Why do we have so much stuff? | BBC Ideas

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
  • Modern life just seems to be full of... well, stuff! But why do we have so much of it?
    What's happening in our minds when we buy new things? Should we consume less and declutter?
    Watch next 📽 Can fashion ever be sustainable? • Can fashion ever be su...
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ความคิดเห็น • 80

  • @bbcideas
    @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    If this video resonated with you, you might be interested in watching this one next. It's all about the fashion industry and how we can make it more sustainable 👉 th-cam.com/video/SP4b8KqklkQ/w-d-xo.html

  • @alanbirkner1958
    @alanbirkner1958 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I went to my favorite second hand jewelry boutique and after searching through 6 cabinets, I found the perfect gift for my daughter-in-law. My
    rule is buy used, by local, by when you need to buy something. I am 71. I try to be mindful. Tina

  • @alexyang8549
    @alexyang8549 4 ปีที่แล้ว +144

    I am a minimalist since past one year and seeing the amount of stuff these people own gives me anxiety. It has a lot to do with being content with your inner self and validation. Took me 30 years to understand.

    • @CiaraLynn
      @CiaraLynn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      same here!

    • @smoll.miniatures
      @smoll.miniatures 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I want to be you. And I think I need to get buying out my system. I buy and sell from charity shops and make a decent living. I use the money to buy stuff and at least 90% off on eBay. Normally high fashion products. I don’t have a lot of stuff but everything is high end made in Denmark, USA, Germany etc. I don’t buy any cheap made in China stuff. I wouldn’t be averse too, and have grabbed items from skips and only buy reduced food items. Not sure if It’s the right way or not tbh.

    • @sct4040
      @sct4040 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I did a lot of damage from 2012 - 2020, the pandemic made me reevaluate my life.

    • @sammyruncorn4165
      @sammyruncorn4165 ปีที่แล้ว

      At a certain amount yes. Kinda like a threshold. It's good to have some stuff (useful, functioning and even actually longlasting happy making items (a plant one cares for or a special painting/ object with a personal history)), but if it takes too much time to clean etc. and just lies around unused it's prone to make one unhappy.

    • @NoritMarioma
      @NoritMarioma 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      This good to be minmliset then to have too many staff. The staff ruin my life. All the The time I was work in my house.

  • @QuestionEverythingButWHY
    @QuestionEverythingButWHY 4 ปีที่แล้ว +152

    “Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don't want..to impress people that they don't like.”
    --Will Rogers

    • @genaeyoung180
      @genaeyoung180 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Oh wow, I’ve also heard Dave Ramsey say that.

    • @BiMiHi
      @BiMiHi 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Fight Club

  • @CiaraLynn
    @CiaraLynn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    minimalism is the way to go! having too much stuff makes me too anxious

    • @Kathrine465
      @Kathrine465 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      It can be to extreme. I think its more important to be intentionel

    • @noisetrade6130
      @noisetrade6130 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Kathrine465 exactly i say this so ofter, rather embraces intentionalism than minimalism, also minimalism tends to get more and more kinda religious. Just my two cents

    • @Kathrine465
      @Kathrine465 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@noisetrade6130 I agree.
      I have a channel where I focus on being intentional called" the intentional corner"

    • @noisetrade6130
      @noisetrade6130 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Kathrine465 thanks for letting me know,

    • @Kathrine465
      @Kathrine465 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@noisetrade6130 you are welcome :D

  • @JulEnglefaris
    @JulEnglefaris 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I haven't bought new clothes in maybe 10 years, but I do buy books like crazy. Not so much in the past few months. Been making a conscience to cut back on buying and just use the library.

    • @Sobermama927
      @Sobermama927 ปีที่แล้ว

      10 years? That’s AMAZING I can’t even go a month

    • @ChrisTaylor-dz6nk
      @ChrisTaylor-dz6nk 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I buy cds🎉😂

  • @aldrousglenncamino1179
    @aldrousglenncamino1179 4 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    "What we consume is an expression of our identity, because our identity consists of a number of different facets..."
    Wow, louder please. This topic is quite timely and relevant. ❤️

  • @ernestabor
    @ernestabor 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Our wants are insatiable, but our needs are limited. Our wants doesn’t bring happiness but our needs fill our void in life

  • @a.m.karthick629
    @a.m.karthick629 4 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I think our upbringing also plays a major role in this issue.

