how to resist ads and shop intentionally 

An excellent reminder that spending shouldn't be entertainment

Some purchases are undeniably necessary. It's the indulgences that catch me out. I have to remind myself how good it feels to leave the store empty-handed. Then give myself cheers and applause.

One thing I've learned is that buying something just to upgrade doesn't always give you what you want. A few months ago we bought a new TV because I really wanted a sharper picture quality. Our old TV was about 10 years old and still worked fine, but I got it into my head that the picture wasn't as good as I wanted it to be so we gave that TV to our son and bought a 4K quality TV. What I didn't realize is that most shows aren't produced in 4K, so it made very little difference to the picture quality for most of the things we watch. We were very disappointed but it taught me a valuable lesson about not buying something a) without doing your research and b) just to upgrade when what you have is perfectly fine. I realize most minimalists don't even own a TV, but it's just an example of unnecessary and wasteful spending and learning to be satisfied with what you already have :).

For online-shopping i use wishlists. I put my wish there so i don't forget it completly. The most things on the list are not important enough and i forget about them. Other wishes for more usefull things appear again and again and after enough thinking about all the aspects i then decide whether to buy it or not (like you did with your new camera). We rarely go shopping, but sometimes we need to for clothes, shoes etc. especially for our teenage kids. These occasions feel harder to handle because its about their wishes and needs and i feel under pressure to have to decide immediately. So our way to handle that is, that we do not go shopping as a hobby - we only go shopping when we really need (or at least want) some clear thing. And there are a lot of things i do not buy at all, for example decorations (we simply have more than enough) or flowers and pillows (our cats would kill them 😂). My husband is much more in the mood to buy things that we could need or use, but most times he asks me first and i tell him that we don't need it because we could live without it by now 😉.

I think for me one thing that really helped me is being really honest with myself about the average weather in my city (veeeery hot and dry) and know that many of my "dream clothes" would make it a sweaty, overheated hell to go about my day. So I don't have my dream style but I get to stay cooler and sweat wayyy less :)

Love your down to earth approach

I don’t believe in buying for the sake of it. I may see something I like then really think about it, I won’t buy compulsively. Your video makes a lot of sense. 🙂

Great video. I like your idea of thinking what you gain by not spending the money. For me analyzing where I spend money and doing short term no buys helps to curb my desire to spend.

Last month I was on vacation, so I had an extra budget to spend without any remorse exactly because I could save prior to my trip by living frugally. Now I'm back to my normal spending, just buying food, medicine, paying for transportation and replacing items as needed. Feels good to actually see the results paying off!

You inspire me to be more mininal, for sure!

I go to the grocery store to shop for food. I go with a list and buy the same things over and over again. We make the same meals regularly. They are healthy meals and not meant to entertain. We never eat out. I don't go shopping for any reason. If I need something I shop on Amazon or another online store and purchase it there and I only buy things I actually need. If my walking shoes wear out I buy the same brand and the same size again at an online shoe store. Same for my husband's stuff. I get enough entertainment on RU-vid and streaming videos and walking every single day. After living this way for the past 28 years we have accumulated lots of wealth and not much else.

Hi Lia, thanks for another interesting video. I don't spend much money on clothes, I usually buy these when the old ones are falling apart. Most of my money goes on bills and supporting my family. There's usually not much left over for savings. The cost of living here in Australia has really sky rocketed. Whether you're renting or paying a mortgage, it's become a real struggle!

I appreciate you so much 🥰 you are a breath of fresh air and reality, inside a world filled with deception. Thank you for your content! Every video you make I scream inside because it's so relatable!!! I have a very similar mindset as you :) funny enough, I was chopping my hair when you uploaded the video of chopping yours, and same when I was decluttering you had came out with a video about it as well! I look forward to watching more... Much love from California!!! ❤

Liked from the opening message that adverts are trying to remind us why their products are necessary even when it’s not true! ❤

Generally, i don't buy into adverts. Bloggers showcasing their hauls, though... But low income keeps me from compulsive and excessive purchasing 😅

Hi! To resist impulsive shopping I try to think how much time will mean taking care of this 'object' in daily life or moving places. So if I really want something, it should compensate for all that time consumption and mental space. I love your videos! Greetings from Chile :)

I am really good at not spending money on myself, I changed my lifestyle a couple of years ago and couldn't have been happier. Now I am a stay at home mom to a 2 year old and I buy him so much stuff that I vow to myself I won't. I just can't resist going shopping (with him) because it's so boring doing the same things over and over. I can litterally never do what I want and playing and reading the same things over and over is just eradicationg all of my good intentions and beliefs that we don't need much for him. I struggle so hard with this and wish I could stick to gifts for his birthday and Christmas only!!

Thank you😊🌱

I needed to hear this today. I am struggling because we are moving into a new place, and I have the funds to do so much w/ it so I am itching to spend all that money to get the things I want to make it look good & be functional. I need to remember: Basics, Tink! I worked rly hard to save myself up to this amount and I dont want to blow it on stuff just bc I think it'll be fun. Ugh. But its hard, because I want all the aesthetics. So I'm trying to reel it in and I need as much of this content as I can manage, and so I thank you

And once again - yes! Thank you for your help for us, dear Lia 🙏

Lets set ourselves Free and throw off the chaîns of our "stuff".😊

Just the video i needed💛

Thank you❤

It happens that I cannot find that vest or trousers that I wish. A certain fabric, color, etc. Then I buy a second choice ‘look-a-like’, but that does not satisfy. It would probably help if I allow myself to spend more.

when will you post your temu haul?

what is your age?

Its a good time to stop being a "consumer" in the traditional american sense. Boycotting the economy will help the common man and woman. Stop buying their overpriced products!😊 lets weaponize spending!