Self-Discipline in this 'Consumerism-Centric' Times

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Sticking to a budget is probably one of the most challenging things to do nowadays where temptations to spend on things are splashed almost everywhere. Consumerism is at its peak. New models of stuff are coming out now and then, making people who can't resist the urge to ditch their things and get the newer ones.

Consumerism.webp

My sister recently gave me a pair of Skechers shoes on Sunday evening. I can't count how many things she has already given me but she kind of filled up my shoe rack and closet in the last few years - bags, shoes, clothing, and even gadgets (mobile phone, tablet).

"It's your size," she said while handing it to me. I teased her why she kept buying things when she didn't need them. Her son mentioned that their mom loves to add things to her cart and checks them out almost without a second thought. I jokingly told her that she needed to uninstall the shopping apps from her phone, lol!

Anyway, that's how some people are and it can be difficult for them to let go of such an addiction unless they have the willpower and the discipline to do so. I was once like them before so I know. Thankfully, I got out of the bad habit. Today, I never have to worry about breaking any budget because it is easy for me to say 'NO' to buying stuff.

Truth is, there is no need for me to have any strategies at all when it comes to spending. It might be hard to believe but it has already become a natural thing for me to not purchase things impulsively, especially when I know they are not needed.

How did that happen?

Some experiences became the turning points for me. When my husband and I were coming home from overseas, we had so many things that we spent a large sum just to ship them home. In the end, we gave away some of the stuff to the security personnel of the apartment where we lived.

Also, when we moved out from the city to our first home in the countryside, I had a really hard time sorting and organizing things to the point it became so stressful. That was when I decided to clean up and start to lead a more minimalistic lifestyle.

So yes, you wouldn't see me going out from a shopping center with bags in hand. Not that I don't have money to spend but because it's a personal choice. Flash or discounted sales don't make me crazy as it does to other people.

I do think that when we have discipline, we never have to remind ourselves about what we should and shouldn't do when it comes to spending. We naturally become conscious. At least that's how I see it based on my personal experiences.

This is my response to the first question of this week's LoH prompt:

I annually work on my home budget every January and my recent walk through of a major shopping center reminds me how our financial goals can get undermined by the temptation to spend. What are your strategies and tactics to stay on track?


Photo credits to Markus Spiske. 24012024/19:35ph

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59 comments
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Discipline is truly important to avoid buying out of impulse and learning to say NO to unnecessary stuff is a very good habit I admire. Thanks for sharing.

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That is true, Amie. Things don't work out well even if we have carefully planned them out yet we don't have the discipline to execute them.

Thank you as well for reading and your kind remarks.

!LADY

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It takes discipline to avoid impulsive spending as you have said but there are still people who cannot say "No" when they see stuff that keeps calling onto them. Being a minimalist involves shunning some things, not because you don't have the money but being disciplined to know when to get them and when not to. At the end of the day, we are cultivating a good habit that will help our financial journey.

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You said it perfectly, PB. We intentionally do things because we are conscious about their effects or impact. Thank you lots for your input.

!LADY

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I agree that when it comes to self wants, discipline is necessary.
But for your sister, it might be her way of expressing her love or care for you. I say this because I am the same. I am not a very vocal person, I give random gifts (mostly food, sometimes money) to people that I care. So that might be the case for her too.

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Yes, she loves to give but she also likes to collect stuff :) They can afford things for sure, but she can be excessive. She has a lot of things that she doesn't even use, hehe.

!LADY

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ahhh that might be very hard to overcome, maybe someday, slowly but surely 😊

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Yeah :) Both my sisters are like that anyway, lol! They love to shop.

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It is a challenge indeed. It seems like we have to stay at home 24/7 to avoid going out and spending like crazy

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Well, even if we stay at home, there are still channels that may tempt us like online shopping etc :)

!LADY

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I couldn't agree more sis... No matter how effective strategies are for saving money, if one doesn't have self discipline, the saved money will still be gone like bubbles in the air.... Charge to experience... Been accumulating things here and many are not even necessary... It is now my prob how to pack everything when it is my time to go.. Will be spending money again on shipping them before my endo.. I'm even planning to give to a charity here or to co-Filipinos...

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True sis. That will be quite a challenge for you hehe. Pero oo, pwede ipamigay in case uwi ka na for good.

!LADY

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!LUV
!HUG
!LOLZ
!MEME

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Your sister is that kind of woman who can give anyone anything no matter how difficult it may seem to be
It is really good but that kind of a person needs to be careful so she won’t give more than she earns and stuffs like that

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Yeah. She's always been like that even when we were growing up. We're kind of spoiled. Thankfully, she can afford things. I can say she's already financially free.

!LADY

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Discipline is the key to growth and a lot of things. If only many people can understand this

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Very much so. I think most of us understand or know about it but we just lack the willpower to apply it to ourselves :)

!LADY

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Online shopping apps indeed is a two-edged sword. We can "save" a lot buying online. Not only we can buy lower-priced items, it also saves time and money (for transporttion) going to shopping malls... Then again, those who doesn't have the discipline, will be lured by commercialism and keep on buying even the things they don't need.

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That's very true. Almost everything now is at our fingertips sorta. The convenience of shopping tends to lure people into spending more.

!PIZZA

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Lucky for you!
Minimalism indeed helps cut down on expenses! But, I do know several minimalists who spend on clothes every month, as she tosses (or gives away) her (no so) old one away, hehehe!
I am glad you have developed a distaste for spending on unnecessary things. A good strategy is: if you don't need it, don't buy it; if you need it but don't have the money for it, make do without it.
AWESOME sis!
!LADY
!BBH

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Yeah, it was not easy at first but I didn't want to get stressed out having a stuffy house, lol!

if you don't need it, don't buy it; if you need it but don't have the money for it, make do without it.

Absolutely! 😉

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I know that self discipline in the aspect of spending is very important, no need to buy things that we don't need even if we have the money, here we don't buy anything we don't really need because we even need more money to buy the things we need lol!

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(Edited)

That's good to hear, Madilyn. And yep, not because we have money doesn't mean we have to spend it even on things that we don't need or use. Thanks for your awesome thoughts :)

!LADY

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Tama nga. Ang daming magagandang bilihin. Ang problema pambili. Grabe inflation.

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Discipline is truly important to avoid Overspending and shopping on impulse. I truly agree with you.
Thanks for sharing.

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Wow! Can I be your sister's sister too?!! Haha, you have a giver of a sister @ifarmgirl. You are very lucky to have a very thoughtful one not all sisters are like that specially the One's that are fighting for sibling rivalry.
It just warms my heart knowing that you now know how to say "NO" to the many tactics of commercialism nowadays. Atleast one got away from their cunning devices. I hope one of these days your sister will realize that she can do a lot more important things with her money instead of spending them on not so vital, material things.

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It is a fact that today the income of every human being has become very less and how to save and live their life has become a challenge for every human being and in the same way the heart of a human being is always something. He wants to buy things but we cannot buy them due to lack of money.

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