  • @PossumLover1111
    @PossumLover1111 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Wow........this spoke to me directly and could relater to everything said by the consumers and the experts on why and what it all means. thank you for this. I'm keeping it in my files. Glad to know I'm not alone in this. I'm in the process of trying to get rid of things.....either selling or just giving away. And I'm living vicariously through watching videos of other people shop for cool stuff.

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Delighted it resonated and you could shop vicariously through the vid! Send our best to the birds today 😊

    • @michaelbalfour3170
      @michaelbalfour3170 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      If you want to stop consuming, don't get exposed to adverts, avoid at all costs. Get an adblocker it will help and don't watch TV.

    • @AlbertoJaramillo-eu5us
      @AlbertoJaramillo-eu5us 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Multipliqiese personas como usted ❤️🙏

  • @ewatkins42
    @ewatkins42 4 ปีที่แล้ว +71

    It would be good to see representations of men as shoppers, so many examples only show women as 'consumers' but this is simply not true! I think there is an unhelpful stereotype that women love shopping, and men hate it, and that women shop for uneccessary items men for practical - let's address this!

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Good point!

    • @beckypetersen2680
      @beckypetersen2680 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      It's true. If we are going to keep to only the essentials...well, most of the sporting goods shops could be closed, huh? And the shoes...oh the shoes...and the car paraphernalia. They just buy excessive "other types of stuff" than women.

  • @cjhoward409
    @cjhoward409 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I think I have a lot of practical things. Extra food, clothes, sheets, towels, toiletries etc. It’s because my parents were babies in the 1930’s when here in the USA we had the Great Depression. So, our grandparents had extra things and so did our parents and us too but our kids who are in their 20’s and 30’s are more minimalistic

  • @stefannikola
    @stefannikola 4 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I'm a long, long way from having too much stuff, although I'm not very materialistic compared to most other people. I lack and want to have financial empowerment, financial stability, and financial security, but not stuff, not possessions.

  • @MiaCarter7
    @MiaCarter7 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I want to get rid of stuff but I'm scared I'll regrat it!! And wvwn when I do get rid of stuff its like more stuff appears!

  • @annapri1526
    @annapri1526 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I would consider myself a minimalist. I've been a minimalist my entire life. I love never really having to clean up my stuff, it also allows me to pick up everything I own and go wherever I want. I'd rather spend money on a good dinner with friends or an experience out, then on an item.
    Additionally, I feel as though people don't realize how much stuff you actually need. I always tell people to buy a packet of sticky notes and for one week walk around the house and put sticky notes on everything you touch and use, by the end of the week you will realize that 70% of the items you own you never actually touch.

  • @relaxingmeditationsounds9544
    @relaxingmeditationsounds9544 4 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    "what we consume is an expression of our identity"

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for watching so studiously!

    • @Catherine-u8l
      @Catherine-u8l ปีที่แล้ว

      I can’t relate to this need to want to stand out by being “ different” or unique.
      Guess there’s a real desire for attention at work.

  • @D.von.N
    @D.von.N ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Having wardrobes full of clothes I rarely use and go to just a couple shelves using the same stuff over and over, I am done with fashion. But crafting world is a whole different beast. Don't let me start on that one!

  • @ganesang5537
    @ganesang5537 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What we consume is an expression of our identity.

  • @altanaeliza
    @altanaeliza ปีที่แล้ว +5

    At least not everyone can afford to constantly buy unnecessary stuff

    • @jochenschrey2909
      @jochenschrey2909 ปีที่แล้ว

      Accepting handmedowns before you really need them "just in case" can unfortunately take up as much space.

  • @poushalighosh4661
    @poushalighosh4661 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I deeply struggle with this sense of academic inadequacy and buy books in hopes of remedying it. Its led to the point where my shelves are overstuffed with new unread books and heightened anxiety becsuse none of those are getting read as quickly sigh

  • @itsthelittlethings9939
    @itsthelittlethings9939 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    So........ How to END the cycle?

  • @lathabalakrishnan1610
    @lathabalakrishnan1610 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    So much of indirect societal pressure that it takes a lot of effort and strength to fight it.
    I have started this war , hope I come out a winner.

  • @magorzatatwardo8771
    @magorzatatwardo8771 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Im a minimalist, and Im very happy:)

  • @jinyuli3118
    @jinyuli3118 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Why the “testers” are all women? What about different generations of Men’s opinion about shopping? Do men not shopping?

