The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
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I think minimalists may do the best at spending less (or no) money on Double 11.
As for minimalism, you may have some misconceptions:
Misconception: Minimalism promotes the idea of owning nothing.Instead: Minimalism is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you.Misconception: your home should be plain and free from sentimental items.Instead: your home should be intentional and deliberate, all items should have a purpose and create value in your life. Sentimental items shouldn't be packed into a box, they should be out on display as daily reminders of the good things in life.
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Do you remember (or did you know) that double eleven was originally a day to celebrate being single? It originated at Nanjing University in 1993.
But a popular event without the potential for some fat cats to earn money isn't a very fun event for fat cats. So the event slowly became the biggest sales day in the world.
What pleasure am I pursuing?
Double 11 (or 11.11) as a festival does seem to cause a lot of excitement for a lot of people.
In 2009, Taobao's first Double 11 sales surpassed 50 million RMBIn 2018, the sales through Alibaba alone (the world's largest e-commerce platform), hit a new record with sales of 30.8 billion USD in just 24 hours, in Chinese money that is:That number can be roughly translated into English as:"catastrophic destruction to the planet and the deadening of brain cells to the people who have been tricked into buying more things."
It has become increasingly easy to get people to not only buy more during this "festival", but also to have people spending hours every day in the weeks leading up to Double 11 finding more things to buy that they didn't even realise they "needed".Double 11 hobbies include:- Opening multiple websites and apps (the page is made into an endless scroll, by a person some may deem as very smart indeed).
- Opening more tabs than your device can handle.
- Watching the product shows.
- Coming across new "KOLs" and wishing your life was just like their's.
- Thanking Taobao for suggesting "items you might like"
- Comparing original prices to the new, special, amazing, life-changing, FOMO price for the Double 11 sale.
The business practices to make you buy more
The common promotional methods used by merchants are:
- When you spend a certain amount, you will get a gift.
- Flash sale! Best be quick!
- Pay in advance and you'll get a discount
- Did someone say "Coupons!"
- Half price off your second purchase.
The Double 11 Festival is Beyond Reckless!
The festival makes people anxious about missing out and then it makes people even more anxious when they see their next credit card bill following the festival.
- It's gone completely mad. There's no balance any more.
You can read online about people buying a large amount of toilet paper online because it was on discount during 11.11 and saying that they still have some left from 3 years ago.
Do we really need to become hoarders just to save a little bit of money per toilet roll? Isn't there more value in having an uncluttered home?Leading up to 11.11, people are reading more product recommendations than they do in an entire year.
Most of our needs are created by the advertising companies who are paid millions by popular online stores.Unnecessary packaging using up more of the planet's resources and turning to waste the moment the product is removed from the packaging.Excessive consumption of goods.Double 11, I now crown you the "Festival of Waste!"
Anxiety before purchasing, guilt and regret after purchasing. Ah, It's just money. Why am I so tired? I best get to bed! I have to be up to early tomorrow to work a job I don't like to earn more money to buy things online. That's okay, I will earn more money in the future and then I can work less or find a job I like more, with more money I can buy more things that I like. That idea makes me feel better. 1:30am now? Okay, 1 more scroll down this e-commerce app then I will get some sleep.
The things bought not only occupy the space of the room, but also the space of our hearts. This invisible garbage brings us more burdens.
Ask yourself these 5 questions
1. Would you buy the item without the discount?Discounts are there to save you money, but if you buy something you don't need, then you haven't saved any money, all you have done is spent more money and thus wasted money.2. Do I already have a similar item to the one I am thinking of buying?How many shirts do I already have? Do I need another?Do I have sweaters to keep me comfortable and warm throughout the colder months?When you see the black ankle-high boots recommended by a fashion blogger, who is...... "super excited to tell you about how awesome these new boots are and why you should totally buy them"....... stop and think for a moment.That fashion blogger has trained hard to make you buy more for his/her gain, not yours. He/she isn't your friend. Your friends are your friends. And, if your friends don't like you because of how you dress and how you look, look elsewhere now for new friends, because they should like you for who you are, not what you wear.
3. Will I still be using this item in 2 years?
Let's work to avoid fast fashion. Save your pocket and you save the planet. You can either choose one of those to focus on or both, whatever you choose, you win.
