The Diderot Effect: Why Do We Want Things We Don't Need? How to force yourself not to buy unnecessary This thing is not needed

We all buy things from time to time that we don't really need, and it's okay to allow yourself this, but only as long as you control it. If it becomes more and more difficult to deal with disorderly, impulsive purchases, after which you are tormented by remorse, then below pay attention to the instructions below, which, perhaps, will correct your brains.

Understand How Your Brain Is Working Against You

It's no secret that stores use a variety of tricks to make you part with your money, and your brain is actively helping them in this. Here are some of the tricks that stores can use to manipulate customers.

Colour. Stores use color to make products more attractive, and they also use a specific color on price tags. Red is eye-catching and can motivate you to take action, as it is commonly associated with advertisements. So when you see red, remember: with this color they are trying to manipulate your brain.

Location of goods. Before you get to what you really need, you will have to pass by many unnecessary but tempting things. Before going to the store, make a list of everything you need. And after entering the trading floor, head straight to these things, imagining that only they are sold here.

The touch factor. Items that a store wants to sell faster are usually positioned so that they can be easily reached and touched. Do not do that! As soon as you pick up something, you will most likely buy, because your mind suddenly feels like the owner of this object.

Smells and sounds. Upon entering the store, you can hear classic, sweet tunes. Nice music makes you happy and joyful, and a familiar tune makes you feel comfortable. Pleasant scents are also used to turn off your mind. A happy mind placed in a comfortable environment is a very dangerous combination for the wallet. There is almost nothing you can do about it, unless you buy products online. But at least you should be aware that you are being manipulated.

Of course, you can blame the stores for everything, but the way they operate won't change. All we can do is know how our brains fall for their bait. Even if there were no stores, the brain would still be working against you - due to some cognitive biases.

For example, the so-called confirmation bias forces you to believe only information that matches your previous beliefs, and everything else is considered less significant.

Advertisers use this feature directly, convincing you that one item is better than another, accompanied by visual images and other gimmicks, and all this is often completely unrelated to specific facts. So treat everything with an open mind.

Make a list of everything you have and get rid of the junk

Now that you know what you are struggling with, it's time to change the way you think. Before you stop buying unnecessary junk, you need to define what exactly is meant by that word. The first step along this path is making a list of all the things you own. This may seem like an extreme, however, in order to reprogram your mind, you have to collect all the possible data.

The purpose of this exercise is twofold: you will see what you already have and therefore do not need to buy again. Plus you can see what you shouldn't have bought at all.

When all your property is on the list, break it down into categories. In doing so, it is extremely important, as much as possible, to be honest with yourself.

• "Necessary": This thing is absolutely necessary for you, as it is used daily.
• "Only needed sometimes": You don't need this thing every day, but you use it periodically.
• “Want”: you bought this item because you wanted it, not because you needed it.
• "Trash": you cannot explain why you need this thing.

Leave the items marked as “necessary”, put the items marked as “junk” in the box for later disposal, and turn your attention to the items listed in the categories “needed only sometimes” and “want”. As you look at the lists of things in these categories, ask yourself three questions:

1. When was the last time I used this item?
2. When will I use it again?
3. Does this thing bring joy?

That being said, remember to be honest with yourself. There is nothing wrong with keeping things that you once wanted. These things can bring joy to many people, but you need to make sure that the things on your want list are truly enjoyable and are actively used.

If a thing is rarely used or its use does not make you happier, it should be sent to the "trash". And before you get rid of the junk, take a picture of all these things together. Print the photo or save it to your computer. Some of these things are probably gifts, but in general, all this is junk that you once bought and now you do not need.

See how much money and time you spent on things that you threw away

Now take another look at the junk category and calculate how much you spent on it. Remember the junk picture mentioned above?

Attach the total value of all your junk to it so that the number is clearly visible.

With the money sorted out, now let's look at other expenses.

Time is the same resource as any other, and the resource is finite. Remember how much time you spent buying these things, and how long you used them, write down these numbers. The estimate may be rough, but add up the time spent. Now attach the resulting number to the above picture and think of other activities that you could spend all this time on. This should provide your brain with information in an easy-to-understand form.

Intangible things that make you happier

It's time to make another list. Material things can bring a lot of joy, but there are other things in our life - they cannot be bought, but they make us happy.

List them on a separate sheet of paper. If it can't be bought, it should be on the list. It doesn't matter if it only makes you smile or you jump for joy - list everything. It is likely that these are the things you really need. Remember this when you go to the store.

If you can't remember your list, put it in your wallet. And the next time you feel an overwhelming urge to buy something, expand the list and remind yourself why you don't need it.

Stay away from material things for a while, this will clarify a lot.

If you're really starting to have serious spending problems, it may be helpful to move away from material things entirely.

When you are constantly surrounded by things and have the ability to buy them, it can be very difficult to break the habit of impulse buying.

Spend the day in the park, go hiking with friends, or go sightseeing where you haven’t been before.

Basically, you have to prove to yourself that you don't need new purchases to have a good time. When you understand how much pleasure you can get without all these trinkets, you will find the strength to resist the urge to buy them.

Create a personal test called "Do I need to buy this?"

If you don't have such a test, now is the best time to develop one. When in your field of vision there is a thing that you think you need (or that you really want), then before you buy it, it must pass your test. Use in it the data that you collected before. Here are some important questions:

• Is this a planned acquisition?
• Will this thing end up on the trash list?
• Where will I put it?
• Will my budget allow it?
• Why do I want it?

The test should take into account all of your weaknesses. If you are making a lot of impulse purchases, it should include questions that solve the problem. If you have any remorse after a purchase, there should be a lot of questions in the test that make you think about using the item after you buy it.

For example, you have a soft spot for buying high-tech devices. Ask yourself what kind of problem the purchased gadget solves. If you cannot clearly answer this question or you already have a device that solves this problem, then you do not need to buy a new one.

