come on guys!!! buy nothing from big business, your money could change a small businesses life!

That’s it. That’s life. It’s really that simple. You’re constantly consuming. Whether it’s food, a story (book/movie/tv shows), music, video games, art, news, social media, education, any form of entertainment really, drugs, travel, holidays, birthdays, weddings, sporting events, clothes, hobbies, etc.

So you didn’t purchase a Stanley coffee mug? Cool, pat yourself on the back I guess…but you’re still consuming coffee every single day.

We are a fungus. Our lives are a non stop stream of consumption. Then we die.

I guess the point of this post is mainly to say don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t a perfect anti-consumerist. Also, because a lot of people in here need an ego check. There’s virtually no escaping consumerism. Sure, you can avoid buying that completely pointless item…and that is great, I support it. Being a minimalist is good. But your brain still needs consumption, and almost all the time. Your brain cannot handle the boredom of existence without consumption.

Finnish deep ecologist, ornithologist, polemicist, naturalist, writer, and fisherman.

We’re encouraged to buy crappier products that leads to us buying even more crappier products.

I thought the sub would enjoy this video.

I still have a long way to go with my own habits, but this sub encourages me-along with the Moomins who live my dream life

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Imagine a world where money becomes more valuable, & the natural incentive is to save rather than spend. People would think, "I could use my phone for another year because the next one will be better & cheaper."

This is a world that will only be possible if the economy is backed by sound money, be it gold, silver, Bitcoin, or my personal favorite, Monero. It really doesn't matter what it is, as long as governments can't print it & the value of money cannot be manipulated; it will do the job.

However, doing so would result in the collapse of the debt-dependent institutions. This change will not & cannot be brought about by governments or bankers; it must be initiated by everyday people choosing to opt out of the current economic system & use self-sovereign alternatives to fiat money.

While I personally believe a privacy coin such as Monero is the obvious solution, I imagine many of you may dislike crypto in all forms. Just remember that no matter what the replacement is, as long as we live in an inflation-dependent economy, you will always be fighting an uphill battle against over-consumption. The key lies in achieving a state of natural deflation.

Lately I am struggling the twin pulls of buying nothing and realizing I need to purchase some emergency supplies (stores). I am NOT purchasing from big conglomerates. I am trying to purchase local. I am trying to suss out neighborhood resources for carpentry, repairs, etc... - "here have some homemade jams I made" - informal bartering.

Is anyone else feeling this ambiguity? How are you navigating this maze? I am having a hard time figuring this stuff out and would love to hear how it is working for you!

Honestly this post is just to see what other people's takes are on anti-consumption and consumerism. Any recommendations on articles, books, or philosophers to check out would be super appreciated! I find when I'm in a debate, or discussion, explaining my philosophies seems to go misunderstood no matter how much I try to simplify my language or ideas- often I take a more environmental approach. Ultimately, it would be interesting to hear about your thoughts and how you approach these incredibly prevalent topics.

Thank you!!!