Why do we have so much stuff? | BBC Ideas

Modern life just seems to be full of... well, stuff! But why do we have so much of it?
What's happening in our minds when we buy new things? Should we consume less and declutter?

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#bbcideas #decluttering #consumerism

[alanbirkner]

I went to my favorite second hand jewelry boutique and after searching through 6 cabinets, I found the perfect gift for my daughter-in-law. My
rule is buy used, by local, by when you need to buy something. I am 71. I try to be mindful. Tina

[alexyang]

I am a minimalist since past one year and seeing the amount of stuff these people own gives me anxiety. It has a lot to do with being content with your inner self and validation. Took me 30 years to understand.

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don't want..to impress people that they don't like.”
--Will Rogers

[aldrousglenncamino]

"What we consume is an expression of our identity, because our identity consists of a number of different facets..."

Wow, louder please. This topic is quite timely and relevant. ❤️

[CiaraLynn]

minimalism is the way to go! having too much stuff makes me too anxious

[JulEnglefaris]

I haven't bought new clothes in maybe 10 years, but I do buy books like crazy. Not so much in the past few months. Been making a conscience to cut back on buying and just use the library.

[ernestabor]

Our wants are insatiable, but our needs are limited. Our wants doesn’t bring happiness but our needs fill our void in life

[a.m.karthick]

I think our upbringing also plays a major role in this issue.

[ewatkins]

It would be good to see representations of men as shoppers, so many examples only show women as 'consumers' but this is simply not true! I think there is an unhelpful stereotype that women love shopping, and men hate it, and that women shop for uneccessary items men for practical - let's address this!

[PossumLover]

spoke to me directly and could relater to everything said by the consumers and the experts on why and what it all means. thank you for this. I'm keeping it in my files. Glad to know I'm not alone in this. I'm in the process of trying to get rid of selling or just giving away. And I'm living vicariously through watching videos of other people shop for cool stuff.

[cjhoward]

I think I have a lot of practical things. Extra food, clothes, sheets, towels, toiletries etc. It’s because my parents were babies in the 1930’s when here in the USA we had the Great Depression. So, our grandparents had extra things and so did our parents and us too but our kids who are in their 20’s and 30’s are more minimalistic

[stefannikola]

I'm a long, long way from having too much stuff, although I'm not very materialistic compared to most other people. I lack and want to have financial empowerment, financial stability, and financial security, but not stuff, not possessions.

[annapri]

I would consider myself a minimalist. I've been a minimalist my entire life. I love never really having to clean up my stuff, it also allows me to pick up everything I own and go wherever I want. I'd rather spend money on a good dinner with friends or an experience out, then on an item.
Additionally, I feel as though people don't realize how much stuff you actually need. I always tell people to buy a packet of sticky notes and for one week walk around the house and put sticky notes on everything you touch and use, by the end of the week you will realize that 70% of the items you own you never actually touch.

[MiaCarter]

I want to get rid of stuff but I'm scared I'll regrat it!! And wvwn when I do get rid of stuff its like more stuff appears!

[ganesang]

What we consume is an expression of our identity.

[relaxingmeditationsounds]

"what we consume is an expression of our identity"

[D.von.N]

Having wardrobes full of clothes I rarely use and go to just a couple shelves using the same stuff over and over, I am done with fashion. But crafting world is a whole different beast. Don't let me start on that one!

[poushalighosh]

I deeply struggle with this sense of academic inadequacy and buy books in hopes of remedying it. Its led to the point where my shelves are overstuffed with new unread books and heightened anxiety becsuse none of those are getting read as quickly sigh

[altanaeliza]

At least not everyone can afford to constantly buy unnecessary stuff

[lathabalakrishnan]

So much of indirect societal pressure that it takes a lot of effort and strength to fight it.
I have started this war, hope I come out a winner.