Buying Strategies

This follows on from the last post. Marketing is a way to get us to buy stuff we usually do not need. I am going to suggest a form of "counter marketing", a series of buying strategies that are designed to encourage conscious consuming and a means of undermining the sales strategies that corporations and big retailers engage in - to the detriment of us all.

• Think Small - Try wherever you can to avoid big chains and supermarkets. Use small local retailers. Refuse to use huge retailers on principle - or at least as little as you can. It may cost more sometimes but you are getting more back in value for your community and environment.
  
• Buy Local - Try your best to get what you buy produced as locally to you as possible. Buy seasonal produce. Cut down on exotic products that have to be shipped vast distances. Support producers in your local community.
  
• Buy Second-Hand - There are many, many charity shops in every town in the UK and Ireland. It may take a little more work but you can be sure that buying 2nd-hand books, clothes, furniture, kitchen wares is a winner all-round. It cuts down on waste, the profits are used to benefit society, you know that the producer (the person who donated the goods) is not exploited in its production.
• Shop for Value - buy with an eye to longevity and repairability. Don't fall into the trap of being cheap and buying often.
  
• Shop Less Often - Plan and think about your shopping. Buy in bulk if you can. It is usually cheaper. The most important thing is to think about what you need and leave yourself less open to impulse buying. It is also a big time saver.
  
• Buy More Basic Goods - Especially where food is concerned, buy basic ingredients and fewer processed and "convenience" goods. If you can make your own clothes or travel under your own steam - this too provides a means of shopping at a more basic level.
• Boycott - Simply do not buy products (or from retailers) who do not do meet your ethical standards. The growth in the market for Fairtrade coffee is due to a growing boycott of unfairly-traded brands.
• Buy nothing day - Set aside one day a week or even one day a month when you will not buy anything. And if you can do it for one day, see if you can do it for two. You can plan your purchases so you do not need to consume every day.
• Chart your own consumption - Do what the marketers do! Keep tabs on how much and what you spend stuff on. Look at what were impulse buys and what is stuff you actually needed. Know your own consumption patterns and see what you can do buy less and buy more wisely.
  

In order to live simple, in my opinion, you need to take responsibility for your consumption. You need to consume consciously and not let producers push stuff onto you. You need to dictate what you consume and not let others decide (by whatever means) what you should be buying.