Learn to postpone pleasure and destroy the very urge to buy impulse

We love to have immediate pleasure, and impulsive purchases generate new rushes of pleasure. We like to think that we are in control of our impulses, but in reality, the opposite is true, and this is the main problem for our wallet.

The solution is to tell the brain that waiting for pleasure is good. You can do this whenever you want something. Look at what you are planning to buy, then run that thing through the personal test mentioned above and step back for a while.

When you come back to this thing again, you will find that you only want the pleasure associated with the process of buying this thing, and not the thing itself.

If you buy something online, you can do the same: just step away from your desk, or put your smartphone in your pocket and do something else.

You can also avoid unnecessary spending by making the purchase process as difficult as possible. Block websites of online stores if your card doesn't have a lot of money. At regular stores, try not to buy things when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or simply tired, as these all overwhelm your ability to think rationally.

The last thing to consider when it comes to impulse purchases is called fake substitution. As Trent Hamm explained on The Simple Dollar blog, artificial substitution can happen if you reduce the time spent on your primary interests:

“Every time I consistently cut the time devoted to the main interests in my life, I began to yearn for them. On my “typical day” I did spend a lot of time with my family, but my other two interests were missing. And as it went on for a long time, I actually started reading less. I actually played less board games with my friends. What happened next? And then I began to compensate for my frustrations: if I can't sit down and read a book for a couple of hours, I'll look for an alternative way to fill in the tiny gaps of time that I managed to carve out. And I start spending money. "

There are probably tons of fun things in your life, so try not to replace them with impulse purchases. Always monitor whether you are happy and have enough time to do what you love to do the most. So you will not have a subconscious desire to fill the void with useless rubbish.

Multiply your money saved

After you reprogram your mind and stop buying unnecessary junk, you have some free cash. Invest this money in your future. Perhaps you need a new home, or a new car, or something else. But you won't get anything if you don't plan ahead.

Start by paying off whatever debts you have. Payments on loans, tuition fees, and even gasoline fees can make you live paycheck to paycheck.

Pay off small debts first, then large ones, and then stop creating new debts. Decide which payments are primary and which are secondary, create a payment schedule.

Once you've gotten out of debt, set up a rainy day fund.

No matter how well you planned everything, accidents, illnesses and emergencies have not been canceled.

After paying off your debts and preparing for difficult times, you can start saving for something serious. Money, not wasted on buying unnecessary junk, can be saved, invested and multiplied, which will allow you to gain a little more safety and comfort.

You've worked hard to reprogram your mind, so make sure you reap the benefits of your work for years to come.

I, perhaps, agree with the statement of Socrates. Indeed, there are many different things in the world: necessary, optional and unnecessary. As Socrates said: "Easy pastime and pleasures received immediately, without labor, neither the body can give strength, nor the soul does not deliver any valuable knowledge; on the contrary, studies combined with hard work lead to the achievement of moral perfection." opinion, by pleasure he meant things that are not needed and without which you can do without losing anything.These things are easily accessible, but they also take away the main thing - time.

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1. Hello. I think here you can agree with these two philosophers. I agree with Lao Tzu because for any old unnecessary thing you can invent a new life. So it is with emotional feelings, with material, etc. Time passes and unnecessary thoughts, feelings go to the old plan and new emotions will always come to a new life, while the old ones will remain in the same memories. And we give new life to these memories, set new goals, using life experience that no one needs.
   But Socrates also speaks correctly. You need to give up unnecessary things. Probably they were created in order to be unnecessary in a timely manner, and they always get rid of old rubbish in order to acquire a new one. This is the essence of life. We gain something, but we need to get rid of something!

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2. Good evening! I agree with Socrates, because, I believe, not every thing in the world can be useful to a person in one or another growth. A person has exactly as much as he needs for life. Sometimes, for some reason, a person cannot acquire this or that thing, but it so happens that this thing is simply not needed by a person. Thus, each person has his own value, his own essence of the thing that he needs. After all, there is no such thing as a lot or a little, there is exactly as much as a person desires. When we want this or that thing, we acquire it, but after a few days it turns out that we do not need it at all, and we do this the second and the other time. Before you buy something you need to think, do I need it? And for what? And will there be any benefit to me from this thing? It is better to follow the fact that many things in the world and in truth are unnecessary for us. And if you have already acquired some thing, then be kind and appreciate it, next time you will be wiser. I totally agree with Socrates!

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3. Hello! On reflection, I agree with the quote of Socrates, and at the same time I support Lao Tzu's statement. There are, indeed, many things in the world that we do not need. But we need these things, and someone needs these things. For example, I have a lot of new all kinds of clothes that I did not wear for some reason. But there are the poor, homeless, deprived of everything, who would be in dire need of clothing. Everyone has their own unnecessary things. But if you do not need them, this does not mean that others do not need them either.

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4. 
   After reading these statements of two philosophers, I can say that I adhere to the point of view of the philosopher Socrates. Since, a person does not always need some thing in life. For example, if a car is not important to me in my life, it has no value for me, then I will not buy it.
   But, on the other hand, Socrates means most likely the moral values ​​of a person. For example, someone values ​​their honor, while another does not need it at all, and therefore a person will no longer need such a "thing".
   Therefore, here it is worth thinking not only about material things, but also about spiritual ones. After all, for whom this or that thing will be more expensive than gold, and for whom it has no value at all or does not need it at all.

