There’s a bit of a phenomenon going on in Australia right now with a whole range of ‘cheap’ homewares being sold by the big discount department stores. I watched a piece on a nightly current affairs show about how people have gone ‘crazy’ buying up big with cheap copy ‘designer’ homewares, even to the point of shelves being emptied on the day the products go on sale. I just shook my head. I can’t understand why. Maybe it’s because I’ll always make do with what I’ve already got and keep the money in my purse or it’s because I hate the thought of these cheaply made products eventually ending up as landfill because the stores will inevitably bring out a new range every season. Here’s 6 smart strategies I use to avoid buying this ‘stuff’.
1. Do I really ‘need’ it
You have to ask yourself “do I really need it” when it comes to buying stuff you think you need. Knowing the difference between wants and needs is something I always ask myself before I purchase anything, even if it is secondhand. Needs are your basic requirements for living like food, clothing, shelter and water. A $20 ‘side table’ that looks like an upturned waste paper basket is something I definitely don’t need.
2. Make do with what you have or source it for free or secondhand
We’ve been doing some landscaping recently and created a small paved area to enjoy a morning coffee or to find a quiet spot to read and enjoy the garden. It would be just perfect with a couple outdoor chairs and a small table. I do like the look of the chairs above but at $39 each I just couldn’t justify the price. I did, however, find two outdoor chairs on the side of the road for free which are currently being made over with products I already have at home. I could’ve done without chairs and a side table for this area but the opportunity presented itself to grab these two free chairs so I saved spending any money and I helped the environment by not letting the chairs end up as landfill. There are plenty of free websites like Freecycle where you can list your ‘wants’ or check out recycle shops at your local tip for things you might ‘need’. We pick up so many things for our home from these places and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.
3. Does it serve a purpose
Often I could be so tempted to buy some of these decorator items. They might just fill that spot on your night stand or on a bookshelf but really, does it serve a purpose. The above decorative apple is $25 and I just couldn’t justify buying it even if I did have a spare $25. I’d rather use sentimental items that belonged to my Mum or grandmother to decorate with which mean something and I could look at them with fondness. Changing the look with a photo, a book on a book stand or an arrangement of greenery from the garden helps to decorate a home plus if you’re displaying an old vintage vase that belonged to your grandmother, you’ve got the added bonus that it can hold flowers. Even things the kids make can be displayed and rotated on a regular basis.
4. Understand the value of the product
I did happen to see this rhinoceros planter at my local store last week and I was so tempted to buy it even at only $6. It would look great in my new outdoor area with a plant in it and even though it was only $6 I told myself I have many empty ceramic pots at home that could serve the same purpose and for $6 I could buy 6 loaves of bread, three 250gm blocks of butter or 2 kilos of sausages for example. I passed at buying it and felt so much better for it.
5. Can I make it myself
This is one strategy that I always ask myself. Needless to say I have about 100 projects I’d like to get busy with and about 100 unfinished projects. Even though the above cushions are only $10 each, ask yourself “does it serve a purpose” and understand the value of the item. Really, why do we need a dozen cushions on the lounge or bed (even though I’m a little guilty of having a lot of cushions)? They are purely for decorative purposes. If you want people to use them to rest their heads, have a couple very plain cushions that can be easily unzipped and thrown in the wash. Styles come and go and you’ll soon get sick of the cushion. I know because I buy them all the time from markets or online garage sales for about $1 each and sometimes get them for free. Even if you aren’t crafty, there a million and one ways to cover a cushion using a no sew method or even an old woolen jumper. You’ll be saving money, saving the environment and maybe feeling a little proud that you made it yourself.
6. Throw out the junk mail and only get what you need from the store
I don’t look at the junk mail from these stores. It would be quite easy to fall in love with the styling they use in their photographs and think that you could create that same look in your home. When I was tempted by the yellow rhino above, I did have a purpose going into that store to only buy some stakes for my garden. That’s where I saw the rhino, I pondered for a moment and then kept walking. If you don’t look at the junk mail, you won’t even know what they’ve got for sale. Easy!
