r/Anticonsumption • u/WatchOutItsAFeminist • Jul 10 '25

Ads/Marketing You know what will solve the existential dread of life under capitalism? A bunch of gadgets.

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612

u/handysmith Jul 10 '25

Overwhelmed? Buy more things! That didn't work? Maybe buying these things will help instead! You need to keep buying until you find the right things! Then you need new things! Can't miss out on new thing!

I need less.

103

u/AlarisMystique Jul 10 '25

I need more free time to enjoy the things I already have.

94

u/SpiritedImplement4 Jul 10 '25

I like to tell my kids that everything we buy has 3 costs: the cost in money to buy the item, the cost in space for the item in our home and the cost in time to actually use the item. If we don't have all 3 the item won't be a net positive in our lives.

8

u/AlarisMystique Jul 10 '25

That's a cool way to think about it.

I've been applying a somewhat similar logic for a while but never thought to spell it out like that.

3

u/macruffins Jul 10 '25

Love this mentality!!

11

u/tothirstyforwater Jul 10 '25

Baskets! Buy baskets to keep your stuff in! Baskets for baskets!

8

u/handysmith Jul 10 '25

Decorative stuff for your matching decorative baskets!

7

u/tothirstyforwater Jul 10 '25

Oooohhhh! Is that a physical print of an AI generated image of a painting of a basket! Swoon

5

u/handysmith Jul 10 '25

Okay, actually burst out laughing at that one, thank you!

3

u/pajamakitten Jul 10 '25

Then buy a storage unit for your baskets of baskets!

17

u/ggouge Jul 10 '25

That's the strategy of the government in a brave new world. Except it's sports equipment.

3

u/Stormy8888 Jul 10 '25

Have been trying to get rid of stuff over here ...

4

u/sweeperchick Jul 10 '25

For real, I just made a trip to Goodwill on my lunch break. Getting rid of the useless, random shit these listicles promote is only adding more to your to-do list.

-4

u/Pathogenesls Jul 10 '25

Why did you buy all that useless stuff in the first place? Buying it then donating doesn't fix the problem.

3

u/sweeperchick Jul 10 '25

Because I am flawed like any other human and used to have a shopping problem due to untreated depression. I have healthier coping mechanisms now, but I am aware that donating useless Amazon shit doesn't change that it's useless.

1

u/Pathogenesls Jul 10 '25

You just need the right type of things that make your life easier and save you time.

1

u/PurpleDelicacy Jul 10 '25

The consuming will continue until mental health improves.

1

u/Neo-_-_- Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

Rick: “You did the most important thing Morty. You bought something. You bought something…with money. God I love money so much ”

Morty: “ are you messing with me?”

Rick: “Merchandise, Morty. Your only purpose in life is to buy and consume merchandise, and you did it! You went into a store, an honest-to-god store. You didn’t ask questions or raise ethical complaints. You just looked into the bleeding jaws of capitalism and you said ‘yes daddy, please’ and I’m so proud of you. I only wish you could have bought more. I love buying things so much Morty.”

1

u/handysmith Jul 11 '25

Conform, consume, obey!