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5. 
   I cannot choose a certain side, since both philosophers are right to one degree or another, the quotes colorfully and succinctly reflect the essence of the human mood and the desire for perfection. But, however, Socrates's quote does not at all contradict Lao Tzu's quote, because Socrates does not make statements about the use of things, especially for any specific purposes. On the contrary, he confirms that in our life there are many things that we do not use, and we do not encounter many things at all. Accordingly, we do not need them! And if a person lacks a grasp of something, then an inquisitive mind connects, and we begin to look for a thing that could replace what is missing. We use things that are already unusable in one area or another, slightly modifying them and start using them again. Then Lao Tzu's statement will be appropriate!
   For example, a teacher has his own piggy bank, where there are many unnecessary things, but he does not throw them away because he knows that sooner or later they can serve for some purpose.
   That is why, in my opinion, both philosophers are right. Yes, there are many things in the world that I do not need, and yes, if a thing that is not suitable for one purpose, therefore, it can be used for another.

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6. Good afternoon, Svetlana Leonidovna. Great and wise philosophers offer us a little speculation. I personally am of the opinion of SOCRATES. Why do we need things? Apply in practice! But we never use many of them. Even the ones that just bought. Why? Yes, only because the impulse to buy a beautiful thing obscures a simple and important thought, why you need it, you need it. Many things, in essence, remain in the chest "for later", they will suddenly come in handy. And these chests with things, already dusty and "decayed", we finally take to the landfill, thereby making room for new "unnecessary" things. Lao Tzu is also right when he says that things can be used for other purposes. Yes! But if there are not many of these things, and you know what these things are and where they are. But, if you have a lot of these things, most likely you will buy or make a new thing, for a specific purpose, than you will look for it in your "chests" in order to apply it not for its intended purpose. How many practices do educators have, various games, manuals, etc. They are accumulated every year, because new games, manuals, and developments are being made. It's a pity to throw them away, and they lie dead in boxes, boxes, and pantries ... Only sometimes, there is a general cleaning, everything is revised, already very old developments ... are thrown away, something is taken out and used, and the rest is folded back into " long box ". And the games are being prepared again ... and so on.
   Free up your space. Breathe freely. There are so many things that I, and you, do not need.

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7. Hello, I believe that both philosophers are right to some extent. After all, there are things that really become unnecessary to us, but for some we find a new use, give them a new life. That is why Socrates and Lao Tzu are right, we do not need everything, but we do not throw everything away. Also, from a spiritual point of view, we forget about something and it becomes unnecessary for us, but we take care of something and find a use for it. for any purpose.

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8. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna!
   I agree with the quote by Socrates and Lao Tzu. Indeed, there are things that do not constitute any value in life. We acquire them, and then get rid of them without hesitation, or use it for some other need. And of course, again, depending on what things are we talking about? You need to look at things with an open eye and understand why you need them.

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9. Hello! Svetlana Leonidovna. According to legend, these words were said by Socrates when he entered a rich house and examined its decoration.
   I heard it a few years ago, I agreed intellectually. But I really felt them deeply, I realized them now.
   What did Socrates say? Yes, that the more you can create, the less your desire to acquire, consume, absorb. I realized that the more stable your self-esteem, the less you need to reinforce it with elegant fashionable exquisite clothes, furniture, accessories, chains, a luxury car, a director's chair.
   I began to appreciate and love in a new way those things of mine that I classify as "tools". I choose them carefully, because they are my assistants who come to the rescue in a tense moment. Sparing no expense for their purchase, because these are a computer, a camera, a car. I am attentive to the state of my house, because it protects me from bad weather and heat, accepts me and my family and helps to relax and gain strength for new steps forward.
   And everything else ...
   Souvenir shops, endless rows of counters with clothes, furniture, jewelry, and something completely incomprehensible to me - they are always full of customers. Psychologically, they are vital.
   

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10. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna.
    Each philosopher born in his era thought in his own way.
    Socrates and Lao Tzu believe both are right in their statements.
    Each person has a different concept of the value of things. Someone will first acquire a thing without thinking about whether he needs it. And some, before purchasing, will very well weigh the pros and cons. But there are people who will still have this thing or not. I think every sane person should have his own concept and reasoning about the meaning of things, both materially and spiritually.
    

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11. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna.
    I agree with the Socrates quote.
    You don't have to have a yacht, a car, or a lot of money to be happy. It is much more important not to be burdened by the past, to enjoy the present (here and now), not to need anything and not to be afraid of the future.

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12. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna.
    I believe that Socrates is right, indeed, there are so many things in the world that I do not need. But Lao Tzu is also right. If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another. For example, I was presented with some thing that, from my point of view, I do not need. She lies idle, but now I have an idea to make a craft out of this thing and take it to work, to a kindergarten, where it will come in handy!
    I would combine these two sayings into one: "There are so many things that I do not need, but if a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another."
    Udovina Galina

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13. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna!
    “There are so many things in the world that I don’t need” (Socrates)
    Many things we really do not need in life, but our human way of life in everyday life, says the opposite. We are accustomed to stock up on "just in case", "and suddenly come in handy", but from my point of view, this is not right. We ourselves litter our lives with unnecessary things. It is necessary to take as a rule: clarity, necessity and necessity.

    “There is a thing that is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another” (Lao Tzu).
    Maybe you are right. But in life, the priority of the goal should prevail. If I set a goal, then I should go to it, and not exchange opinions.
    And in conclusion:
    How many people, so many opinions. There is no one in life. Some will adhere to the opinion of Socrates, others Lao Tzu. Therefore, you need to set a purposeful goal and strive for it. Develop and try to live by the rules.
    

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14. It's hard to say which phrase is closer to me. There is some truth in both one and the other. I agree with the Socratic phrase, because it is probably difficult to imagine a person who can use all things, objects, since a person is limited by life time, interests, profession, social circle, etc. and, on the other hand, Lao Tzu's phrase appeals to me, since all people are again different. And it's great when a person can come up with a non-standard purpose of a thing. This is a trait of a creative personality or, conversely, a pragmatic one. At the expense of such people, society is changing, progress is taking place.

