Consumerism - Minimalism (Part - 2)

 

Well let's first understand this term consumerism. It means encouraging the consumption of goods and services as a never ending cycle. So in simple words we the people are consumers who will constantly be bombarded with ads promoting that we need certain things to increase our standard of living. 

What's wrong in increasing the standard of living?

Let's be honest there's nothing wrong. It is good to get stuff that ease our lives like mixer and grind instead of the old ways of grinding spices, television for entertainment, mobile phone for communication, vehicle for travelling.

So where does the problem arise?

It arrises when we start buying more stuff than we actually need just because we saw a ad saying the existing one is not good. We will always find something better coming up in the market each day. It has become a way of life. 

Most of the time the products are purposefully made so fragile that we end up replacing them. Eg: The glass back on mobile phones are good looking but what's the point when we can't carry it without a case because it is fragile. Previous phones had plastic or metal back which was at least durable. Moreover the normal phones become slow in a span of 2 years and battery capacity becomes bad and we are forced to push our budgets up to buy a better lasting phone next time. We all know how products where made 20 yrs back. Our Nokia phones which were durable and long lasting is one example. 

I remember my parents had the same refrigerator for a span of 20 yrs but the ones we buy these days hardly last 6 years without needing a repair. Services for the normal products are also bad. We end up paying not only for the product but also for the all the service and expenses that come along with it.

What to do now?

Just being mindful of what we buy. If we buy electronics buy the ones that have good service centre and take care of your device by placing it away from water and keeping dedicated space to store them and charging them properly by not waiting till they drain off. Buy stuff only when u need them and not because of social pressure to look cool. Last thing, buy what adds value to your life and serves purpose.