Why Is Consumerism Bad

“Consumerism comes from the verb consume, which is rooted in the Latin word consumere, meaning to use up or to waste. The noun consumerism also refers to a movement that promotes the interests of consumers — that is, people who purchase goods, use them, and then buy more — especially the protection of these consumers from things like fraud or price gouging” (“Consumerism”). Consumerism has changed over the thousands of years since it became an ordeal during the Industrial Revolution. Some people believe that consumerism is excellent where it helps stimulate the economy, but other people see it as an evil force because it hurts people and makes them care less about their self and the world around them. I can agree with the people that says it

In a video I saw from Tim Kasser, an employee from The Center for a New American Dream, stated that people who solely value consumerism makes them more depressed about themselves and tend to focus less on important aspects of their lives (Kasser). I can agree with Kasser on this point. By people only spending their money on items that they think will make them happy is useless spending. Although it might offer some joy in their lives, it will shortly be of no use to them and they will start to enter a state of depression again. Some people try to go out and get enlisted in activities, but as soon as a product quality goes up, concern for the nature tends to go down and people are less likely to engage in as many social activities (Kasser). This is ruining much more than a person’s happiness, but it can also result a loss of a friend, or even a loved

One of the most popular ones, however, is becoming a minimalist. In an article I read about minimalism, the authors said: “Consumerism’s shiny facade promises more than it can possibly deliver, because love, happiness, contentment, and satisfaction are all internal feelings that cannot be acquired through purchases of products and the truth is that once our basic needs are met, the acquisition of trinkets does little for our lifelong well-being” (Millburn and Nicodemus). I can agree with this statement. For a person to acquire the deserved love and happiness they need in their life, no materialistic item can let them acquire those feelings. However, a beloved person can do all of that and more. A way that someone can be happy and be financially stable is to become a minimalist. Minimalists invest in experiences over possessions, such as traveling, vacations, and community theaters. They also would rather support local businesses because they are passionate about their product or service, and want to share that passion with their patrons (Millburn and Nicodemus). Ultimately, minimalists are not interested in, “stimulating” the economy, but they would rather improve the economy’s long-term health by making better decisions about consumption, getting involved in the community, and supporting local businesses (Millburn and