There is a concept in minimalism: cost per wear/cost per use. That is, the unit price for each use.Imagine you buy a dress for 1,000 RMB.The 1st time you wear it, it has cost you 1,000 RMB per use.The 2nd time, it has cost you 500 RMB per use (and you can get 500 RMB back from the first day you wore it)On the 20th occasion, it has cost you 50 RMB.Look at items in the world through this lense and you will buy smart, be smart and live better.[I have a coat I bought during the final year of university, It cost me £70 and I have been wearing it every winter since I bought it, that was 9 years ago. I think I "spend" around 0.09 RMB every time I wear it now.]If the unit price is more expensive, but the frequency of use is high and the quality is very good, it can be used for a long time, this is probably a product worth investing in.Of course, if the price of a thing is relatively expensive and the frequency of its use is not high, we should think a little more about it.4. Do I definitely like it? (100% sure?)
From my own experiences and from talking to friends, a lot of things bought during the Double 11 turned out to be items I and my friends quickly didn't like anymore. But we got a discount! Hooray!Master your own life, let the purchased items meet your life needs, rather than let the purchase of an item become your sign of membership to fit into a club.
5. Will the new item bring additional value to my life that is not already there? How will I interact with this new item on a day-to-day basis?
We need to consider the real cost of owning something, which is far more than the price on the label.Considering more than the cost of the item means you also consider:- the resources used in production,
We need to be more careful about what we bring into our lives.If you buy an item that is so expensive to you, meaning the cost is disproportionately high compared to your savings and earnings, and the thought of breaking that item, losing that item or having that item stolen would cause extreme discomfort in your life, then, you perhaps you need to think a lot more before purchasing it.
1. Sort out existing items
There is a zero-waste blogger with 288 items in total, and someone commented "So many!"If you do a count, you will find that you have much more than you think. According to the Los Angeles Times:The average American family owns more than 300,000 items.
Whenever I have the desire to buy clothes online, I will try the clothes I have in my wardrobe first.
After sorting out existing items, I'm sure you will find many items that you no longer use.
Please don't throw any away! We will write a series of articles to share with you how to deal with used clothes/books/electronic products and so on.You can also bring them to our swap event! (see poster below)
2. Do not pay attention to discount information
Discount information, more beauty products and recommended items will not bring you happiness.Your happiness is determined by your relationship with some of the closest people around you.
People on the Internet who are more beautiful/talented/successful/travel around the world often bring more anxiety than happiness to others surfing the World Wide Web.
You can turn off these apps (or delete them entirely), look up, look around and spend time with people who can give you real happiness.
3. Packing Party
How to
1) Pack ALL your things in boxes, as if you were moving2) Over the following days and weeks (up to 21 days) only take out from the boxes what you need.3) After 21 days, look at what's left in the box.Most people who do this find that 80% of their things are still boxed up.Maybe we only need 20% of what we currently own?
4. 10 vs 10 possession theory
How important are the things you have in your life?How much value do those things you bought by working hard 40, 50, 60 hours a week actually add to your life?Make a quick 10 vs 10 comparison:Write down the 10 most expensive things you've bought in ten years, such as cars, real estate, jewelry, home furnishings, Apple computers, etc. Next to this list, list 10 other things that add the most value to your life: watching the sunset with your family, having dinner with your friends, adopting a dog, etcFinally, be honest with yourself, there may not be any overlap between the two lists. Was owning a 10,000 RMB watch on both lists?5. Change your thinking
This one has helped me the most!
Convert the price of something into the number of hours you have had or will have to work for it.
Think of a 100 RMB note as a freedom note.
How many of your freedom notes will you need to use to buy the new item?
In this way, you can clearly hear from your heart whether or not the product is worth buying or not.
"What? This hair dryer will take 2 weeks of my freedom notes!?" Hell no!
I will dry my hair with my towel + run around my room + shake my head back and forth. Good exercise + money saved.
The advantage is that almost every conversion is not worth it.
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Anti 11.11 campaign
THE BULK HOUSE 零浪费生活
Zero Waste Campaign
In this year's Double 11, THE BULK HOUSE will hold a series of online and offline activities to help you reduce waste and feel happier. All part of our Anti 11.11 campaign.But, interestingly, no matter where you are (in the world), you can join the fun.
