Time to Slow Down on Shopping?
I didn’t realize when I got my new TV cabinet that it would start a shopping problem. The Facebook Marketplace ad said “Classic 1970s,” and I went out of my way to get it. It was beautiful! Next, I bought a wooden table and a baby gate for my 3-year-old nephew’s visit, even though I don’t have a baby. I thought, “Why not spend $20?” I also wanted a wooden bed headboard, but it didn’t fit in my car.
Then, I started seeing more items on the app that I wanted, like rollerblades and a third vacuum cleaner. Facebook Marketplace began in 2007 but got popular in 2016, filled with second-hand goods. It now has one billion monthly users.
After I picked up three items in two days (outdoor box, vacuum, and a Talking Heads poster), I noticed a pattern. I would scroll Facebook Marketplace and buy things under $50. My house was getting crowded. I thought about why I was doing this and talked to an expert, Rachel Stansfield, who studied thrifting. She said many people feel that reusing is better than buying new, viewing it as a form of rebellion against capitalism. People also want to create their unique style instead of buying the same things everyone else has.
Stansfield mentioned that humans are wired for scarcity, which means that even in a time of plenty, we might feel a strong urge to hunt for good deals. I wondered if my casual browsing was fulfilling a deep need to find bargains.
Shirley McCombe from Bay Financial Mentors explained another issue with Facebook Marketplace: it creates urgency. People rush to buy because they fear someone else will get the item first. This makes us act quickly without thinking about whether we really need something.
For example, I bought the Talking Heads poster thinking it would look great on my wall. Everyone around me wanted it too, making me panic about missing out. I had planned to wait to buy decor but ended up buying it on a week when I shouldn’t have spent much.
Now, I realize it might be time to slow down. McCombe suggests creating a spending plan. Identify how much you can spend on fun things or home items and stick to it. You should know if you have too many of something and need to save money for big purchases.
So, I need to plan my finances better and perhaps find a new hobby. I do have those rollerblades I never intended to buy, which I could use for fun.
