What Happens When You Start Acquiring Experiences and Stop Buying Things
This was my goal for most of 2019
One of the goals of a simple life is to invest in what you care about. For me that includes spending in line with my values, looking to acquire experiences and paying attention to self care and development.
Last year, I made the decision to stop spending money on possessions. I made this decision as I knew that it would help to make a dent in my debt, and when I did spend, it would be to develop into the best version of myself.
I spent that year driving for both Lyft and Doordash, going to my second hometown multiple times, checking a band (Iron Maiden) off of my bucket list, spending more time in the local metal scene to support smaller acts and developing my skill set when it comes to hobbies.
By decreasing my focus on acquiring possessions, I gained more in return: I gained stories to tell, the satisfaction of supporting other artists, and I learned more about myself by applying myself to learning about hobbies I wanted to pursue.
Instead of spending money on things, I was also able to better appreciate what I already had.
It made me grateful for pieces of clothing and other items than I had been before. I realized that in most cases, I already had a great collection.
It taught me about using what I had to the full extent, mixing and matching things I already had and getting creative when I felt stuck with my wardrobe and about curbing the craving for more.
The one thing that I did invest in was online courses. I’m still working through the stack that I purchased, but I’m learning little by little. They’ve had a lasting impact on how I write and approach the creative process.
Focusing on experiences also opened me to new ideas and concepts. I started writing online instead of just in journals. I went to see bands that I only had an inkling of who they were. I learned to cook a six day rotation of meals. I spent more time reading than watching tv. I spent days helping a friend move instead of scanning through my current inventory for summer.
Taking a shopping break or choosing to allocate your money for experiences instead of things is a great challenge when working with simplicity. It helps to change your mindset, allows deeper gratitude and creates lasting memories.
There are three stages of a good memory creating event: the anticipation before the event, the excitement of the actual event, and the memory of looking back on that event. This lasts a longer time than any purchase in the store.
This is another area to start small in if you want to incoporate this mindset into your life. Start with a week of not shopping. Get everything you need the day before the challenge begins.
Monitor where you spend your time and what you do that week that you enjoy. Take a class. Eat somewhere new. Have deep conversations. Slowly build up the time limit.
At the end of the week, see if it was a project you think is worthwhile.
In time, you begin to see what is really important. Your focus shifts from mindless shopping to attaining memories. You begin to see what truly makes you happy.
