Author and naturalist Barry Lopez once wrote that “the most difficult and rewarding part of any journey is the act of paying attention.” He was talking about exploring the Arctic, but honestly, he could have been talking about Costco on a Saturday—carts coming at you from every direction, free sample chaos, kids melting down in the snack aisle… It takes real focus not to get swept up in the noise and impulse buys.
But when you do pay attention, you might actually spot what you need, stick to your budget, and avoid running over your neighbour’s ankle with your shopping cart. You might even discover something truly delightful (I can’t think of anything specific to Costco, but I’m sure it’s possible 😛).
Mindful consumption isn’t about living in an empty white room with one perfectly folded sweater. It’s about noticing what we already have, buying less and better quality, and feeling better for it. That choice pays off in three big ways: financially, environmentally, and mentally.
1. Financial Freedom: Wallet-Friendly Minimalism
We’ve all made that late-night online purchase that seemed like a good idea at the time (hello, mini waffle maker). But when we cut down on those “just because” buys, we save real money. We spend thousands a year on non-essentials we barely use—money that could be going towards debt, vacations, or, you know, actual waffles.
Lopez often spoke about the dignity of limits. Turns out, sticking to limits in our shopping carts gives our bank accounts the same dignity.
2. Environmental Stewardship: Saving the Planet, One Reusable at a Time
Every product we buy leaves a footprint—resources pulled from somewhere, energy used, waste created. When we buy less (and choose quality when we do buy), we lighten our footprint. Choosing reusables over disposables (you knew this was coming!) saves trees, water, and landfill space.
It’s simple math: one Reusable Non-Paper Towel that lasts years beats dozens of rolls that don’t. And while it’s tempting to think that a single person’s actions aren’t going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things, it’s the collective action of of people paying closer attention to the world around us that shifts how we live in it. Disposables never used to be the standard — that’s a relatively new phenomenon. But everybody does it, so it’s accepted. As more and more people switch to reusables, the more normalized it becomes, the more other people will also make the switch. Your actions have more of an impact than you might think!
3. Mental Wellbeing: Decluttering Your Headspace
There’s actual research showing clutter spikes cortisol, the stress hormone. Translation: that closet you’re afraid to open is literally stressing you out.
Think about how good it feels to finally sort the “junk drawer” (you know the one: batteries, obsolete phone chargers, takeout menus from restaurants that closed in 2014, and at least 17 mystery keys). That sense of relief is a tiny mental health boost.
Joy comes from being present in the moment—listening to a river, paying attention to how the sky changes. Or, in some cases, realizing you found the scissors in under three minutes because the counter isn’t buried under stuff.
Activities That Cost Little (or Nothing!)
You don’t need to shop your way to happiness. Some of the best joys are free, or already in your house. Try these:
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Read a book. Libraries lend them out for free, so no guilt when you don’t finish them.
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Repair time. Sew a button, patch a knee—feel smugly self-sufficient and morally superior.
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Get outside. Go for a walk, stare at trees, listen to birds, pretend you’re in a Barry Lopez essay.
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Screen-free evenings. Dig out that board game and prepare for some family rivalry, maybe even some tears (I’m looking at you, Monopoly).
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Gratitude pauses. What’s something you are thankful for right now? It can be as simple as a sweet, juicy, delicious, crunchy apple, or as profound as your left occipitotemporal network, which allows you to read these words right now.
Final Thought
Mindful consumption isn’t about deprivation; it’s about liberation. It means buying what matters, using what we already have, and leaving more space—for ourselves, for our families, and for the world. It’s about paying attention.
“The gift of an attentive life is the ability to discern what is important, what is lasting, and what is meaningful.”
— Barry Lopez, Horizon (2019)