STOP!

Millions and millions of pounds are spent on seducing us to buy things. Packing, colours, placement of items in shops, advertising, clever wording. By the time we've already picked up an item in a shop we are part way to buying it. That's ok if we are in control of what we are buying, but how about trying STOP!?

S - Stop – when we pick up a shop item

T - Think – do we need (or really want) it?

O - Observe – the ways we may be being seduced into buying it

P - Put the item down (depending on the answer to T)!

Most of us have bought things only to find we never really use them afterwards. A pair of lovely earrings that aren't quite so nice after a few times, a beautiful candle that sits in the cupboard, a 3 for 2 offer on books/CDs/T-shirts/etc., bargain shoes, a present for a friend who doesn't really want it... does any of this sound familiar?

The problem is to stop this before the items get in the house! Someone I know tells her father he doesn't need 3 nets of satsumas for the price of 2 – he only needs 1. Otherwise they'll go off before he can eat them. But the temptation is there. It takes real awareness to resist.

I've found recently that I can get pleasure simply from the thought that an item is beautiful. That is enough – I don't have to possess it. Beautiful coloured earrings, beautiful trinket. Move on. A beautiful sunset is something to appreciate for the time it is there. So can it be for other things. But the need for possession seems to be part of current society.

Sure, we buy things we love or need (or both!). It's not about never buying anything. But being aware when something may sit redundantly in a cupboard for yonks can save money, packaging, guilt trips, space.... (think of all the clutter!)

It's not always easy to STOP!, I know that, but may be it's something to consider in an era of consumerism - and if you want to save money!