Stop Buying Stuff | Niko Stoifberg | TEDxBibliothekZug

This quote has been attributed to a number of authors: “We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”

A few years back I did the same thing. I decided not to buy any new clothes for a year. I didn't need any. My exception was shoes, because I walk A LOT and I wear my shoes out. Well, I did end up buying a t-shirt because it was only $3. It was so easy, that I ended up extending it for a second year. We have TOO much consumerism in this world. It's destroying the planet. Good on you!

To stop buying stuff, you need to first feel comfortable in your own skin, realizing that you can wear any clothes, enjoy your own lifestyle, and live by your own terms. It’s difficult to not fall into trends, but even realizing that trends repeat every 10-15 years shows how insignificant and waste of time they are.

I’ve lived like this the past 9 mos and don’t miss “buying stuff” one bit. I’ve also saved $17,000 with a $20 hr job… true story

1. dont die 2. Dont stink 3. Buy goods when it NEEDS replacing

Having too many things just makes life more complicated than it needs to be.

After practicing this for awhile, you begin to naturally ignore and filter through all the stuff. He's right, it is an attack.

I became a minimalist 2 years ago. I choose to spend my money on experiences not stuff. I chose to tip well when I go out instead of buying more stuff. So much happier now

I didn't realise that this talk was more than 13min long. I come from India where the resources are scarce and people stick to their stuff for a really long time. But now with improving economic conditions, people are adopting the western way of consuming anything and everything that's on sale. Hope this message reaches far and wide. Thank you for this amazing talk.

“Services are the economy of the future.. if we choose to have one.” Goosebumps. This quote was impactful!

What an underrated Ted Talk. This has got to be one of the best talks about not falling victim to consumerism. Thank you, Niko!

I’ve been poor all of my life and recently ran into a lot of money. I don’t want to spend my money on useless things anymore. Great video!

I recently realized buying more stuff was causing a net loss in satisfaction - my home was so cluttered that I couldn’t find the things I actually needed without a ton of effort. So now before I buy something, I ask myself if I actually want to deal with the burden of owning it. The answer is usually no. And I have a new rule for old stuff: I absolutely must sell or donate anything I haven’t touched in 1 year. Now packing for trips is way easier, my apartment looks great, and I’ve saved a ton of money 🙌

Companies will do terrible things to get people to keep purchasing products that they do not need. For example, when I was a college student, the printing companies would not change the wording of the books but would change the numbers in the questions at the end of the chapter. Those examples needed to be handed into your instructor and if the numbers were incorrect, the instructor would mark the answer wrong. Because of this, you needed to purchase the latest version of the book although the material within the book (besides the questions at the end of the chapter) were identical. This is one of many, many example how universities take advantage of our young This happens with many products including phones, other electronic items, appliances, etc where the companies that produce them have a set shelf life. I am also amazed whenever I shop for clothing how the quality is much worse than I remember in the past.

I think when people collect stuff(buy things) they're collecting value. Value they don't feel like they receive while growing up and so they connect value with things. I also believe this is the psychology behind hoarding and why it's so difficult for hoarders to throw things away. It's like throwing away their value. Once we learn to enrich ourselves from the inside out, things become less important. 🤷🏾👍💙

As a retired person of minimal income, I am grateful for parents who lived through the Great Depression. I grew up understanding about hand-me-downs, remaking and repairing clothing, shopping at 2nd hand stores, and sewing for myself. These are habits I've kept my entire life. I do not own a clothes dryer, dish washer, cell phone or tv. I keep a well-stocked pantry, make meals from scratch and stretch my grocery dollars every month. My own clothes and the gifts I send to others are either thrifted or hand made - I'm up front about it, and everyone knows. I cut my hair and manage my own skin care. I do indulge in books - but as they can be purchased for as little as 25 cents each 2nd hand, I'm OK with it.

Helpful. Our consumerism needs to not be so unchecked. Everyone I know seems to have a spending /buying addiction these days.

This is important now as we sit in the 3rd year of the pandemic. Everything is going up as we know. Do a budget and stick to it. Declutter and consider what is really important to you. Find yourself.

Great speech/story - I would add that when you do buy things, buy things used if you can (furniture, clothes, and especially plastic products).

just having a mindset of the kind "don't buy a new phone if the current is working perfectly fine" is already a huge improvement towards a simpler and happier life.