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15. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna!
    Janusz Korczak "How to love a child"
    "lie - do not lie, steal - do not steal ..."
    My principle: "Let the child sin" is not beautifully written, paradoxically not beautiful and not clever ... The child begins to learn the surrounding phenomena and life in all its manifestations, offered by the parents in the crib ... Loving the child does not mean that it is necessary, smiling, to pick up a nipple for him, which he throws on the floor or casually and already rudely pushes the glass of milk and pours it ... Mom in the eyes ... Already catches on the word and on the actions of the parents!
    Growing up a child acquires life experience For parents, for many he remains a child for many and even very many years. Parents' love for a child globally depends on themselves. What are they different. Let's list this series: drunkards and rowdy, brawlers, nervous patients, drug addicts , with a criminal past. Well, very positive parents: judges, lawyers, teachers, diplomats, presidents ... Now we will directly answer the question: Korczak J. "How to love a child." What should be the dose of "bad for vaccination? growing up, acquires a colossal experience: bad and good. A clever parent, with his love, guides the child on the right path: punishes (as he does), forgives, knowing that the child has thoroughly realized what he has done and "wound", as they say, "on a mustache." Loving a child means putting him on his feet. Trying to make him an honest, fair, naturally intelligent person, well, educated. This is how you need to love a child ...

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16. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna!
    "There are so many things in the world that I do not need" (Socrates
    ancient Greek thinker and philosopher).
    Things that surround a person, starting from birth, childhood, adolescence and adulthood, are needed as needed. First, we note: in order to survive, that is. for an elementary existence in the world around him. Things - to eat, develop mentally and physically, have a relatively normal rest, sleep ... The presence of things that are needed and surround a person completely from the "type" of this person, so to speak, from his attitude , character, his hobbies. Basic, ie global aspirations to achieve something more in life, as well as "hobbies", ie. small hobbies.Each person has their own individual ...
    Socrates, a thinker and philosopher who lived in ancient historical times, had his own living environment and the things that he encountered in everyday life, used those things that interested him, that he needed, that were in his area of ​​attention. ..
    From here we will say that there were a lot of things that he did not need and naturally he did not use them. In our present time of the 20th century, with an even greater mass of things, aspirations and hobbies, similarly for any person (individual), many things are not needed ...
    "If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another" (Lao Tzu-Chinese philosopher and thinker).
    In those very old and ancient times, such a huge country like China with a huge population even then did not live and develop so comfortably ...
    The large population lacked exactly those things that Lao Tzu mentions.
    If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it was partially altered, modified and used for another purpose, or in general this thing (a device, all kinds of tools, an aggregate, mechanisms were used for other purposes. They worked, performing other functions, operations, obtaining a certain positive result.
    As a result, our little philosophy based on these two statements of the great thinkers and philosophers Socrates and Lao Tzu is as follows ... The great thinkers and philosophers Socrates and Lao Tzu, in my opinion, of course, are both right.
    

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17. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna!
    "There are so many things in the world that I don't need" Socrates
    "If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another."
    Lao Tzu
    These statements sound different, but I agree with both Socrates and Lao Tzu. One quote complements the other. Each person interprets them depending on their visions, experiences, fantasies.
    If you look at the generation of our grandmothers, then every thing was necessary, because it was obtained by a hard way, and was kept in the house for many years and was always used.
    But now we live in a civilized world in which everything is. When buying a new thing, we try to throw it away or give the old one to someone.
    Everyone decides for himself what he needs and what does not. However, indeed we sometimes surround ourselves with things that are not at all necessary. As they say, just in case.
    If a person from the civilized world is swapped with a person from a tribe who lives in harmony only with nature and with himself, he will not be able to survive there without "supposedly unnecessary" and necessary things to which he is accustomed.

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18. I believe Lau Tzu is right. A thing that is not suitable in one, may be useful in another. A person must be differently developed. If a thing does not suit him in one, he can accept it in another.

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19. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna! I agree with the statement of Socrates. According to legend, Socrates said these words when he entered a rich house and examined its decoration. Indeed, we surround ourselves with things that, in fact, we do not need, but there are times when unnecessary things become my helpers who come to the rescue in a tense moment. For example, a wrench may be needed once and lie for years, or it may be needed the next day. But I also agree with Lao Tzu's statement. There are a lot of things that one thinks they are unnecessary, while others need these same things to create beautiful, and sometimes irreplaceable items. For example, corks from plastic bottles, from which you can make a beautiful garland or a flower bed from an unnecessary car tire. From there my conclusion: that unnecessary things become necessary. If you have a developed imagination and if you can create, then an unnecessary thing for you will turn into an object for creating something beautiful, necessary, and useful.

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20. Hello Svetlana Leonidovna. I am more inclined to the statement of Lao Tzu "If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another." Let me give you an example, 2017 has been declared the year of ecology. A thing that has served a person can find a second life. For example, any packaging boxes can serve as bird feeders, substitute toys for children, and pass waste paper, thereby preserving the forest. Those things that are not needed according to Socrates (everyday things) can be useful in various charity events.

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21. Hello Svetlana Leonidovna.
    One can agree with the statement of Socrates; indeed, there are many things in our life that one can do without. For example, you can live without fashionable gadgets, internet, TV, car, etc. And you don't have to be fashionable! To follow fashion means to live by someone else's opinion, and not to be the master of yourself and your life!
    It is more difficult to agree with Lao Tzu's statement, since each created thing always has its own functional, direct purpose and there is simply no need to look for any additional functions.

