We live in a culture that tells us to spend money. The Olympics aren’t about who’s the best anymore. They’re about who has the time and money to spend on gyms and training and equipment. Even standing on the podium has turned into an opportunity for advertisement.
Almost every single commercial or magazine ad we see is telling us why we need their product. Rarely do you see commercials that help you be a better person. Rare is the commercial that tells you how you can change the world. Best Buy’s commercial highlighting KIVA is an amazing exception.
Withstanding the assault of all of these buy-me attacks is almost impossible. Even if you don’t buy everything, you want to. You want that new phone, that cool shirt, that perfect make-up. It’s easy to come up with reasons why you really need it, or reasons justifying why you sort of need it.
I like to have stuff. Pretty stuff. Useful stuff. Yummy stuff. I don’t think I’m alone, even as a Christian, where ‘stewarding your money wisely’ is supposed to be a big deal.
Because you know what I was taught growing up? Buy cheap stuff! So then you can get stuff (more stuff!) and still have money left over.
Which explains why I’m such a fan of garage sales and Goodwill (although, dang, that store has gotten expensive!). It’s also why I can drop $20 at the Target $1 Spot, but won’t buy a $20 scarf that I actually want, instead.
And here is where my thoughts on money and shopping habits get even more twisted up.
I am morally opposed to buying scarves, purses, and other accessories at the store, because I’d rather spend my money on Fair Trade versions of those instead.
But, I can justify impulse buys. It’s stuff we kind-of-sort-of-need, and it’s an impulse! It’s human nature! And stores know that, which is why the awesome cheap stuff is right up front! But if I were to stop myself from buying anything from that cheap spot, and then went home and ordered a Fair Trade scarf online, I’d feel horribly guilty, because I’m intentionally wasting money with no justification.
The other day, I got a jewelry catalog in the mail, along with an invitation to a house party.
I flipped through it. A $36 ring. A $68 necklace, a $47 necklace. $19 earrings. My mind is spinning at the prices. People really pay this?
And then, I realize another lesson I’ve learned along the way, a lesson I think should be taught loud and clear in churches all across the land.
It’s not necessarily the dollar amount that matters. It’s where the money goes.
When we open our wallets, what is our orientation? Are we wasting money on ourselves, or are we spending our money intentionally, relationally?
When we have the choice, is our money going towards hope or despair?
This can’t happen all the time, I know. I know that when I buy my comfy $2.50 shirts at Wet Seal, I’m supporting some kind of sweatshop industry. I know I am. And I know there’s nothing I can do about it. You try dressing 7 people on one income, then judge me, k?
Obviously I’ve stopped feeling guilty about it. But coffee? Now that I will feel intense guilt over.
I used to automatically get 2 bags a month from Land of a Thousand Hills. Then, awhile ago, I cut back on how much coffee I was drinking, and the bags started piling up. So I cancelled, thinking I would just place an order every 3 or 4 months instead. But instead, I ran out of coffee before I ordered, so I ran up to the store and got cheap coffee. And again. Until finally, because I felt horrible every time I made a cup of coffee, I ran to the computer to place an order. When those new bags came in a couple of weeks ago, I physically felt relief when I measured out the beans.
I was once again living into something I believe.
I’m looking at this catalog, and I know I’ll decline the invitation. I can’t help but wonder, how are we encouraging each other with our money? Are we getting together to encourage each other to bring hope with our money, or to splurge on pretty things we don’t need? Are we becoming commercials or encouragers to each other? Because, honestly, I have enough advertising in my life. I don’t need to go to a party to help encourage my wants.
I know we all have causes and issues that we resonate more strongly with. Not everyone will feel anxiety over a cup of coffee or a scarf. That’s why we need each other, why the world needs us. We can each focus on the area we feel pulled to, and together we actually can make a difference if we choose to be intentional with how and where we spend our money.
We can shop in a way that brings life to others.
We don’t have to give up our desire for ‘stuff’ in some noble quest for über-spirituality. We can transform how we view ‘things’. A scarf hanging on the rack at the department store is just a scarf. Made in a factory, probably with horrible working conditions because profit is the highest goal. But when you buy a scarf from the artisan, through a company where profit is not the bottom line, then it becomes more than an accessory. It becomes a means of life.
