Buy Now. Cry Later.

 I had to hold myself back from laughing after I heard Karoline Leavette read off this ridiculous statement: "China has what we have, what every country wants, what we have: The American Consumer."

What planet is this woman living on? Has she been to a store lately. That's if the store is still open (15,000 American stores have closed up shop in 2025 so far, and it's only April. Click here for that info.)

News Flash To Karoline: Americans are broke. They don't have any cash left to buy anything. They've cleaned out their savings. They have exhausted their retirement funds. They are maxed out on their credit cards. They've borrowed from their family & friends. They are facing layoffs. They can't pay the rent or their mortgages. They're being evicted. They're facing foreclosures. Their cars are being repossessed at record speeds (5,418 a day) Who in their right mind would want a consumer such as that?

Is that all we Americans are good for? Consumerism? We keep buying junk we don't need, stuffing it in closets or storage units we can't afford to pay, only to eventually after a year or so, dump it in a landfill or drag it over to a Goodwill store for someone else to buy and profit off it? When are We The People going to wake up? Probably not until the entire global economy goes under. Now is the (perfect) time for us to learn the hard way: by going without. Painful as that is going to be but unfortunately for most of us, the only way we will learn from our mistakes. And consumerism is a HUGE mistake.

Thankfully there is a trend going on now called 'No Buy 2025' and people are doing just that. They are only buying what they need, whatever is a necessity and ignoring consumerism, FOMO and the like.

A growing trend, especially among younger generations, involves actively reducing consumption and prioritizing mindful spending and repurposing. This trend, often referred to as "No Buy 2025" or "underconsumptioncore," encourages people to buy less, spend less, and focus on maximizing the use of existing items.  Click here for more info.

Note to all my readers: STOP BUYING! Make a list of what you need and start 'shopping' at Goodwill,

garage sales, thrift shops, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Next Door and yard sales, etc.

Support your local neighbor instead. 

Key aspects of the trend:

• No Buy/Low Buy Challenges:

  Many individuals participate in "No Buy" or "Low Buy" challenges, where they commit to limiting or completely eliminating non-essential purchases for a set period, often a year. 
• Mindful Consumption:

  The trend emphasizes thinking about the need for purchases, encouraging people to consider if they truly need an item before buying it. 
• Repurposing and Secondhand Shopping:

  Participants often embrace repurposing items, thrift stores, and sharing platforms to find alternatives to buying new. 
• Underconsumptioncore:

  This term, popularized on social media like TikTok, highlights the rejection of excessive consumption and a shift towards prioritizing sustainability and resourcefulness. 
• Motivations:

  The trend is often driven by financial pressures, economic uncertainty, a desire to pay off debt, and a growing awareness of the environmental impact of overconsumption. 

Examples of how people are participating in the trend:

• "No Buy 2025":

  Many individuals are vowing to avoid buying new clothes, makeup, books, and other non-essential items for the year. 
• Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping:

  People are actively seeking out thrift stores, online marketplaces, and sharing platforms to find used items and reduce their consumption footprint. 
• Repurposing and Upcycling:

  Individuals are finding ways to repurpose old items, turn them into new ones, or extend their lifespan, rather than discarding them. 

  
  

  
  

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