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22. The statements of both philosophers are equally close to me.
    Let's turn to history ...
    Socrates lived in constant need. "The less a man needs, the closer he is to the gods."
    He did not care about supporting the family. "You have to eat to live, not live in order to eat."
    Socrates always walked around the city barefoot, in one cloak. Often, looking at the many things put up for sale, he said to himself: "There are so many things in the world that I can do without." And this was relevant for him, since he was used to being content with little.
    In our time, Socrates would be called a minimalist.
    A minimalist is a person who values ​​his time and spends it on his family, and does not flip through a ton of unnecessary information in search of something incomprehensible, a person who appreciates simple things and simple relationships with them, a person who understands that comfort in the house is created with with the help of their own special gizmos, valuable for their history, and not bought in a fit of shopaholism at a random sale
    A person who adheres to the principles of minimalism rather deliberately refuses unnecessary purchases - because he understands that you should not overload your home and life with things, that it is quite possible to do without a new acquisition - he does not suffer if he refuses to spend.
    I think minimalism is fortunately a universal worldview. And everyone can apply it to their life situation to the extent that they are ready, and based on their own needs.
    And now regarding Lao Tzu's statement “If a thing is not suitable for one purpose, it can be used for another”, I would like to recall one parable. Diogenes (who was sleeping in a barrel) once saw a child drinking water from a stream, scooping it up in handfuls. “Old dunce! - shouted the sage, immediately grabbed an earthen jug from the knapsack and smashed it to smithereens. - And for so many years I've been dragging this weight with me. And that's it…
    We are educators, we teach children to create at first glance from unnecessary things.
    And things that have outlived their time acquire a new life. And that's great!
    

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23. Hello Svetlana Leonidovna! Both statements are suitable in our time and everyone will understand it in their own way. I stick more to Socrates. Life is one and you do not need to live in the past, you have to go forward!

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24. To answer Delete

25. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna. I believe that both philosophers are right as they live and Socrates says that there are many things that he does not need, but he does not think and does not want to think about what he does not have, but Lao Tzu says that how much you don’t need every unnecessary thing and absolutely every one can be used for other purposes, but if there are a lot of things and they are really not needed, then you need to revise your chests and say to cleanse your thoughts and your house from unnecessary things. You always need to think before you commit acts, because today you can say that you do not need “this”, and tomorrow you will not be able to live without “this” and everyone has their own idea of ​​what he needs and what does not. It is worth respecting your choice and the choice of your loved ones, many people think that they do not need this or that thing, but they do not think about their relatives, because if you don’t need this thing, it’s not a fact that your loved one cannot but need it. You need to take care of things and not think about where to put it or where to put it, you need to think about the fact that this or that thing can be used somewhere else, adapted to another place, in any case, I think that things need to be protected.

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26. Hello, Svetlana Leonidovna. I think both great philosophers are right. Indeed, there are things that some people do not need, but other people need. It all depends on the person himself, on his hobbies and type of activity. Each thing has its own purpose, and if it already exists and is named, then someone really needs it. Socrates said very wisely and gave food for thought. There are things that are in people's homes and they do not use them at all, then it is worth thinking. why do you need to store it at all? You can offer to give it to someone and then this thing will be in demand for more than one year. Lao Tzu says that one thing can be used for other purposes. I began to wonder what things can be used for another purpose. And I found many bright and wonderful ideas. I came to the conclusion that the statements of Socrates and
    Lao Tzu can be combined into one statement. Things that are not needed can be used for other purposes and enjoy things with a new history.

    To answer Delete

27. Elena Yarunina
    I will probably support the statements of both philosophers, since in Socrates's statement the truth sounds that in fact the things that we have sometimes turn out to be completely unnecessary for us. But we do not always get rid of them. And here the truth points to the statements of the philosopher Lao Tzu, since it really happens often - a thing that seemed completely unnecessary to us suddenly acquires a second life if we find it in a completely different application. And even if we do not give them a second life, we can give it to others, giving these things we do not need, to those whom they can still serve….

We live in a consumer society. Recently I had to go through a bitter experience - my father was gone. It is not customary to grieve for the loss of a loved one for a long time, since you need to have time to collect a lot of documents and notify different stations about what happened. When I completed these tasks, it was time to clean up my late father's apartment.

Where to begin?

In the process of sorting out all the things, I felt like I was out of breath, since each of them was filled with a memory. It took me a week to sort out the boxes that had accumulated in the apartment over the past 10 years. I sold some, donated some, and threw away some of the things.

This process was difficult for me, because my father spent a lot of effort to acquire these things. And I wondered how humanity is destroying the planet, since many of us are busy earning money to buy things that are not needed at all by the owners or their descendants.

Awareness

I decided on an experiment - to refrain from buying any things for two hundred days. Agree, most of those who have a steady income spend money thoughtlessly. Or maybe try to do without supermarkets for a while? Of course, you shouldn't take into account the purchase of food or medications. If I needed something, I borrowed it or bought not a new thing, but a used one. Through this experiment, I learned 7 key lessons.

Main lessons

1. The world is overflowing with unnecessary things ... When I started selling my father's property, I reviewed thousands of ads on the global network. I was surprised how many things are produced in our country, and then all these dishes, furniture, clothes just end up in a landfill.
2. Shopping addiction needs to be treated. At the beginning of my experiment, I began to satisfy my need for a particular product by visiting special sites. The assortment of goods was simply amazing, with many packaged items on sale that had never been used. From which we can conclude that the buying process itself is not a conscious choice, but the result of influencing our consciousness.
3. We used to think that used things are not hygienic. ... I decided to record the result of the experiment in a blog and then came across several comments that buying used products is not hygienic. That is, in the understanding of many people, all, even packaged products "are contaminated with foreign microbes." This is very strange, you must admit. Remembering at least the volunteers who are happy to help people by sharing their clothes or furniture. Where did the stereotype come from that this is only suitable for the poor?
4. Companies need supermarkets ... During all the days of the experiment, I realized that I do not feel the need for supermarkets at all. After all, all the necessary products can be purchased in a small shop near the house, where it is always cozy and polite staff works. When you go to the mall, you are guaranteed to buy unnecessary items that were not originally on your shopping list. In such stores, everything is designed for this, you plan to buy everything at once, and even save money, in reality it turns out differently - you spend much more money than you planned before leaving home.
5. It is not worth it. After 6 months of absence of spontaneous purchases and refraining from using credit cards, I felt relief. Morally, it became much easier for me. Life without shopping is great, and you don't have to constantly face the fear of running out of cash. Nothing is worth it.
6. You can pay to one person, not in a company ... Buying something over the Internet, it turns out that many sellers are decent people who really want to sell something useful to you. In such cases, by the way, bargaining is appropriate, since people are trying to return the money they have invested, and not just make money. These sellers will be happy if you make a purchase, unlike the cashiers in the malls. And you will be happy knowing that your money will end up in the pocket of an adequate person, and not a ruthless company.
7. I don't need much ... Of course, there are certain things that need to be bought only new, for example, personal hygiene products. Reasonable purchases allow you to stabilize your financial situation, because you must admit that it is much better when incomes exceed expenses. I can afford to relax with friends and take a taxi home, but I do not feel stress, but only peace of mind. We often attach importance to things that don't really matter. In my opinion, the best way to live in peace is to strive for minimalism. And to understand this, I had to endure a bitter loss - the death of my father. I hope this article helps you understand a lot. published

