Yes, you read that right - we want you to be more materialistic!
Materialism is about prioritizing material possessions over spiritual values. We won’t go as far as saying that the material should take precedence over the spiritual, but we will show you how by caring more about physical things you will be more aligned with your values if those include sustainable and responsible living.
Here are our top six reasons why being more materialistic is better for you and the planet:
You will enjoy the purchasing process more. Having the right intention makes all the difference between fun and drudgery. Being thoughtful about what you bring into your life and more selective about what you buy is a bit like planning a trip to a destination you’ve always wanted to visit. You research all the best places to go to, how to get there, what and where to eat, etc. The anticipation of the trip is half of the fun. Then, when you get to the destination, you supplement all the knowledge you learned virtually with treasures of your own - whether discovering that some of the advice was outdated or finding a beautiful spot that is ‘just yours’. Being more materialistic will also help you discover really cool products and producers. When you are serious about what you want, thoughtful about your needs, and committed to your joy, you’ll discover niche products you would not have known about if you just picked the first thing off the shelf, virtual or physical.
You will enjoy the purchase more. Once you have found and bought what is just right for you, you will enjoy it a lot more than an impulse purchase you did not really need in the first place. Think back on the last purchase you took your time with. Once you received it, how did you feel? Probably, proud and overjoyed! Imagine having a chair in your living room, an awesome shade of red, that swivels back and forth, first welcoming guests to the house and then offering them a cozy place to relax in. It might take months to find it, but once it is in the house, everyone will be clamoring over it, and it fits much better than the table you scrambled to get last minute to accommodate the family visiting for Christmas.
You’ll take better care of your belongings. If you truly bought what meets all your wants and needs, you are likely to take better care of it. Ever bought something on an impulse only to completely forget about cleaning or repairing it in the hope that it will get used up or broken faster so that you can get a new (hopefully) better one? That would never happen with your favorite things. You likely dust them, wash them and polish them often and, possibly (gasp!), with joy… The longer your favorite pair of jeans lasts, the fewer new pairs you will need to buy, making you an excellent steward of sustainability. How often and how well you give your favorite things a clean or regular maintenance will have a direct impact on how many years of use you’ll be able to enjoy. There’s a happy medium to keep in mind though – your favorite sweater won’t thank you for washing it every day, but once a year is not a good alternative either. Savvee app provides you with simple steps you can take to care for your belongings.
Instead of tossing the items you own, you’ll be able to pass them on. After hopefully many years of happy use, there comes a time to say goodbye. There are always at least a couple of ways of discarding, and throwing it in with your trash is the worst of the options. Reusing, recycling, upcycling, and donating are much better for the environment and often accessible in the communities we live in. Likely, someone needs the thing you no longer want - college students moving into their first apartment will gladly take less-than-new furniture and flatware. The Buy Nothing Project founded in 2013, aims to encourage hyper-local giving and taking. Outside of that platform, there might be an app that your neighborhood uses to share information, be it a Facebook or Google group, a Neighbors app, or just a WhatsApp group. You can post there if you have items you want to dispose of or find. And there’s an added benefit of getting to know your neighbors! There are also many organizations that will take your items and pass them on to those who might still use them. Search for ‘donating [your item]’ to find the locations, some might even offer pick up! Electronics recycling programs also come to mind - often your old computer, tablet, or phone can be refurbished and help others. There are organizations that will take your devices, fix them and pass them on to schools, shelters etc. who will then use them to teach, allow communication in emergencies, and more.
Explore upcycling. When you can not find anyone to take your stuff off your hands to use as is, either you yourself or someone handy could make something new and beautiful from your old things, that’s what upcycling is! It often looks remarkably cool.
Recycle or trash. When you loved using something, sometimes there is truly no life left, and so, following Marie Kondo's advice, thank the item and put it in the recycling bin or trash. Importantly, do not ‘wish-cycle’ - find out if the item that you are discarding can be recycled in the area where you live, and if not, just put it in the trash to avoid contaminating the recycling stream.
Have you ever been to an exhibit of pottery, furniture, or other ancient treasures, and admired the craftsmanship and the meaning behind the item? You do not have to have an artisan hand-craft you a vase (although you could!) to care about the things that you purchase. And when you truly are materialistic, your possessions matter more to you, creating a truly sustainable lifestyle.
What are your most treasured possessions? Let us know and download the Savvee app to help your items hold their value for longer!
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