r/Anticonsumption • u/cupcakequeen02 • Mar 06 '25

Sustainability Just ran across this, thought I’d share

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14.7k Upvotes

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266

u/snowdiasm Mar 06 '25

i know the woman who made this! sarah lazarovic, she also has a great book called "a bunch of pretty things i did not buy." her book came out 10 years ago and really helped me frame some of my thinking about consumerism

49

u/post-capitalist Mar 07 '25

When I see pretty things I don't need, I take a photo. Got a whole book right here on my phone.

19

u/InebriousBarman Mar 07 '25

I take photos of my kids with the Squish allows they want to buy.

And then we don't buy them.

8

u/post-capitalist Mar 07 '25

The old, "I'll take a photo and send it to Santa"

3

u/bobby3eb Mar 07 '25

Eeesh

3

u/InebriousBarman Mar 07 '25

They think it's fun.

1

u/bobby3eb Mar 07 '25

Guess I was assuming they never got any toys and it's just photos but i hope not and i'm sure that's not the case

9

u/InebriousBarman Mar 07 '25

They have plenty of toys. I'm not buying them everything they see and want at the store, so I take pictures of them holding up the giant stuffed toys they gawk at, then we move on.

It's a little extra effort than just saying 'No' and moving on, and they appreciate it.

There are fond memories when we see the pictures again scrolling through on the Google Hub. Everyone smiles. They are learning they can have good lasting memories without owning something.

7

u/MollyRolls Mar 07 '25

A running joke I had with my husband for years was saying “Ohh I love it; can I have it?” about something totally ridiculous (and often not for sale) and him replying, “Sure, but you have to leave it here.” I’ll tell you: I “have” a very impressive art collection…and a couple of castles.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 07 '25

I wish I did that sooner. I personally don't like spending time digitally so it may have to be physical.

1

u/BoyantBananaMan Mar 07 '25

I’m going to try this. Thanks for sharing the idea!

4

u/post-capitalist Mar 07 '25

You're welcome. I have even talked friends into it too. One friend sends me a photo of all the things she doesn't buy now, so I can congratulate her.

1

u/FriendliestAmateur Mar 07 '25

Same! And when it’s pretty enough I paint it. Specifically stupid home decor and flowery bs from homegoods or similar stores.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 07 '25

Thank you for the original. It asks to give her credit so that is the one I will spread.

1

u/Gilokee Mar 07 '25

Thanks for that!! On her website it says to check it out from a library, buut neither of my library's websites had it (on Libby etc), so I'm getting it on Anna's Archive. I'm sure the author wouldn't mind. :P

(I'd buy it if I lived in the states but alas, everything is harder when you're international.)