And this is really a relevant and correct question, because not every budget can endure all useless purchases. In order to save money, we always advise you, before placing an order for a thing (and just toss it into your basket), carefully consider the purpose and need for the next new thing.

Agree, even a very attractive designer transparent blouse may simply not fit any of your skirts, and fifth business-style trousers will certainly be superfluous in your wardrobe. So why waste your money again?

If this page has not yet been closed by you, then a well-composed image and a wardrobe not overflowing with rubbish are your goals.

So, the 8 main shopping questions (ask yourself each of them before buying any thing).

If at least one of the answers is negative, you probably don't need this thing, and you should refuse to purchase. Show patience and attentiveness while looking for the perfect new thing - and then your wardrobe and each new image will be truly harmonious.

Question # 1: Can I afford it?

First of all, think carefully if this purchase is really worth the money and if you have the means to pay for it.

It is better to think about this moment even before you click on the "add to cart" button. You may have to borrow from loved ones or withdraw a considerable amount from your credit card to pay for this purchase. Is it really necessary?

Remember: no item is worth more than you are willing to give for it.

Question # 2: How often will I wear this outfit?

Often we make spontaneous purchases, and after a while we realize that we simply have nothing to wear with this wardrobe item, or even worse, it is not at all our taste.

It often happens that a new thing is tried on one or two times, even more often for some women new things hang with tags in a common wardrobe, as they say, "until better times", which even months later do not come.

Remember: If you don’t regularly wear the purchased item, then you don’t need to spend your hard-earned money on it.

Question # 3: Do I have things that this new outfit goes well with?

It cannot be said that one of the presented questions is more important than others, but this one is really one of the main ones.

Before the next purchase, think carefully whether this item is combined with the basic outfits of your wardrobe or with accessories: if you also have to buy a blouse, bracelet, shoes, accessories for "this new skirt", is it worth taking this skirt at all?

Remember: if you have nothing to wear with a new thing, then it is better to choose another - one that will perfectly match your usual outfits.

Question # 4: Does this outfit really suit me?

Everyone is familiar with the situation when a beautiful dress from a mannequin, which you noticed at the very first moment, looks just disgusting on the figure. By the way, in 80% of cases this is exactly the case.

Of course, if you make a purchase on the Internet, then you need to sensibly evaluate your figure and make sure that this is your style. If everything happens in a real store, then it will not be difficult to impartially examine yourself in an outfit.

Remember: Don't give in to the impulse while shopping. Of course, the thing can really, really like, and you so want to buy it ... but why? So that she gathers dust in the wardrobe?

Question # 5: How long can a new thing please?

Today, we often come across trends that are called fly-by-night. Such fashionable things cease to be popular after a week. Or all as one buy them and look exactly the same, thereby excluding the possibility of having a unique image.

Remember: if the thing you are considering is a classic or an established trend, great! But if this is only a handbag that has come into fashion, do not rush to give your money for something that tomorrow they may stop talking about, and the day after tomorrow they will not be able to remember at all.

Question # 6: Will you be comfortable in this new outfit?

Will it not happen that in a new coat you will not go down the subway, and such a new outfit is irrelevant to work? Wouldn't it turn out that the perfect dress at the party becomes a problem, and you will worry every time another guest passes by you with a glass in hand? Isn't the stiletto heel too high in the new shoes - you don't want to become the object of ridicule by passers-by, not being able to walk in heels?

Remember: you should not buy an outfit in which you will constantly feel tense, and will not be able to move, work and relax in a human way. For shoes, this question is always relevant: think carefully about whether you will be comfortable wearing new sandals at the upcoming event.

Question # 7: Does the outfit fit and color it?

Yes, each of us has a figure of its own. But there are also disadvantages that you know about without outside interference. However, you should learn to objectively assess your figure: it is important to identify which style of clothing hides your flaws and emphasizes your charms.

Remember: Before you buy something, determine the right styles for yourself. If a thing that you like raises doubts about it, then, for your own sake, give it up so that the purchase does not become useless.

Question # 8: Will I regret not buying this item?

Will you be sorry if you decide not to buy the item you like? In the world we are surrounded by so many daily affairs and problems that after a short time you will not even remember this thing.

Remember: if the above is about you, then you did the right thing by leaving the new thing in the store. But if you remember this thing in a month (sometimes certain dress / cap / sandals really sink into the soul), then go! Find her again on the Internet - and then nothing will stop you!

Now you know how to understand whether it is worth spending money on the next new thing.

Look around - you are surrounded by things, a significant part of which you could easily do without. But all this money is your wasted money.

