits all year, but Bethany, at least I'm not the one with $100 leggings!
This is why thrifting is awesome. I recently lost a lot of weight and couldn’t fit some of my bigger clothes, friend whose daughter had grown out of some of hers. Now we both have clothes that fit.
I don't understand how people budget for clothing every month. What are you constantly wearing through that you need to buy clothes every month?
Agree. I bought a blazer 20 years ago for $400. At that time it was a huge amount. Jacket still looks good and I still wear it.
Just lost some weight, and my jeans are almost fashionable they have so many holes and tatters. I went to buy some jeans - and It has been so long it really sucked. $80 for a pair of jeans that have more holes than the ones I am replacing? Then went to a store that you can not try on the clothes, you have to purchase and return. Nudist colony anyone? ( seeing me naked is no treat - trust me)
Up til the victorian times you wore the same clothes pretty much your entire life. You mended and altered it throughout your life to fit changes in body and taste. This is why pretty much only special occasion ballgown survived
Some clothing makers do not seem to get that. They make disposable clothes.
or you get stuff from the thrift store, wear it as long as you want and then give it back to the thrift store for the next person. A win for you, a win for the thrift store and a win for the next person.
If I haven't fatted myself out of my clothes, I still wear them. :)
For many years I couldn't donate clothes to charity shops. I donated bags of rags. When my weight started to change a lot, they would get the ones I outgrew (once I decided that I might never be that small again)
If you don't want to wear your clothes again, you bought the wrong ones.
I have shirts from like 2000s mom had them n when they didnt fit i took em cause i liked them. So yea they can last yeeaars
I've had several pairs of underwear for 2.5 decades. Cracks my boyfriend up! Sure, I'm ready to get a whole new wardrobe of them now but I reckon they'll go for another few decades. And mind you, these were none of them overly expensive. Also, the longer you have the clothes you love, the more new combinations you'll find... (but that might just be me). And lastly; I'm not concerned with wearing something new every time I get seen in public. All my pieces hold special value and memories for me and I'm happy to re-wear them anytime it feels good. I Love searching for treasure in thrift stores, I find something new that I really want once or twice a year and just leave it at that. As I get older I have accumulated more clothes but whenever I fall out of love and if the garment is still in good shape, I try to make someone else happy with that piece so it'll have a whole new life! 💜✨
I feel like the only one here that grew up in the "hand-me-down " era. I got stuff from my older cousins that moved on to all my sister's when I outgrew them. Nothing went to waste
I have some clothes that are older than my sons...my leopard blouse has been in rotation for about 30 years.
I have a sneaking suspicion this person has never owned a favorite outfit? ....smh
No need to keep wearing the same outfit! Be creative and experiment with what you have :)
Yes! You should buy well-made apparel that isn't in the craziest are if 'what's in', take care of it, modify it if necessary...and wear it until it threatens to fall off your body! 'Fast fashion' - stuff that is trendy, cheap, and cheaply made is incredibly wasteful and absolutely s****y for the environment Not to mention the (mostly) Asians who work in sweatshops 12 -.14.hours a day for pennies an hour. I really am seeing that my generation is the last generation who were raised by parents and gra dparent who survived the Great Depression. Those that came after, although amazing in many ways, is incredibly wasteful.
I realized a couple days ago that the pants I was repairing were over 15 years old (I actually have two identical pairs bought around 2009). I've had to repair the seams a couple times, but the fabric is still fine, though since they don't fit like they used to, I should probably get some replacements at some point.
I realized yesterday, that my pair of pants I had just repaired the hole in (again) was over 15 years old. I've had to repair the seams a couple times, but the fabric is still in good shape, though seeing as they do fit like they used to, I probably should get some replacements now.
Stop buying fast fashion c**p. That stuff is so cheaply made it probably won't last a year. Lack of money is no excuse because you can shop at thrift stores or online resellers & get good stuff for crazy cheap.
Yes, not only do I only buy clothes that are durable, but also comfortable, easy maintenance and should also attempt to be ______ proof, as in water-proof, fire-proof, cut and stab-proof, bullet-proof, runover by a car-proof; basic injury-proof. If it's ugly and it prevents me from getting into fancy restaurants and clubs when I wear it, then I consider that a bonus.
I'm benefitting now (my late 50s) from both my Mum being frugal and me not being a trend-setter in my youth! I learned how to shop for the more "classic" styles that looked good on me instead of the latest go-to look that dates itself within months.
