Fuelling buyers remorse

This materialistic throw away world where nothing lasts for than a couple years is not ideal to help preserve our planet. From a consumer point of view the constant barrage of buying the next best thing is always upon us.
 
There is encouragement in certain areas to not buy the latest “thing” but generally the marketing tells us to buy the latest.
 
I have been a sucker for this and sometimes still am. I was notorious for buying and returning stuff on Amazon, this clearly shows I don’t need the stuff I buy. I created unnecessary work and probably hurt the environment a little bit.
 
The majority of low cost items, say £50 and under are subconsciously disposable to me. Therefore I buy stuff up and don’t really think about if I actually need it. I want to change this way of thinking.
 
I suffer from buyers remorse, it is a nasty little addiction that compels me to buy then regret it.

Not so bad if I buy from Amazon as it can be returned, despite ruining my carbon footprint.

It is when I purchase from other outlets like eBay or physical stores.

I visit Pawn shops and buy stuff. Returning stuff to these types of shops is not something I do.

Physically returning items is quite difficult for me, hence why Amazon has been such a go to place for everything.

I’m not sure what it is but I feel a bit silly returning something to a store.
 
With my silliness stopping me from returning items, I have other options such as eBay.

I sell a lot on on eBay. I am not retail success. Financial loss is my unique selling point.

I make the same mistakes time and time again. Buy something, regret it, sell it, make a loss.

The loss might only be small and I attribute that to cost of owning the device, but it is still a loss.
 
In a typical situation of item ownership, you buy it, use it and have it for several years, it either breaks or out lives it’s usefulness. All things will need replacing eventually. At that point to get some money back by selling it on eBay is great. The item paid for itself several times over with the use you got from it.
 
I buy it, regret and sell it a month later, then take loss. Not the greatest way to do things.

Occasionally I will make money, but its like gambling, the losses far outweigh the wins.

This is really becoming a confession to make me stop wasting my time and money on useless rubbish.
 
Having places like eBay to sell stuff and the awesome Amazon returns is an enabler for a buyers remorse habit.

These retail places aren’t holding a gun to my head and forcing me to do this but having those outlets does mean a cycle of remorse is constantly in motion.
 
From the eBay side it appears good. Get money for your old crap. Buy more crap. Save the planet, reuse, upcycle blah blah blah.

Like any similar entity eBay is a business, and my losses are their gain. I have to stop this.
 
There is a plus side to my eBay and Amazon shenanigans. I don’t have a huge amount of material items. I generally have what I need. I am a minimalist that has a dirty little material secret of buying and selling.
 
I am getting to the point where I am fed up, there is no reason for it. I don’t make any money from it. I obviously don’t need the stuff that comes and goes. I’m a recovering consumerist.
 
Why do it?
 
How do I stop this consumer rampage?
 
I need to ask myself a few questions prior to making a purchase.
 
Why do I need it?

Do I have something that can do the thing already?

Is it cost effective?

Will I actually benefit from it?
 
Some additional pointers.
 
Don’t shop online in the evening.

Avoid visiting pawn shops and other physical outlets that have potential “bargains”.

The time and money I waste on visiting stores, buying and selling this stuff can be put into a hobby I actually have.

Before making a purchase, sleep on it. See how I feel in the morning.
 
Stop being a weak consumer.