In the past seven years, I’ve moved seven times. One of those moves involved helping my mom pack up and leave our childhood home. Each time, I’ve had to sort, pack, and unpack, and if there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s this: we have a lot of stuff.

I’m not talking about the essential, high-quality items we rely on daily. I mean the other stuff—the things that go straight from a moving box to the back of a closet, never to see the light of day again.

Have you ever stopped to think about why we’re constantly buying new things? Or how our relentless consumption fuels companies to churn out more and more? What if we all decided to stop buying poorly made, unnecessary items and instead embraced a simpler lifestyle—at least until we’ve settled into our forever homes?

Here are some questions I ask myself before buying (to avoid falling victim to mass consumerism):

1. What do I actually need, and why do I need it?
   Am I buying this for instant gratification? Could I get the same satisfaction from something simpler, like treating myself to a dessert or coffee?

2. What purpose will it serve in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?

3. How often will I really use it?

4. Do I already have something at home that can serve the same purpose?
   If it’s a specialty item, will I use it enough to justify the purchase?

5. Can I borrow it from a friend first?
   Testing it out might help me decide if it’s worth buying.

Let me give you a couple of examples of when I've done this:

When we moved into a student home, it desperately needed cleaning. Instead of buying a whole new set of cleaning products just for that satisfying Instagram-worthy restock, I rummaged through every cupboard in the house to see what was left behind. I managed to clean the entire place using those supplies before deciding which products I truly needed to replenish.

Another time, I needed an upholstery cleaner for some old chairs. I could have easily bought one online for $100 to $150, but instead, I reached out to my siblings. It turned out my sister not only had one but also had leftover cleaning solution for me to use.

Now, you might be thinking, “Sophia, I already do this. Relax.” But really think about how often you accumulate new things—whether it’s buying in bulk because of a discount, gifting friends knick-knacks they’ll never use, trying out the latest skincare product, or purchasing a fun costume for a single event.

Instead, consider actively repurposing, re-gifting, or creating something meaningful from items you already own. This simple shift can impact not only your own future but also the future of the next generation—and the one after that.

If we want a greener world, we need to adjust our mindset and rethink what we truly need—not just as individuals, but within our communities.

We’ve only got one planet, so let’s not mess this up.

- Sophia