If you want to buy something on Double 11, why don't you come along to an event and see if that item you want or need is there? Not only on special offer but for FREE!
Note: no matter where you are, you can attend.
On Saturday, 2nd November, come along to the swap event in the 798 Art District in Beijing. It is taking place at aiospace. We have another post with more details about the event (Check the poster below).Entry is free!
Watch a documentary, hear a talk, meet the founders of THE BULK HOUSE, swap some things, find something you need, meet some new friends and enjoy a coffee (and perhaps a slice of cake). The event will have it all!
If you are not in Beijing
Why not organize a swap event yourself?It's very simple, interesting and meaningful!BEST OF ALL, we have done a lot of the planning for you!
1) Very simple, scan the QR code.
2) Tell us the address, time and contact for the activity.
3) We will send you a PDF with everything you need: posters, signs, how to do the event and then through our community and on social media we will also help bring more people to your event.
Scan here to do your own swap event
*** TWO ***
Share helpful information with us for a chance to win a useful prize that we think everyone needs.
What we want to hear from you: what is the most useless item you have regretted buying online in the past?
For instance:
An old telephone receiver that can be connected to a mobile phone.
A heart-shaped cut out that can't hold eggs.
A book you've never read and don't plan to read.
How to participate? 1 of 4 ways:1) Leave a message in the comments section of this article.2) Send a message to our WeChat account: TheBulkHouse_China3) Message in one of our zero waste group chats.Not in a group? Add this WeChat ID to join The_Bulk_House_1
4) Send us a message on Weibo or Douban, simple @us with this handle:
We will review your comments and the person with the most useless item of them all, will get the most useful zero waste gift: a large organic cotton mesh bag (original style) and a reusable, bamboo ear cleaner.The organic cotton bag is one of the most practical zero waste goods. It is made of certified organic cotton, which can replace disposable plastic bags, easy to use, high quality, beautiful, zero waste, and can also be used as a laundry bag.
As for the bamboo ear cleaner, it's Joe's favourite product. We also hope that you can use less disposable cotton buds, which are one of the top ten marine pollutants.
We'll announce the winner on the 4th November at 5pm.It will be announced via our Weibo Account.Don't worry if you don't have Weibo, we'll get in touch with you one way or another.
3. Support the Anti 11.11 Campaign!
How to participate: use this picture as your WeChat profile picture to tell more people about the problems with this year's Double 11.
(wǒ jù jué chōng dòng xiāo)
Which can be translated in a few ways, but the main message we want to put out is:
"I reject irresponsible consumption."
If you do decide you need to buy some products, for any you do receive...... please take pictures of the packaging and send it to us via WeChat, Douban or on Weibo (or messenger pigeon).What are you going to buy this year's double eleven?
We'd like to see the packaging waste (because we are weird)Weibo: @THE BULK HOUSE 零浪费无包装商店Douban: @THE BULK HOUSE 零浪费无包装商店WeChat Account: TheBulkHouse_China
The questions and methods in this article are worth thinking about before making a purchase.
We can all be more rational consumers. Create more, consume less. Make life richer through being rather than owning more stuff.It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
1.
This year's 11.11
Have you decided on what you will buy?
2.
Deleting Taobao during this time
Is that something you could realistically do？
3.
Take part in the activities to win a prize
Share this article
Spread the word, have a conversation about this topic.
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THE BULK HOUSE 是中国首家致力于倡导零浪费生活的社会企业，通过组织分享零浪费的主题系列活动和内容来引导人们与自然和平共处，并提供一系列日常实用且独具美感的零浪费好物，旨在帮助人们轻松开启一站式零浪费生活之旅。THE BULK HOUSE 为了提倡环境保护，加入1% For The Planet "1%地球税” 的国际环保组织，将产品售出的1%收入捐献给这个组织。我们也将一直支持 “1%地球税”，并希望将我们企业为地球带来的负担降低到最小。
THE BULK HOUSE is the 1st social enterprise in China committed to promoting the zero waste lifestyle. We do this in 3 ways: ① Create and promote valuable content. ② Organising events revolving around the 6R's in our logo. ③ Provide environmentally friendly products to make the zero waste lifestyle more convenient for all. We are proud to be a 1% For The Planet member. This means we contribute at least 1% of our annual sales to environmental causes.
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