The Seven Principles of Consuming
I have been making inventories of my stuff.
I have too much stuff. I knew that already. But now I know the titles
of all the books I own relating to chess, how many hair conditioner
bottles I own, the colours of all my long-sleeved tops, the brands
that will continue to perfume me for a few more years to come.
I have too many clothes. Too many books. Too many cosmetics. Too much
paperwork. Too many CDs. Too many mementos. I still have the mobile I
used five years ago - complete with its manual, software, and cables.
Why the hell did I buy this stuff?
If I stop buying new stuff, I should be fine for a few years.
Why am I keeping it? I suppose because throwing stuff away goes
against what I was raised on: keeping stuff for a rainy day - 'you
never know', exhausting something until it expires, ... I may have
been raised that way but I find I have grown up to be a man of
excess. I want too much, I "buy now, think later" too much. I refuse
to be strict with myself. (Perhaps I should have kept a selection of
whips in the cellar, too.)
Now I have a tough choice between hoarding and dumping.
I have a voice that is begging me to 'go hard' and flush a grand's
worth down the toilet. No, not illegal substances. My belongings! My
excess belongings are illegal substances.
Yes, I will do it - probably not as much as a grand's worth, but close.
So listen people this my message to you:
1- Define what is necessary, what is minimal, what is core, in
everything you own. Do not be swayed afterwards. For example,
in terms of footwear: two pairs of formal shoes, running shoes, everyday shoes,
and sandals. (Okay, women may have special dispensation.)
2- Buy only out of necessity. Everything you buy will come back to haunt you. Do not buy unnecessarily.
3- Finish first, then buy.
If you are considering to buy something not totally necessary: imagine
that you have to give something to get something. You buy a new pair
of shoes, only after you're done with an older pair.
4- Beware of one-time-use-only: the magazine, the book, the tuxedo, that you needed once, and now that's done, you don't know what to do with it.
Make use of public libraries, office equipment, shared
facilities, ... rental and communal services are good for you and for
others too.
5- The lighter your load, the lighter you feel.
6- Buy expensive things strategically, in the ideal scenario, you
are looking to buy something that is beneficial, and also that
depreciates least (or has a chance of appreciating!)
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