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Classmates

1. Subscription to the gym
If out of 12 visits you have mastered only three, and the subscription period is approaching the end, the conclusion suggests itself. This is not only your problem - many of those who buy subscriptions or club cards no longer appear in the gym. Don't waste your money, there are many exercises you can do at home. Absolutely free and at any time. Alone.

2. Camera
Anyone with a smartphone can easily do without a separate device for taking photos. The latest models have great cameras, plenty of storage space, and a whole list of advanced shooting features. You can take really cool pictures with them. So why do you need a separate camera?

3. Multivitamins
Regular intake of vitamins is the easiest way to feel like a person who cares about your health. Alas, this is often just a waste of money. Before buying another pack of such drugs, visit your doctor and make sure what exactly is missing in your body.

4. Chic wedding dress
How is it that, ideally, a wedding happens only once? That's right, that's why spending crazy money on an outfit that you will never wear again is not very practical. If you are going to marry again, the old dress is unlikely to be useful to you.

Add to its cost the cost of a garter, veil and other tinsel - then any budget will crackle at the seams. To avoid overspending, rent a dress or choose a versatile piece that can be used as a festive outfit.

5. Bottled water
Putting tap water into bottles and selling is a brilliant idea. Manufacturers are making big money on this. You can continue to support their well-being, or simply buy a special bottle and fill it with filtered water before leaving the house.

6. Landline telephone
Not everyone will agree with this, but in order to fit into the budget, it is worth giving up everything superfluous - including the landline phone. If every member of your family has a mobile, then a landline phone is simply not needed. It will only come in handy for people living in areas where there are interruptions to mobile communications.

7. Workout clothes
Special suits for yoga, crossfit and gym workouts are very useful if you have nothing to fill the space on the top shelves in the closet. For the most part, this is just a scam for the money of lovers of fashion. Work out in regular T-shirts and shorts, you do not go out on the podium in them.

8. Semi-finished products
Their nutritional value and shelf life are often lower, and the cost and amount of unnecessary packaging is higher. Semi-finished and ready-to-eat foods should be excluded from the shopping list first. Purchase vegetables, fruits, and other foods with minimal pre-processing.

9. Toys
Children are used to receiving toys as a gift for birthdays and any holidays in general, but you should not buy them in large quantities at once. Very soon (the account goes for weeks, if not days) the child will get bored with it, and he will want something new. Try renting toys from specialized services or temporarily sharing them with other families.

10.USB stick
What is a USB flash drive for? To store or transfer data. Is it possible to do it in another way and not waste money? Of course. Send files by email, store them in the cloud - there are a lot of options, and using a USB flash drive in 2016 is even somehow embarrassing.

11. Everything for detox
Let me tell you a secret: the body does not need help getting rid of unnecessary things. He himself copes with this perfectly, because the liver and kidneys are given to us for a reason. Advertisements for juices and herbal detox blends, bowel cleansers, and the like are a brazen attempt to sell people what they don't need. The very idea of ​​detox is just a marketing invention that has no more or less clear explanation from a medical point of view.

12. Bread maker
Everyone loves fresh bread, especially homemade bread, so getting a bread machine seems like a very worthy idea. But don’t let yourself get bogged down - excellent bread can be baked in a regular oven. Moreover, many people prefer exactly bread from the oven - they say it is softer and softer.

13. Fabric softener
Another thing that you can do without. The conditioner will replace regular baking soda. It is much cheaper, and softens the linen just as well.

14. GPS navigator
Unless you're roaming the wastelands outside of cellular coverage, a separate navigation device is clearly not a daily necessity. Any smartphone with a GPS module will cope with location determination just as well.

15. Books
We buy an interesting book, read it once, and that's it. Then she gathers dust in the closet, goes to the shelf for bookcrossing, or even ends her life in the trash. It is wiser to use the services of libraries or purchase books in electronic format.

16. Ceremonial clothes
It is unlikely that you need a tuxedo or evening dress every day. For almost the whole year, these things will hang in the closet, reminding of the amount that had to be paid for them. If you can rent ceremonial clothes, take them.

17. Magazines
The counters with them are located right next to the checkout for a reason - impulsive purchases do their job. Just imagine how much money you spend on what you read a couple of times at best. If you do buy a magazine on an ongoing basis, it is better to subscribe to it for an annual subscription. In terms of one room, the cost will be less.

18. Lottery tickets
Everyone understands perfectly well that the lottery is most often a waste of money, but the thought "What if!" haunts. The truth is that no "suddenly" exists. Statistically, you have a much better chance of facing an angry shark, being killed by a candy bar machine, or becoming president than hitting the jackpot. The second name of lotteries is "tax on stupidity", and this is clearly not without reason.

19. CDs and DVDs Yes, they are still being bought.
Why is not entirely clear. There are many places on the web where you can find both movies and music in good quality. Subscribe to the appropriate service and save a lot of money.

20. Children's shoes
Babies don't need shoes. Anyway, until they started walking. Earlier attempts to shoe them end in failure in the truest sense of the word. All these tiny shoes and boots look very cute, but they are useless.

21. Sandwich Maker
Let's call it all by their proper names: A kitchen appliance that only performs one highly specialized task is useless bullshit. Don't waste your money on unnecessary junk that will take up space in the kitchen.

22. Insurance of funds on bank cards
The possibility of cybercriminals stealing money from your account looks quite frightening, so the desire to additionally protect yourself is quite understandable. Still, think before you give a decent amount for insurance. Banks are already vigilant about security. You can get all the information about the movement of funds at any time, and if necessary, quickly block the card so that fraudsters are left with nothing.

23. Pizza accessories
Pizza requires ingredients, an oven, a baking sheet, and a knife. Everything. Instead of a regular knife, you can purchase a roller knife, but you should not spend money on baking dishes, special scissors with a spatula, a pizza oven and other items of dubious necessity.

