How to stop buying things that we do not need

We often buy unnecessary things, and each such purchase drags following. This phenomenon even has a name: the effect of Diderot. Popular blogger James Clear says about why we become the victims of this effect and how we can stop. Layfhaker publishes a translation of his article.

James Clear (James Clear)

American blogger, entrepreneur and athlete, who writes about the psychology of behavior, the formation of habits and self-improvement.

Diderot effect

The famous French philosopher and writer Denis Diderot spent most of his life in poverty, but it dramatically changed when he was 52 years old. His daughter married, and Diderot could not give a dowry for her. This became known to Catherine II. The Empress bought Diderot library and started to pay his salary for the management of this collection of books. Shortly afterwards, Diderot, a new robe. And then it all went wrong and.

New robe was expensive and beautiful. So beautiful that the whole living situation Diderot, in comparison with him, began to seem a poor and miserable. The philosopher had to buy new things. He replaced the old carpet, furniture, pictures and mirrors.

The essence of the Diderot effect is that acquiring something new, we are launching a process of consumption. As a result, buying items that it does not seem to us necessary to our happiness.

Why do we want the things we do not need

This is quite natural. We always strive to accumulate, add, improve and expand. And rarely try something easier, to reduce or eliminate.

Examples can be brought infinitely:

• You bought a new dress, and now you need suitable shoes for him.
• You bought a gym membership and now spends on massage cushions, knee pads and a special meal.
• You bought a new sofa, and you began to feel that you need to replace the rest of the furniture.

How to deal with it

Here are a few tips that will help to overcome the cravings for unnecessary purchases.

Avoid temptations

Each has its own habits trigger - a signal that leads to action. Avoid triggers that cause you have the desire to buy. Unsubscribe from mailing lists online stores. Meet with friends in the park, not the mall. Block sites favorite online stores through the application Freedom.

Buy items on the basis of what you already have

Choose things that will come to what is already there in your wardrobe. Buy new equipment so that it is compatible with what you have at home. Then you do not have to spend money on new chargers, adapters and cables.

Buying one thing to give to others

We bought a new TV? Give someone the old, rather than rearrange it to another room. Do not let things pile up.

Do not buy anything new at least a month

Set a goal to limit their purchases. Do not buy a new lawn mower, borrow it from the neighbors. If you need clothes, go to a thrift store, but not to normal.

Change attitude towards shopping

We never fully get rid of the desire to buy things, there will always be something newer and better. By purchasing an expensive car, we begin to dream of a private plane. Calm can only be realized that the desire to buy - just one of the possible variants of behavior, rather than the order to be followed without question.

conclusions

If we learn to cut a continuous stream consumptionOur life will change for the better. This does not mean that it is necessary to strive for full asceticism. The main thing is that the number of things in your life was the best.

Finally let us remember the words of Diderot.

Let my example be for you science. In poverty have their liberties in wealth - their tightness.

Denis Diderot