Possibly divisive topic here.

I get that providing someone with a list of gift ideas reduces the likelihood of receiving crap you don’t want.

But it legitimately stresses me out being asked by multiple people what I want for Christmas, what my husband wants, and now my baby…

MAKE IT STOP

I don’t walk around with a list of things I want in my head. I just don’t spend time thinking about things that much - I assume many here are the same? And the things I need are not really gifts, just boring things I need to buy.

So now the mental load of gift giving is put on me, when I don’t want anything in the first place!

I have reiterated that I don’t care about stuff many times over the years. I’m basically the grinch because I’m the only one who opts out of secret Santa because I just do not enjoy shopping for people I’m not extraordinarily close with (in laws). It’s so much pressure to find a gift that people who don’t need anything want! I have seen gifts I’ve given my mother in law that I spent hours brainstorming, shopping for, and wrapping just stuffed on a closet shelf. This kind of gift giving is so performative and useless IMO.

Unexpected gifts given simply because someone thought of you when they happened upon something - these are delightful. I’m not a gift hater, but gift-giving is just not a strength of mine. And tbh I’m probably a shit gift receiver too, because I struggle to recall gifts I’ve received, who gave them or what occasion they were for.

Sigh. Anyways.

Anyone else feel this way?

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some podcasts about the themes above, if you guys know any about one or more of these topics, recommend please. The only one I already heard is the Cal Newport one.

Looking for recommendations for a book that makes a practical case for how we can live more ethically within our current society (i.e. a society that continually demands complicity in a system of exploitation and environmental destruction)

Keyword here is more ethically. We could all imagine the ultimate answer would be a complete renunciation of our societal norms--opting to live like Mother Teresa or a Monk. In my case, I simply want to shift towards a more sustainable and compassionate way of living that doesn't require dropping out of society or alienating myself complete from those who live unquestioningly within it (i.e. many friends and family who blithely consent to unchecked consumerism).

I want some templates for how others have worked towards living more ethically and sustainably (and, even better, to understand the philosophical/spiritual underpinnings of how they approach this question).

if i buy a single pair of jeans from you and you start email blasting me every day and send me dozens of emails, im going to fucking HATE your company. this just happened to me with Lucky brand jeans. FUCK OFF!!!!!

Do you walk, bike, use public transportation? If you need a car do you only drive the smallest, most fuel-efficient vehicle that is practical for you? Do you try to use it as little as possible?

I know this is a tough one for many people as this is entirely dependent on where you live, but it does seem like an aspect that is often overlooked when it comes to consumption. Car/car infrastructure are extremely resource intensive and even small reductions in usage can have a hefty benefit on your wallet and personal consumption.

Hey guys, I am searching for a creative easy hobby to be less on my phone, problem is i get easily bored. Like i will do something for 2 weeks an then i don’t want to anymore. So i want to try something different but still not consume so much because i obviously haven’t found the right thing and i want to be more sustainable. I tried: Crocheting (gave up because i was bad at it), Diamond Painting (way to exhausting for me), painting (liked it but you always need new stuff), clay (really liked it but no ideas on what to do and it takes forever), origami (was okay)

Truly mindblowing. The story of PR and how the US manufactured a society mindset that went from need to want.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0720m7r/the-century-of-the-self-1-happiness-machines

I have those perfectly good sport shoes, two years of use at gym indoor. The soles are not even worn by use, not even dirty as the gym floor is clean. However, they have detached from the shoe. I've tried to glue them back twice: one with general use white glue, the other with instant glue. The general glue holded for a couple of months, the instant glue a couple of days.

What would be the best way to reatach them? What kind of product should I use?

I know it's tricky because it's not static, it has a lot of movement in different directions.

Any advise would be appreciated.

I have pretty intense perfection in this head of mine. It is one of my main sources of stress and despair. I purchased a house built in 1960 and only after moving in, realised how poorly the previous owners took care of it, a long with a lot of handyman/landlord specials “repairs”. I’ve had a lot of deep internalised stress of changing and repairing EVERYTHING but don’t have the money or time (I live alone). I can’t drop $50 grand to remodel my kitchen and bathrooms, and this sub has shown me that I don’t HAVE to either.

A while back people were sharing photos of their dated/loved kitchens. Old, dated, used, but still fully functioning. Or at least serving it’s purpose. Much like pretty much my entire house. It filled me for the first time with a lot of love for this home I have. It made me see the bigger picture, that I’m not living my life to make everything aesthetically perfect and pleasing. Sure that is nice to have, but I don’t need all of that to live happy.

I do still go back and forth. I’ve had a hard two years trying to make this house feel like a home… I’d love to see more of your dated, used, well-loved kitchens, wallpaper, furniture, doors, light fixtures, bathrooms, whatever in the home. The more loved, the better!

And thanks for reminding me that not all other humans do not live in perfect, aesthetic, artistic conditions ❤️ for some reason my brain thinks everyone does, and I feel this shame I can’t keep up.

Does anyone else feel like this or totally against black Friday?