I totally do this I have my basics of T-shirts and leggings for house cleaning wear and then I've got all my leave the house wear being things I like ( do not care bout fashion just my own likes ) that's good quality and wear them for years
I often say to new teachers at my school (some born in the 90s or later), "I have clothes older than you!!" I have one jersey (jumper/cardigan/sweater - to South Africans those are all 'jerseys') that I still get compliments on and my aunt knitted it for me in 1987! I wear it in winter every year and it still looks new. Cold water wash, baby.
Aside from a few band shirts bought on recent tours, I don't think I own a piece of clothing less than a decade old.
I still have stuff from high school, I haven’t been in school for almost 20 years.
I have almost *40 year old* T shirts I still wear. Admittedly they're see-thru now :)
I have clothes that are literally decades old. And I buy second hand when I can. A heck of a lot cheaper and you can get really nice stuff if you’re prepared to spend time hunting.
I wear stuff until it's torn or worn out, i have t-shirts that are 13 years+. If i don't like something after time i donate it.
My hot old person take: if something busts or gets a hole, learn to mend it/patch it.
OMG I haven‘t bought new things for at least a decade! Who were those people? Trust fund babies?
recycle the same outfit? that actually sounds like a very generous way of describing how I wear clothes.
Still wearing my Doc Martens and Birkenstocks- some are 20+ years old. They last forever …
I started buying Docs for my daughter a couple of years ago. We don't have a vehicle, so quality shoes are a requirement. They're great because by the time she's outgrown them, they barely look worn and get passed down to her cousin, who then passes them down to my son. One pair of shoes for 3 kids;; mind-blowing quality.
Load More Replies... You should wear stuff until you longer want to wear it. If it is still in good condition when you longer want to wear it, then donate it! And if you don't ever want to stop wearing it, then you stop wearing it when it is worn out.
Lots of my "fashion-wise" regularly swoon over items I wear. "Where did you buy it, tell me, tell me, omg this qualitiiiiieeee!!!". 30 to 45 years ago..... Since the mid-1900eds, every style repeats itself every 10 to 15 years. Stay on weight, buy quality, take care of it and add classic, simple items in plain colors. It takes 15 years to build up a solid clothing collection. Rent or borrow your dresses for one-time extravaganzas
I am a guy who wears close to five different T-shirts. That's all I have in my closet and I don't intend to buy more unless I ruin one. I have some clothes I've been wearing(and washing) for 12+ years.
I either wear things forever, or I donate them back to the op shop I bought them from
Unless the shooting star is knowingly waiting for the paparazzi to arrive, or the latest book is not selling well.
In order to gain a better understanding of the psychological aspects of the consumerism issue that people face, we have reached out to a clinical psychologist based in the UK, Michaela Thomas. The founder of The Thomas Connection shared with us some insight based directly on her clinical experience.
We wanted to know if Thomas has encountered cases of compulsive or addictive consumption behaviors in her research or practice. We found out that: “Yes, I have clients in my clinic who can compulsively overspend or purchase items they don't need. It's important to understand the root cause behind this behavior, as it changes the treatment. If it is an acquisition behavior as part of hoarding, where someone collects more and more things, and at the same time struggles to let go of things they already have, even if they seem to serve no purpose to others, then that consumption builds up into other problems, like cluttering, unhygienic homes, and arguments with loved ones.”
Instead Of Polluting The Planet With Confetti, Hole Punch Leaves Instead! 🌎🎉
Ha Ha Ha Ha Sports
Spooky Reusables
The psychologist told us about other, more complex instances: “If overspending is due to lack of financial planning, or wanting the dopamine kick of how good it feels to purchase something, that can be linked to ADHD, depression, mania, psychosis, or other dopamine-related issues. In ADHD, it can be really hard to resist sponsored content like Facebook ads or TV ads, telling you to get this thing NOW, in order to feel happier, or because otherwise there is a sense of FOMO, if you don't have this thing NOW.”
This Small Act Of Kindness Can Make Such A Huge Difference! Love To See It
Meirl
Asked what the psychological benefits of adopting a minimalist or simple living lifestyle are and how individuals can cultivate contentment and satisfaction with less, Michela Thomas explained: “Psychologically, it can feel a lot less overwhelming in your day-to-day with less visual clutter. It is easier to organize ourselves and find things day-to-day with fewer belongings. If we keep buying more and more, we can find ourselves less satisfied with the things we already have, or now get. Often there is a mismatch between the pursuing and the consuming of something we buy - that we focus so much on acquiring things that we don't have enough time sitting in the appreciation of what we've got. If we buy something less rarely and learn the art of mindfully savoring something after we have got it, we might feel more content and grateful for what we have. Having less is more, and doing less is also more.”
