Have you ever wondered where all the stuff you’ve ever bought, used, and thrown out went? Spoiler: it’s still here.
This year brought yet another impulse buy: stationery we barely used, new running shoes we never had time for, extra kitchen gadgets gathering dust… so on and so forth.
With the year coming to an end, it’s worth pausing to reflect: do we really want to keep repeating this cycle? The year ahead can be a chance to cut down on waste and be more picky about what we let into our lives.
Why we keep buying things we don’t really need
It’s simple, really. Buying stuff feels good. It’s exciting to get something new.
Marketing, sales, and social media make it even harder to resist. Those flashy discounts, clever gadgets, and images of glowing, happy people in pretty clothes call out to us. They make us think, “If I have so and so, then my life will be better.”
Perhaps psychologically, humans are wired to love novelty. When we get that new shiny stuff, it triggers a little hit of dopamine that makes us happy. But that feeling fades quickly. Soon, we’re looking for the next thing to give us the same boost, and the cycle repeats.
So it’s really not just about needing the item itself, but also the thrill of chasing that momentary happiness. Even after our homes are filled with things, we can’t resist the pull of something new.
What happens to all the stuff you bring home
How much of what we own truly gets used again and again, and how much is used once and forgotten, or left sitting in drawers, closets, and shelves until it eventually gets thrown away?
It’s often easier to bring new things home than to let go of the old. As sentimental creatures, parting with our possessions can feel emotionally uncomfortable, even if we know we don’t really need them.
And when we do finally declutter, there’s an illusion of “getting rid of it” where we clear out old clutter, only to make space for the next round of purchases. And the cycle repeats.
The truth about waste: Out of sight, not out of existence
Everything we’ve ever brought into our lives never really disappears. Our trash still exists somewhere, in roughly the same shape as when we threw it out.
Remember all those disposables, old gadgets, and cheap clothes you got rid of without a second thought? They’re still out there.
Most of what we discard ends up in landfills, where it can take decades, or even centuries, to break down. Even items that seem harmless, like paper or cardboard, don’t just vanish.
When we throw things away, they don’t magically disappear from the earth. “Away” isn’t really a place.
Does buying better quality stuff and recycling help?
Short answer: not quite.
Sure, buying higher-quality items can mean they last longer, and recycling can be better than throwing everything straight into the trash. But if we keep overbuying, it still contributes to waste.
A high-tech gadget or fancy designer handbags doesn’t matter much if it’s just one more thing added to the pile. Our stuff, regardless of its price, linger in the environment long after we’re done with them.
Our modern world churns out products in mere minutes, yet everything it creates takes a very, very long time to fully degrade. And that’s before you consider all the resources, energy, and labour that went into making them.
And recycling sounds good in theory, but the reality is, only about 9% of all plastic ever produced actually gets recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment, polluting our soil, water, and air.
Overconsumption is the real problem. This is why quantity can matter more than quality alone. Buying less is always more impactful than simply relying on more expensive items or recycling.
What we can do to stop the cycle of overconsumption
The simplest way to stop the cycle of overbuying is to reduce the sheer volume of new things you buy. Doing so naturally helps cut down on spending, clutter, and your overall environmental footprint.
Try these approaches to make mindful buying a habit:
- Buy only what you truly need, and use those things for as long as safely possible.
How long could you use what you already own before getting something new? - Pause before making any purchases. Does it truly add value to your life, or is it just to fill a moment of boredom?
- Think about the long-term. A year from now, is this something you’ll still care about, or just another passing impulse?
- Consider the environmental impact of each purchase. Is that $2 blind-box toy really worth polluting the earth for?
You might wonder, if you stop buying so much, does it really make any difference? After all, the products are still being made, sitting on shelves somewhere.
But every purchase (or non-purchase) sends a message. When demand drops, production eventually slows down. Less gets made, shipped, and wasted.
Even if it feels small, choosing to buy as little as possible reduces the overall demand for resources and the amount of clutter and waste that passes through your own home.
Buy less, choose well, make it last
When you look back at everything you bought this year, have you ever stopped and think about where will they end up? How does that make you feel?
Let this year be the end of the cycle of overbuying. The year ahead doesn’t have to repeat the same pattern.