  • @hariiv_
    @hariiv_ 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Really excellent 😍💐

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks a lot 😊

  • @Matthew8473
    @Matthew8473 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm in complete admiration of this. I recently stumbled upon something with a similar message, and it was absolutely mesmerizing. "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide" by Matthew Cove

  • @Mostirrelevant
    @Mostirrelevant 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    So, production of goods imcreases wealth, and standards of living, but on the other hand causes pollution and lots of not so, if unnecessary stuff. So, the best solution would be some new products that will represent the balance of the two polarities, or even satisfy a not yet discovered need, with significantly less polution and less resource troubles. It would be wonderful if something like that is invented, with new solutions for waste

  • @LocalFiveGuy
    @LocalFiveGuy 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I wish everyone raised their children just like I am raising my own daughter. My daughter watched the ABC'S on the TH-cam Kids app on the smart TV, and she has had her own Android phone since she was born. When she was 3-1/2 she learned to read. She is now 6-1/2 and she loves her books. Everyone compliments her intelligence and skills. 👍

  • @DeaDellaFortuna
    @DeaDellaFortuna ปีที่แล้ว

    Well, I try to reduce, too. I dont do it for the environment bla, bla, but only for me. I prefer clean floors to walk barefoot or to sit on it. Especially since I have kids, stuff all of the sudden stresses me out, especially those dozend of little pieces when it comes to child toys.
    However, I dont want my child to "miss" anything, so I have to reduce my stuff. I am very slowly about it, but every step forward makes me very, very happy and I think, soon I will get to where I want to get.
    However, I dont want to become a minimalist. Depends on the way minimalist celebrate their live but most of them are caught in a certain live style- they are the same ppl with same issues, but they process their feelings in a different way. I dont look for a replacement but inner peace.

  • @tylercarpenter4329
    @tylercarpenter4329 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have a problem with gun and musical instrument collecting

    • @froschkoenig666
      @froschkoenig666 ปีที่แล้ว

      At least those could be worth something

  • @thejomayah9076
    @thejomayah9076 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Buy things if its needed otherwise don't buy it for unnecessary purpose it's leads to money wastage.

  • @ibawanhunlytan8606
    @ibawanhunlytan8606 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Pls make videos on photography 👍

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      If you're interested in photography you might like to watch this video next...What would Freud make of our obsession with selfies? th-cam.com/video/qsJfEhvdzQ4/w-d-xo.html

    • @ibawanhunlytan8606
      @ibawanhunlytan8606 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@bbcideas thanks

  • @mairathorn3331
    @mairathorn3331 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Woah they have much money for shopping then!

  • @PeterParkorr
    @PeterParkorr 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    So proud to spend up to 3hours a day shopping, needs to check herself...

  • @LibAlcock
    @LibAlcock 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My interest in shopping waned years ago and remains “just stuff” that I don’t want to buy today. All those so called marketing/psychology tricks just don’t work on frugal me.❤

  • @topperbizzare564
    @topperbizzare564 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    *BBC Ideas* 💕💐 really excellent upload 💕💐💕 Really good content 💕💕💐 Thanks for share 💕💐 stay connect me

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much 😍

  • @s.g2344
    @s.g2344 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Oh my gosh yes 😅 my fiance and I are moving in together from our both our family homes and we only have a bedroom each to clear out but yeah even then we still have so much stuff that needs to be cleared lol 😋

    • @bbcideas
      @bbcideas  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good luck!

  • @chelseamurray1678
    @chelseamurray1678 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Haha the moment you realize you are addicted

  • @piedwagtailrameau
    @piedwagtailrameau ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Less is more

  • @roseballerine4395
    @roseballerine4395 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You don’t need many items if you are buying designers. I have 5 classic designer bags that I love even after owning it for years, they last a life time and increase in value if I want to sell them. everything in asos, h&m is just ‘meh’ to me.

  • @coneil72
    @coneil72 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Why is this all about women?? As if men don't consume and hoard???

  • @sybil3716
    @sybil3716 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    well,if I can shop without worrying how much it costs,isn’t it great

  • @pietro6217
    @pietro6217 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    🙆🏽‍♂️

  • @annemiura7767
    @annemiura7767 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    What a bunch of rubbish! People buy unnecessary stuff because they want what they want right now, it’s all about them. It’s not deep.

  • @mr.bombastic6498
    @mr.bombastic6498 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    deez nuts

  • @TheSoaphippo
    @TheSoaphippo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    3 hra a day looking at clothes and dresses like Steve irwin

  • @ajayabrol
    @ajayabrol ปีที่แล้ว

    Women ☕