Bioplastics Made From Avocado Pits That Completely Biodegrade In 240 Days Created By Mexican Chemical Engineering Company 🥑
Weddings Can Get So Wasteful And Polluting, So It's Always Nice To See People Embracing Reuse. This Idea Of Requiring New Things On Your Special Day Is Outdated And Promotes Unnecessary Consumerism, So Anyway Yes, Let's Appreciate Second-Hand Wedding Gowns!
I Came Across This Years Ago And It De-Programmed Me From The Consumerist Mindset. From Matt Haig's Reasons To Stay Alive
Lastly, we were wondering how parents and educators can teach children and adolescents about responsible consumption and develop their critical thinking skills regarding advertising and consumer culture. The clinical psychologist told us: “It's helpful to engage children in the eco perspective of how fast fashion or mindless consumption impacts the environment, understanding the impact of using non-renewable resources. We can do that without creating eco-anxiety by showing in a neutral way that we try to reduce single-use plastic, or borrow books from the library instead of just buying new ones, or taking them to second-hand shops for toys and clothes. It then becomes part of their normal, just like we brush our teeth or look both ways before crossing the street - ingrained habits. In my child's school, they have an eco council where children can volunteer to take part and review the school's practices around sustainability, and come up with bright ideas. The children are our future, let them be part of designing it (in an age-appropriate way).”
I Believe It Fits Here
Golf courses are rubbish for then environment, little scope for biodiversity and lots of water run off .
F**k Better Learning Materials Or Whatever, Let's Build A Massive Shrine To A Couple Dozen Students That Do Something For A Few Months A Year
This applies to high school too. The football and basketball teams get the money for equipment when that money could be used to buy new books and supplies to teach kids.
These Bags Are Crocheted From Recycled Yarn. My Sister And I Make These Bags From Old, Unwanted Sweaters And Cardigans
Felt Like This Belonged Here
Gucci-Poochie Can't Go Potty
What An Idea!
Where Can I Buy A Card With This On It?
Regenerative Candles Creates New Candle As It Melts
Never Forget, The Electric Car Is Here To Save The Car Industry, Not The Planet
well and your very tweet is for your influence, not for the planet. Ppl in some countries tend to not see that there's something in between black and white when it comes to electric cars. And that there are many benefits of an electric car besides causing way less CO2 than conventional cars in their lifetimes (even if battery was produced with conventional power mix). Sure, car industry makes a good deal, too, what's bad about this? They employ many workers, too.
Bernie Showing Us All The Way!!
Things Used To Last For More Time
Oh, it's my old Kenmore! Yeah, that sucker broke in the early 90s. Think I've had my current one longer.
This Library Has Cake Pans You Can Check Out
We Need A Different Economy
There Was Once A Time When
My Local Pizza Place Uses A Ball Of Dough Instead Of Those Little Plastic Tables To Prevent The Pizza Box Lid From Touching The Pizza
Capitalism Drives Innovation! The Innovations:
As A Pcos Patient Who Often Feels Bad About How She Looks, I Need This Reminder A Lot
Capitalism is just a form of power and power will twist anything. They've twisted beauty for power. However, ugly and beautiful are real things. No one made a dime off the beauty of a sparkling mountain lake or the hideousness of a blobfish. Regardless of how attractive each is, both are still vital to this world and deserve to be appreciated and respected. We need to refuse to let power tell us otherwise. Same thing with people.
Eating These Corporations Is The Only Way To Truly Save The Earth
It Never Worked In The First Place. Ever Since The Pandemic Started, We Are All Collectively Realizing This
Street Sticker
“One-Time Use” Froyo Spoons That I’ve Been Using For 8 Years
Knew It Fit Here
They used to make things to last. Now they make them to wear out as soon as possible (and in the case of electronics, as soon as the warranty expires!)
On Black Friday 2008, 34 Yr Old Walmart Employee, Jdimytai Damour, Was Asked By His Employer To Use His 6’5 Body As A Barrier For A Crowd Of Over 2,000 People
He died that day after being trampled by the crowd. The shoppers did not concerned about his death, and even complained of waiting too long.
Trampled to death by the customer stampede. Noone was ever tried for this, but Walmart had to pay a fine of 7000$ for OSHA violations (that they spent more than 1 million dollars publicly contesting to state they had done nothing wrong). More: https://nathanveshecco.medium.com/jdimytai-damour-10-years-later-277706add1e6
Reminder That The Skincare Industry Is Predatory
Got Laid Off From My Job. I Have A Mug I Really Love But Has My Old Company’s Logo On It. Instead Of Throwing It Away, I Ordered A $3 Waterproof Vinyl Sticker To Put Over It. I Love The Mug Even More!
