As the of the year approaches, it really feels like we’ve reached the final boss of consumerism. November rolled around and suddenly the world is drenched in pumpkin spice, early holiday previews, Black Friday “teasers” and my personal nemesis – advent calendars.
Just the other day, I caught myself being curious about this year’s releases. What advent calendars are already available, how good of a deal is it? I got an email notification about a gorgeous skincare advent calendar. I could get it with an early bird discount. Sounds familiar?
The Dangerous Math of “Look at All This “
We all know the trap of the small purchase. When you’re staring down a 40 or 60 euros price tag after months of strict budgeting, it feels harmless. Even the over 100 euros for the beauty advent calendar in question doesn’t seem as bad, especially if marketing tells you that there is couple hundred euros of value inside of it.
It’s not a car, it’s not a vacation. It’s just a “small” luxury. A treat.
Except that those “little treats” multiply like gremlins during Christmas season. Before you know it, your hard earned No Buy Year discipline weakened. The monetary cost adds up, but the emotional cost is even higher: that sudden wave of buyer’s remorse when you realize you broke your streak for things you didn’t actually need.
For months now I’m talking about my previous overconsumption. That I have many products sitting in my stash, waiting for their turn to be used. And yet, I was browsing late at night, looking for more. I was just curious, right?
The Stash Reality Check
Whenever I find beauty boxes attractive enough to consider them, I have to remind myself how much I already have. Then I think about my most recent empties update post – I’m not using skincare or make up products fast enough to even consider buying more. But it was really tempting.
Oh, the irony. Buying a new advent calendar wouldn’t be buying “joy” or “self care.” It would be buying more clutter to add to the ghost town of past impulsive decisions. While I’m decluttering and being proud of my numbers.
I won’t manage to use my stash up before December. But they offer a discount and so much value inside! And yet I have items from beauty boxes I purchased ages ago, still sitting here, unused. It a trap.
How to Protect Your Peace (and Your No-Buy) Through December
If you’re feeling the itch right now, you aren’t failing your No Buy Year. Marketing teams were working overtime just because it is the Q4 – period when sales are skyrocketing. Here is how we get through it together without breaking:
- Do the Stash Audit: go look at what you already own. The amount of unused items in it will talk you out of buying more.
- Translate “Small Price” into Reality: when you think “it’s a small price,” calculate what else that money could do, or better yet, remind yourself that spending 0 is always a better deal than spending anything on things you’ll forget about by February.
- Ride Out the Impulse: marketing feeds on urgency. When you see a “limited edition” label, early bird discount or x value for y, your nervous system spikes. Step away from the screen, close the tab and wait 48 hours. Most of the time, the spell wears off.
- Shift from Consuming to Experiencing: the end of the year shouldn’t be measured by how many products you can unwrap. Lean into non monetary comforts: long walks, baking, reading and actually using the wonderful things already hiding in your stash.
Are the holiday releases tempting you or have you found a way to avoid them this year? Let me know in the comments!
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