“It is about stewarding what I have well, using it to serve, strengthen, and love others.”
(And, lest you think this is just for women – I could also mention things like expensive office pools, $75 fantasy football buy-ins [for real!], and other stereotypical things that I know actually cut across gender lines but I’m talking about jewelry and scarves and already have a high word count and can’t throw in disclaimers about sexism and gender stereotypes.)Sometimes we get a catalog in the mail that stuns us. Sometimes we see a post from a friend and we learn we can make a difference. Just because we live in a commercially-based world does not mean we have to throw up our hands and capitulate.
There is a different way to live, a way to spend our extras on behalf of others.
In case you are now in the mood for some fair-trade jewelry, or want to get some Christmas shopping done early, my friend Kim is selling jewelry from Uganda to raise money for a missions trip to Uganda. A Fair-Trade funded missions trip! I love it! Check it out!
What do you think? What are the causes that are near and dear to your heart? Have you ever bought a fair-trade item?
I haven’t talked about it much on the blog, but I’ve committed to buying nothing new in 2012 until I can find a better, more cost-effective (aka time-efficient) way of finding products that are sustainably-sourced, ethically-produced, and give back in some way. As someone whose day job revolves around some of these issues, I’m thinking about this all the time. But I’ve found that most people who rather NOT think about where their iPads and Forever21 skinny jeans and Target swimsuits come from. I’ve been there…so, so there…but it’s just that I can’t NOT think about the impact of my dollars.
It’s such a challenge to think of where our money is going every time we open our wallets — but it’s a worthwhile struggle, and one I will continue. Thanks for the reminder, and thanks for mentioning my fundraiser!
oh wow. That is an awesome challenge. It’s overwhelming if I think about everywhere my money is going. I just can’t dwell on the things that I can’t change, and focus on the places where I can make a difference. I just checked out Overdressed out of the library and I’m kind of afraid to read it because I know it’ll challenge me.
I hope you sell out quickly!
This is a tough issue, but you’re right to address it. We live in a culture dedicated to consumerism. Our nation is in a slump, so what’s the solution? We all need to BUY MORE STUFF! What would happen if we all chose to buy less and invest in higher-value products like fair-trade? I hear you that it’s not realistic for most of us to do it in every area of our lives, but we can choose some areas and begin there. Coffee, for example, as you have done. For me, part of it is simply asking myself more frequently the basic question: “Do I need this? REALLY need this?” More often than not the answer is no. Then I must think about what motivates me to get it. It’s not always bad to make purchases, but it’s not going to fill my deepest longings either.
I think you’re on the right track Caris. By the way, have you read Julie Clawson’s book Everyday Justice? I like the way she addresses some of these same questions.
Wow this is a good idea- a really big challenge though.
This is an important topic- and I feel like I really don’t know where a lot of my stuff comes from. I’ve heard about buying fair trade chocolate, etc- I wish I had good information on where regular chocolate comes from, and whether my buying it makes a difference.
Personally I don’t want “more stuff” because I’m moving overseas in a few months and I have so much stuff now… I’m gonna have to get rid of a lot, or just leave it all at my parents’ house or something… kinda worried about it.
“buy less but better”- I think this is really the answer, plus then we would be able to simplify by default, too. One year we did that for Christmas for extended family – instead of 3 or 4 littler, cheaper gifts, we got one nice fair trade thing for them, and put a note in about who made it for them. That was fun. I think this year we’re going to try and do gifts from local businesses or small-businesses for extended family.
I think I’ve skimmed her book. When I go to Barnes and Noble for my quiet time, I’ll sit and skim books, and I tried to ‘read’ all the social justice books they had. I should actually check that one out and give it a better read.
I don’t know much about chocolate, either. I should look into that. I don’t even know how easy it is to find ft chocolate in the store. I know there isn’t much when it comes to coffee in the store.
Where are you moving? That would be really hard to downsize a whole life.
I’m moving to China! I don’t know how or where or when yet, but that’s definitely where I’m going after I graduate. ^_^
Oh how exciting!!