I did the same thing. Put gay pride stickers all over my covertly homophobic former company
McDonald's Has New Reusable Containers For Dine In Orders Now
You Can't Tell Me That Driving Through The Night Would Be A Better Option Than This
This Is Why I Despise “Collectibles”
Pretty Much Sums It Up
My Little '98 Camry Compared To 2 Modern Vehicles
This Entire Bin Full Of Brand New, Intentionally Destroyed Shoes, Destined For Landfill. All To Prevent Reselling And To Maintain An Artificially High Price
Kroger Potatoes All Individually Wrapped In Plastic. I Don’t Understand Why Potatoes Can’t Just Be Sold As-Is? Why Is The Plastic Necessary?
Anti-Medical System ❤️
Buy Nothing
Reduce consumption is a great idea but buy nothing is impossible. The thread on this cross-stitch required someone to grow cotton to make both the thread and the cloth. Someone else had to spin it into threads and then make it into cloth. A bunch of miners had to get the steel to make the needle for it. Someone had to grow food to feed all those people. That's a lot of people buying things just to survive and feed their families so one person can make an art piece on a wall. Art is what makes life worth living and a lot people depend on each other so an artist can afford both the materials and time to make it.
Am I The Only One Infuriated By Cooler Screens?? These Video Screens At Gas Stations Are Worse Than Just A Glass Door In Every Way
It's Worse Than You Can Imagine In Japan
This Aluminum Can Comes Wrapped In Plastic
Note: this post originally had 139 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
The irony of this list appearing on Bored Panda, a website that bombards you with ads trying to sell you junk you don't need.
Really? I hardly see any ads at all, just one box in the right-hand column and an occasional banner within the scroll.
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Funny how anti consumerism always ends up anti capitalism. Consumerism is a global problem. The comments on here are more ignorant than the ones on fox news.
Some people here are a bit confused about what capitalism is
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These lists keep getting posted, but to what end? It's just complaining and virtue signaling. This menu is expensive! This shirt has a logo! This person bought an expensive purse!
Psychologically speaking, our thoughts lead to our actions. If we want a functioning economy, we need to remind ourselves that our current economy is completely dysfunctional. I know seeing this s**t is demoralizing AF, but if it's really causing so much of a mental strain that you felt the need to make this complaint, perhaps you should spend your energy elsewhere
Load More Replies... Shouldn't this have been titled "sorry kids, your futures funked!"?
Its official. I'm taking bored panda out of my morning routine. I used to love waking up in the morning and seeing recommendations for comics and fun pictures or questions. Now everytime an article is recommended it puts me in a bad mindset with depressing posts. Farewell all my fellow Pandas. I am removing myself from the environment.
In a society that forces people to have cars, I'd rather have an electric than a gas car. It's not my fault I'm forced to participate in the system, if I could work from home and walk to a farmers market for groceries, I gladly would.
Great article and wonderful installlments! Gives me hope to know we're all equally concerned.
If there is a passing bandwagon a government will jump on it, not to make things better because they know it means more expense in the long term mean more money for them.
The irony of this list appearing on Bored Panda, a website that bombards you with ads trying to sell you junk you don't need.
Really? I hardly see any ads at all, just one box in the right-hand column and an occasional banner within the scroll.
Load More Replies... Funny how anti consumerism always ends up anti capitalism. Consumerism is a global problem. The comments on here are more ignorant than the ones on fox news.
Some people here are a bit confused about what capitalism is
Load More Replies... These lists keep getting posted, but to what end? It's just complaining and virtue signaling. This menu is expensive! This shirt has a logo! This person bought an expensive purse!
Psychologically speaking, our thoughts lead to our actions. If we want a functioning economy, we need to remind ourselves that our current economy is completely dysfunctional. I know seeing this s**t is demoralizing AF, but if it's really causing so much of a mental strain that you felt the need to make this complaint, perhaps you should spend your energy elsewhere
Load More Replies... Shouldn't this have been titled "sorry kids, your futures funked!"?
Its official. I'm taking bored panda out of my morning routine. I used to love waking up in the morning and seeing recommendations for comics and fun pictures or questions. Now everytime an article is recommended it puts me in a bad mindset with depressing posts. Farewell all my fellow Pandas. I am removing myself from the environment.
In a society that forces people to have cars, I'd rather have an electric than a gas car. It's not my fault I'm forced to participate in the system, if I could work from home and walk to a farmers market for groceries, I gladly would.
Great article and wonderful installlments! Gives me hope to know we're all equally concerned.
If there is a passing bandwagon a government will jump on it, not to make things better because they know it means more expense in the long term mean more money for them.
