Buying Nothing New, A Mindset

future generations deserve better, buying less shit is the very least we can do

I said all I wanted for the holidays was snow and by gosh by golly I got it!

Last night I attended a packed school board meeting, where students (and parents) passionately urged the board and district leaders not to make cuts to Unified Arts, and to preserve the position of a beloved teacher and ally. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride, and heartbreak. They deserve so much more. The adults making decisions (both in the room and *waves arms around* at large) are not considering the best interests of these kids. On a systemic level, we are failing them.

I’ve been doing a lot of reflection about why I’m doing another year of buying nothing new. When I decided to do it for the first time in January, I was so exhausted and drained from the endless consumption cycle I’d been in for almost a decade, it was the only thing I could do to find my way out. At the time, I wanted to extricate myself from the influencer industry, something I could no longer in good conscience be a part of.

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How To Do A Year Of Buying Nothing New

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I guess it’s no longer a “year of buying nothing new” but an entirely different way of living. One that values people over profit, and meaningful experiences over materialism. American consumerism sells the story that more is more, and nothing is ever enough. The alternative is a mindset that recognizes the responsibility of being one of the adults in the room. In knowing that every action we take—from attending school board meetings to decisions we make as consumers—demonstrates to the next generation what we value and where we stand.

We’re at a pivotal moment in history right now, and we are going to continue to face hard choices. Making an honest effort to challenge late-stage capitalism, a system that encourages overproduction, hyper-consumption, exploitation, corporate power, and wealth inequality will require systemic and individual action. We can show future generations that the adults are paying attention, that we care, and that we are working to find a better way forward. Pardon my language, but buying less shit is the very least we can do.

Here’s how I plan to approach the buy nothing mindset moving forward