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The marketing teams from these stores really have worked out a fantastic formula to entice people to want to have all these new decorator homewares. I know they won’t be getting my money. I’ll look out for them all in the second hand stores or the tip shop because that’s where they’ll all end up when the store brings out next season’s range. Save your money and spend it on an experience or put it towards something the whole family can enjoy. I bet your homes all look lovely as they already are. Your wallet will thank you, your family will thank you and you won’t be increasing the profits of these stores who make one hell of a profit by having everything cheaply made from overseas suppliers.
At the end of the day, I’m not going to dictate what you should and shouldn’t spend your money on but something needs to be said about social media and clever marketing and how easily people are influenced by consumerism and what everyone else is doing. I’ll keep my money thanks and when those little trinkets finish up at the second hand store, I might think about buying them.
"Does it serve a purpose?"is a question I've started asking quite a lot when thinking of buying a new item. Often the answer is "no".
Great post x
See I really want those chairs because they are so comfy BUT we don't need them. It still doesn't stop me dreaming though 😛
I do you the "can I make it myself" line. But I also add "do I have the time to make it myself". Just because I could make it myself doesn't necessarily mean that I want too.
I can't believe you wrote this post, it's like you were reading my mind while in Kmart last week! I saw all these items you have listed here and remember thinking to myself 'yeah, they're nice, but do I seriously need them'. My conversation with myself ended up resulting in the answer of NO! And I am one of those people with 'NO JUNK MAIL' on my letterbox. Not only does it overwhelm you with crap, it's a damn waste of paper!
Great advice. There really is a difference between want and need and want is so powerful. I always stop and think about what else I could spend the money on, or if I will regret not buying it. I really should stop reading the catalouges. #TeamIBOT
Have to say I was tempted by the chairs too but end of the day I have lovely outdoor chairs that have worked well for 8 years and will continue to seat my but for at least another 12 since they came with a 20 year warranty. Those ones will last a summer and they'll go brittle.
Anne, all of these are very good things to keep in mind. The older I get, the less I care about "stuff", and the more I care about people and having experiences with them. I might also ask myself, "If I don't buy this $20 thing, could I donate some of that money to a favorite charity? 9 times out of 10, I feel it would be much better spent. 🙂 I'd much rather buy a few groceries for the local food pantry than to have a yellow rhinoceros, lol! And sometimes not- sometimes I want the yellow rhinoceros. But the point is to make more thoughtful, more careful purchases. Thank you for a wonderful article.
Thanks Joy! You're absolutely right though. Sometimes it's ok to get things (like the yellow rhino) but being more mindful of each purchase is healthy for our conscience, and our pocket. Thanks for stopping by.
Anne xx
I bought those cushions the other day, but it is the first thing I've bought to decorate our home since we move, so I don't think I'm in danger of going overboard. And while new cushions on the couch aren't 'needed' our old ones were on the way out, so I could justify it.
I do hear you though on all the buying stuff. Why do we need things to sit on shelves because they are in vogue? I've never understood that.
I figure I'll start seeing these items turning up in op shops soon enough & I can buy them then if I still want them-they'll be cheaper & I'll be supporting that charity instead of Kmart!
Absolutely Mon! My thoughts exactly.
Anne xx
You are so right. It would be so easy to go completely crazy and buy all the things. But great advice to ask yourself do I really need this! Xx
Thanks Shannon. Even if I had the money, I could go crazy but I still wouldn't feel right about having all that 'stuff' in my house. Thanks for stopping by.
Anne xx
Haha, I need to keep this post in mind the next time I go to buy something I don't need! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks Jess. (Don't we all! lol)
Anne xx
Awesome post. I stopped by to let you know that this was our most clicked link at last week's Teach Me Tuesday party. You will be featured this week!!
Thanks so much for linking up with us!!
Have an awesome week 😉