Purchase distancing

The watch-spend-work treadmill from the Story of Stuff.

Ads tell us to buy things. We buy them. We go to work to earn back the money. Then the cycle repeats.

Locking down the treadmill

In recent times, the only shops open have been the "essential services". For once we could only buy what we actually need.

That's a significant change from usual times, and (after a brief surge of stockpiling) our spending has gone way down.

The treadmill strikes back

Of course the online world means that we can purchase most things even when stores are closed.

Advertising and business love smartphones. For them it's like having a cash register in every home. In normal times there's a gap between when we see and ad and when we make a purchase. Marketers like to close that gap because time allows us the chance to realise that the purchase isn't worth it.

In 2020 we all know that creating distance protects our physical health. The same things applies for our financial health.

"Purchase distancing" is a time gap between an ad (or idea) and a purchase. Want to purchase something? Write the item on a piece of paper, or as a note on your phone. Come back to it later. Three days, ten days, 30 days - it's up to you (and probably depends on the item).

If the item is worthwhile, you'll still want it. If not, lose the piece of paper or delete the phone note.

Purchase distancing can save you a bunch of money, and keep a lot of future clutter from entering your home.

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