Consumers are buying more than ever. Consequently, producers are producing more than ever, and people in general are wasting more than ever. We have essentially become middlemen between the sweatshops and the landfills.
As soon as its price tag is removed, a product substantially and instantaneously depreciates in value. The clock then begins ticking in regard to the relevancy lifespan of the product before it inevitably must be replaced. But what if I told you that, oftentimes, that concocted chronometer holds no significance whatsoever?
Our spending habits are linked to our own perceptions of others’ perceptions of us. Aside from necessary recurring expenses, there is a direct correlation between one’s spending habits and their personal values and aspirations. The study of this association is what has come to be known as the psychology of spending, and this research has been leveraged to increase the bottom line of corporations for years.
Trends are expiring more quickly than ever, creating the “need” to purchase new items
We generally let the things we use and wear define us, and many are so eager to appear well-off that they are willing to be hoodwinked out of our hard-earned dollar for a logo which signifies to others that we are good enough. The catch, however, is that the perceived effectiveness of the logo also has a perceived expiration date, and the range between purchase and expiration continues to be curtailed to the point that items begin the devaluation process before they even leave the package.
Clothing production has more than doubled in the past two decades, and much of that has to do with our association of outerwear with inner value. It has become almost taboo to wear the same clothes over the course of years, let alone multiple times in the same week. Manufacturers have picked up on these types of trends, and are more than happy to oblige. The issue doesn’t begin and end in the wallet of the consumer, however. There are also immense environmental implications to the substantial increase we are seeing in clothing production.
Research indicates that it takes nearly 800 gallons of water to produce a single t-shirt. For a pair of jeans that number is closer to 1800. How many pounds of clothing would you guess end up in landfills each year? That number is 400 million in New York City alone. Over the course of one year, that average consumer in America is responsible for roughly 80 pounds of waste related to the disposal of clothing. This all pertains to the production and disposal of the clothing itself, not even taking into account the mass amounts of materials squandered in the packaging and transport of these extraneous articles. The cycle itself is endlessly repeated, as the more we buy, the less use we get out of what we have already bought, necessitating the securing of even more clothes.
Environment implications aside, there simply is nothing quite like finding an item of immense personal and/or monetary value at a steal of a price. Economically speaking, one could optimize the quality of material within their own wardrobe while paying substantially less to stock it by shopping secondhand.
Those with children, particularly those with small children, will find their wallets substantially thicker should they choose to forgo department stores when shopping for toys. The rough and rowdy nature of small children necessitates the implementation of more durable material in the production of toys geared towards them. As such, items like walkers, toy vehicles, and play-houses have the potential to last years given proper care. Most are aware, however, that children often do not require years to move on from toys. In fact, most items purchased for small children, clothes included, generally see all the use they’re going to see in a home in a matter of months before becoming obsolete. These items then become placeholders taking up space in the house. Because of this, parents are often eager to rid themselves of the items and free up the space, and as such are usually willing to part with them for little to no cost.
Also, when buying secondhand, one’s options are not limited simply to what manufacturers and publications have decided folks should be wearing or
Buying during a given season. This offers the chance to explore a sprawling assortment of possibilities, unencumbered by the shackles of trends and expectations, free to build upon the history of others while creating exciting possibilities for yourself, all at a fraction of the cost!
Shopping second also provides you with the opportunity to pass off your hard earned dollar to a neighbor, local business or organization, or even charity, as opposed to a multi-billion dollar corporation who would have it stashed away in a Swiss bank account by next week.
Film and music lovers will be delighted to know that, since the advent of streaming, folks are scrambling to rid themselves of their physical media. Such items include DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, books, vinyl records, and more! Owning a physical copy of a piece of media gives the consumer ownership over the work for entertainment purposes. The convenience of streaming is a difficult point to argue, but there is no need. With new technology, most content can be digitized with ease, vinyl records included. This eliminates the inconvenience of managing tapes and discs should one prefer the organizational nature of managing media on a device.
Thrift shops, Goodwill stores, Salvation Army locations, record stores, yard sales, flea markets, and garage sales all present excellent opportunities to save a few dollars and to limit your environmental impact. Do a favor for yourself and your neighbor, and consider shopping secondhand!