24. Cute things for the bath
When we want to cheer ourselves up or make a gift that will definitely come in handy for the addressee, the hand itself reaches for shower gel, cream or body spray. So-so idea, because these things tend to accumulate at an insane pace and litter all the free space in the bathroom. As a result, the expiration date of such funds often expires before we have time to use them.

25. Specialized kitchen tools
They can cause different reactions, from "Wow, what a useful thing" to "Ummm, really?" All in all, you don't really need all those onion shredders and garlic peels, as well as banana, peach and avocado slicers. The good old knife and fork can handle vegetables and fruits.

26. In-app purchases
When you download a seemingly free application, and then it turns out that you still need to pay to get access to some functions, it infuriates. In the case of games, the obvious uselessness of such purchases is also annoying - when the game gets tired, what will you do with the purchased weapons and clothes for the character? Don't be fooled by developers - most paid apps and games have free counterparts.

27. Disposable drinking straws
It seems like a cheap thing, but if you use these plastic tubes regularly, it can cost a pretty penny. In addition, it is worth being more humane to the environment and not unnecessarily multiplying the amount of waste. It is better to buy each family member a reusable stainless steel straw, in the end it will be much more profitable.

28. Napkin warmer
Manufacturers simply love to profit from young parents, slipping them seemingly necessary things, without which in practice you can safely do. The napkin warmer is a prime example of this kind of junk. The napkins can be kept warm in your hands without spending a penny.

29. Extended warranty
In most cases, this service remains unclaimed. Warranty obligations imply free repair or replacement of goods in the event of a breakdown, but things break even after the extended warranty expires. In addition, repairs are often cheaper than purchasing such services.

30. Toasters with superpowers
Today, toasters know how to fry bread, make scrambled eggs, hot dogs and even leave prints on a piece of bread in the form of animals, soccer balls, butterflies and Darth Vader's helmet. The joke, as you know, seems funny only the first time. Such toasters are unlikely to please you for a long time.

31. Cable TV
It's time to cut the wires. If you have the internet, television is clearly not a necessity. In order not to miss your favorite TV series, subscribe to one of the many video services.

32. Designer breeds of cats and dogs
Do you want to have a pet of an unusual breed - Labradoodle or Toyger? Prepare to throw your money down the drain. The irresponsible approach to animal breeding, which many breeders sin, leads to the fact that dogs and cats with serious health problems are born.

Some breeds are declared safe for allergy sufferers, but no one can give a 100% guarantee, so it makes no sense to overpay for it. Millions of animals are waiting for their owners in the shelters. Maybe you should shelter one of them, and not unfasten a lump sum for the pedigree?

33. Musical instruments
Children and some adults quickly get excited about the idea of ​​learning to play some musical instrument, but then they quickly forget about this idea. The desire to master the guitar, violin or other expensive instrument melts away as you realize the need for regular practice and boring practice. Rent a tool and save your wallet from unnecessary expenses.

34. Fortified drinks
Water fortified with vitamins, minerals, flavors and sweeteners is not the best choice if you really care about your health. The benefits of such drinks are questionable, because synthetic vitamins are not always able to replace those that we get with food. Plus, these liquids are high in sugar. Make delicious water better yourself, it will turn out just as good.

35. Invitation cards
When it comes to a large-scale event (for example, a wedding), sending invitations to guests is quite an expensive undertaking. Although the guardians of etiquette insist on the need to comply with this formality, many will disagree with them. Send invitations by email or create an upcoming event group on the social network your guests use. So that everyone can correct their plans, it should be done in advance - about 6-8 weeks before the celebration.

36. High-octane gasoline
If your car engine is not designed for this fuel, then why overpay? Use the gasoline recommended by the manufacturer, so the car will definitely be fine.

37. Homemade popcorn machine
If you do not produce popcorn on an industrial scale, then you do not need a special device. Warm up a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in a saucepan, add grains there, cover with a lid and wait. It will be noisy, but delicious. The GIF below demonstrates another interesting way to make popcorn.

38. Trinkets
Various souvenirs, memorabilia - these are all useless dust collectors. Proponents of minimalism believe that in the process of getting rid of unnecessary details from the interior, such things are the first candidates for departure. So you shouldn't buy them either for yourself or as a gift.

39. Stacker for diapers
It seems to be topping the list of the most unnecessary baby things. The drive is not the cheapest thing, but there is no point in purchasing it. Putting a used diaper in a bag and throwing it away is a task that does not require much mental and physical effort.

40. Fryer
A fashionable device with which you still torment. The deep fryer is difficult to clean, it smells of burnt oil - in a word, you don't need to spend either money or space in the kitchen on this thing. For frying and deep-fat cooking, a cast-iron pan and refined oil are enough.

41. Newspapers
Subscribing to them can be quite expensive, and in the digital age it is a waste of money at all. To stay up to date with the news, you have the internet and television. In extreme cases, you can subscribe to the electronic version of the publication, so it will definitely be cheaper.

42. Device for preparing baby food
Are you sure you need a separate unit (quite expensive, by the way) to sterilize the bottles and turn the fruit into puree? Our parents somehow managed without such a technique, and so can we. If you have a blender, potato pusher, or even a fork, the process of turning vegetables and fruits into puree does not require any other special tools. Bottles can be sterilized with steam.

43. Cookbooks
Recipe books are a thing of the past. The web is full of cooking resources. Here are recipes with step-by-step photos, and practical advice, and reviews from those who have already tried to cook it. There are many cooking channels on YouTube that you can use to learn how to cook from scratch.

44. Heaped up tools
A home master's kit is a necessary thing, there is no doubt about it. But do not go to extremes and acquire too cool tools that will lie idle. Rent them when you need them - there is probably a company in your city that provides power tools for rent.

45. Products for animals
Here we are talking about excesses - toys, funny clothes for dogs, houses for cats and other things that please not so much pets as their owners. Animals usually don't care what to have fun with, so they'll be fine with homemade toys.

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