After becoming fed up with the buildup from years of impulse purchases and the nonstop ads appearing on social media, one Reddit user asked others for help getting started with anti-consumption.
Commenters offered a range of practical suggestions, but one theme came up again and again: finish, use, or wear out what you already own before buying more.
What's happening?
A newcomer in Reddit's r/Anticonsumption community asked for "genuine advice" after recognizing how much unplanned shopping had accumulated over time.
The user wrote, "I have started to genuinely feel frustrated and agitated by the amount of stuff I have bought over the years and I also get irritated by the constant ads that come to my feed every single time I open any social media app."
They also made clear that they were not looking to toss everything immediately, saying, "I don't wanna throw away EVERYTHING I have bought until I've used them completely. I want to start being mindful and conscious in my decisions."
Many of the replies focused on simple starting points for someone new to the idea.
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One commenter wrote, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
Additional advice included keeping a list before shopping, putting time between wanting something and purchasing it, removing shopping apps, opting out of marketing emails, and trying to borrow from friends or community networks before purchasing an item.
Why does it matter?
Overconsumption can do more than generate trash. It can also strain finances, crowd small living spaces, and make people feel more stressed.
A better approach, commenters said, is to keep using what is already in the house — whether that means finishing toiletries, sticking with the clothes you have, or repairing an item instead of replacing it.
There can be quick financial upside to that approach as well. A waiting period of 24 hours or even a full week can make a purchase feel far less important, and using a list instead of buying in the moment can reduce needless spending.
One commenter summed up part of that mindset this way: "Shopping is not an activity."
Seeing shopping as a task tied to actual needs, rather than something to do for fun, can help save money.
What can I do?
The thread's suggestions were mostly about manageable routines, not trying to do everything perfectly at once.
A recurring idea was to review what you already have and hold off on buying more of the same thing until the current supply is almost used up.
A shopping list came up often as another helpful tool. Rather than buying something the moment it looks appealing, commenters suggested writing it down and checking back later.
The original poster replied, "This shopping list elimination idea is super helpfulll."
People also suggested cutting down on ad exposure by uninstalling shopping apps, adjusting social feeds, using ad blockers in a browser, and turning off suggested posts or content. Some said leaving social media altogether helped the most.
For things that are only needed once in a while, commenters recommended looking to Buy Nothing groups, tool libraries, secondhand sources, or people you already know before heading to a store.
Borrowing first can lower costs, cut waste, and give someone enough time to decide whether they actually need to buy the item.
"It's a marathon, not a race," one commenter wrote.
Another added, "The past is done, what matters is what you do from now on."
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