Confessions of a spending addict…

This month my girlfriend Jenn and I have undertaken the monumental task of non-consumerism. I confess this was originally Jenn’s (of Jenn’s Coop Blog fame) idea since between the two of us she has the more dominate tree embracing tendencies. Usually I will just follow along if I think it’s a good idea or ridicule her mercilessly if I deem the idea pointless.

The latest idea consists of eliminating the purchase of anything other than unprocessed food (preferably from a farmer’s market) and essential items involving basic needs. Personally the term “basic needs” is tricky since often my insatiable need for my morning Starbuck’s overrides my commitment to reduced consumption. So while I’ve had several relapses I have actually gone two full days subsisting on food items gleaned from the refrigerator.

As rewarding as this feels, it has been eye opening in that I realize how many times a day that buying something crosses my mind. Anything really. It doesn’t matter if it’s an Egg McMuffin on the way to work, running over to the bike shop on my lunch, or dropping by Target on the way home. I’ve found that a good portion of my life revolves around spending money. Sometimes it’s a little, sometimes it’s a lot, but it all comes down to the same thing….consumer high.

You know the feeling……

…..the adrenaline rush of pulling that new item off the shelf, sauntering proudly to the checkout line, pulling out that small rectangular piece of plastic bliss, and exit triumphantly to your waiting vehicle. Cresting the summit of consumer high, you cross the threshold and into your home to display your newly purchased wares as the family looks on in awed silence. Then suddenly from the dimly lit hall emerges a dark brooding figure that asks, “So how much did all that crap cost?”

Instant buzz kill….   

Yes the high is usually short lived and we’re soon faced with the decision whether or not to go out and feed consumer addiction. Certainly my description of “consumer high” is tongue-in-cheek, but for many it is probably not too far off the mark.  My concern lately lies in how little I actually think about my spending and how mindlessly I make purchases without thinking through whether this is, in fact, a “basic need” or I’m just getting my next “fix”. I can’t honestly say I’ve gone cold turkey, but I’d challenge you to take a day or even a week and think about every time you spend money, or better yet, every time you think about it.