Overconsumption

Why do you throw out the coffee maker that still works and replace it with the newest version? Same goes for cell phones. Why replace something when it is not broken?

Consumer society in the U.S. chooses to purchase "the latest and greatest" products each year instead of buying quality items that are going to last from the get go. Many items produced for the consumer class today are not built to last. Instead producers are making cheaper products that will need to be replaced. And that is what many of us do? What has happened to all of the repair shops that used to span the U.S.? Why is it harder to find a vacuum hose than it is to replace the entire vacuum?

We as a society need to change the way we consume products and then lay them to waste when they are no longer the "newest" version. Think about that coffee maker your family probably had as a child. It probably would still work today if it had not been replaced by mass marketing campaigns telling you to "upgrade."

Think about quality over consumption. Many of us cannot afford high quality products and instead purchase time and time again cheaper versions of products that actually end up costing more to us in the long run do to having to replace the item. My advise, go to the library, research the product you are interested in, determine if the company environmentally friendly, do a price comparison between products, check for warranties for replacement parts and maintenance, make the final decision based on your research. Try to spend three to six months making this determination. Impulse buys are some of the hardest challenges to face, but taking the time to really determine what product you want and why it is important to you will have a better product that is likely going to last and gives you extra time to save some money for a higher quality product. The extra time you use on your research will also let you know what you really want and need.

Think long term and quality over consumption!

Best