I try my best to not shop impulsively. I have a wish list photo album in my phone and keep photos there for weeks or months before buying. I sum up the total and put money aside for it. This Black Friday I bought skincare (mostly replacements), haircare (which I bulk buy once every year) and 9 pieces of clothing. I also have a rule that if I don’t have space in my wardrobe I’ll have to donate or sell something to make space.

I think because I put thought into my purchases and will definitely use them I don’t feel guilty. I know companies use false prices but since I have the screenshots from months ago I can see the real price deduction.

I’m still learning how to consume consciously and have noticed my overconsumption habits over the years which has led to where I am today. I won’t stop shopping but I’m open to changing how I shop. My next purchases will probably happen in December with other replacements, few new clothes and a handbag I’ve been saving up for

In 2025, I want to start a new hobby. But it seems that almost every hobby I look at requires you to buy stuff. Eg. If I want to paint I need paper, paints and other supplies.

I just want a hobby that doesn't involve shopping for lots of supplies.

The only hobby I've thought of so far is hiking. Which I think only needs good shoes and a water bottle.

I have been a proponent of "responsible/ESG/ethical" investing for a few years now, however deep down I've always feared it is bollocks - we all know how capitalism works, and we all know that an idea like "sustainable Ikea" or "green Unilever" is a joke. Reading some critical perspectives on this, I am now convinced that this is not a solution, nor even a balm. When investing in shares, commodoties (like gold), and even green bonds or green energy companies, one feels complicit in the planetary collapse happening all around us.

So, has anyone here totally exited from this game? If so, how do you do so while safeguarding your financial future? For example, is it through a 100% term deposit portfolio, owning your own household, or high interest cash ETFs? Any other approaches?

BTW I'm not here for a re-hash of the sustainable investing debate, I'm more curious to hear about how others safeguard their financial security without becoming more and more complicit in ecocide.

My reasoning is that Helium is a finite resource and we expend massive amounts of it to make giant Barneys and Gokus. Not to mention all the Helium that gets wasted making party balloons that float away or deflate in a few days. Not that I haven't enjoyed these things in the past, but we need MRI machines more than we need the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I dont understand why anyone does, pretty much any charity shop will let you fill a bin bag of clothes for a buck or buy individual items (even good nake brand stuff) for like, 20 cents

And yet people still choose to spend $70 on 1 pair of jeans like, why???

Seriously I've probably spent less than a tenner on clothes in my entire life, everyone was either 2nd hand or my old clothes my mum bought for me in high school

Decided to visit a thrift store instead just in case I got lucky. Current winter shoes are beaten beyond repair and I was getting antsy as we're supposed to get some snow soon.

Found some Meindl boots (original price 270€) for 14€ in my size! I couldn't believe it. Real leather and the soles can be changed if they ever break.

Now I'm gonna clean and treat them with leather conditioner so they're almost as good as new ❤️

I understand this is a specific event. But anytime a band goes back on tour. Or a comedian comes back to town. The ticket prices are absolutely insane.

Asinine, absolutely horrible. I looked into Bill Burr in Toronto a year or two ago. And it was over $500 for nose bleeds.

I appreciate their art. I will never pay to see anyone live ever again.

Back to the high seas for me!

https://imgur.com/a/YtD0ODx

I have seen a lot of people on this sub complaining about precut fruit and veggies being sold in plastic. When I was at the grocery store recently I saw these precut cauliflower florlets (partially covered by a lettuce leaf). I thought it was a lovely idea since people who have disabilities can now bulk buy cut veggies, and wanted to share some positivity in the sub!

Hi

My name is Random Name, and I don't like to buy new stuff. I'm (not) doing this for 6 years, and I fell happy about it. All these six years I thought that I'm the only one like this because most people around me are "normal " consumers. So, yesterday I was visiting some friends of my wife, and we started to talk about capitalism, consumerism and related topics. So, after I explained my position about not buying new stuff, and some people recommended me to search term "anti consumerism". So, I did it and I found this sub. I must say I'm surprised that there is more people like me. Otherwise people around me think that I'm " bit strange " , because I'm not buying stuff, and they are like " you have money, why you are messing up with this old shit, just buy a new one" etc. Well, usually I'm answering that I have money because I'm not buying unnecessary shit.

Anyway, I must say I'm buying new things sometimes. Usually these are things with cannot be repaired (batteries for my devices), or OEM parts for my cars , or something else related to my profession (I'm carpenter).

So yeah, I just wanted to write this and say hi to everyone. I hope this post is related to this sub in any way.

Have a good day everyone.

I genuinely do not like buying clothese because of all the fastfashion, but i can not wrap my head around stopping my over consumption of makeup/hair products/perfume. Its so excessive, and its really not sane any advice? I am 19 and I have spent 6000 on sephora products like that should not be normal??

I have finally invested in some good, quality sheets and a duvet- taking advantage of the deals during this time of the year.

For the longest time, I would settle for the cheap stuff, it would get overused or start to pill and I would just throw it out and get an entirely new set every 3 months or so. This has been a vicious cycle for me for the past few-ish years. I’m super excited about this and hopefully this is in the right community, lol.

Any tips on taking care of 100% cotton sheets would be appreciated, I’m a new adult :(