When you’ve spent your whole life shopping based on deals and trends, shopping mindfully can seem like an unattainable goal. It definitely felt like that for me at first! It’s perceived as expensive (not true!) and totally granola (kind of true, haha), and requires a lot more thought than casual shopping. But once I shifted my mindset from “I can’t have something I want” to “I’m freeing myself up for something better,” shopping mindfully came easily.

I learned that being mindful is not about denying yourself, it’s about buying things you actually, truly, really love, which is something that a lot of us never get in the habit of doing. It’s funny how we end up with so many things we only halfway wanted in the first place!  

Here are a few easy ways you can become a mindful shopper without spending a ton of money: 

• Consider the purpose of something before buying it. Mindful shopping is thoughtful, which is so vastly different from our normal shopping habits. If it’s cute and on sale, we’re normally sold before we even click the “check out” button… Let’s break that habit! Some questions to ask yourself before purchasing that super cute table basket that’s only $10 include:

  • Where will this object go?

  • What purpose will it serve?

  • Would I like it even if it wasn’t on sale?

  • Does it fit the vibe I’m trying to set in my home?

• Slow down your shopping and think hard before you buy. Asking the questions above and answering honestly are great ways to slow down your buying cycle. If you can, try leaving the item(s) in your cart and spending some time away from your computer. If you’re still thinking about it a few hours (or a few days, if you’re wild) later, there’s a chance it’s worth buying!

• Get rid of something before buying something else. Cycling out clothing and objects will help you avoid a cluttered home while also showing you the value of what you already have. If you find something worth buying, take a minute to decide whether or not it’s worth giving up something you already have. A lot of times, I’m drawn to objects or clothing that are similar to things I already have. More than once, I’ve wandered around our home trying to find clothes or objects to give up and discovered something almost identical to what I was about to buy.

• Shop secondhand. You can save money and still get the things you love by shopping secondhand. Some of the best sites for shopping resale include:

  • Facebook marketplace (decor and furniture)

  • Craigslist (decor and furniture)

  • Poshmark (home decor and clothing)

  • Depop (clothing)

  • Mercari (not my favorite, but it has a huge home decor section that’s definitely worth checking out)

Don’t let mindful shopping intimidate you! You don’t have to have a home full of ethical and fair trade products to be considered a mindful shopper. At the end of the day, all it requires is a little extra thinking before you click that ‘buy now’ button.

Have any other questions or advice on mindful shopping? I’d love to hear it all! We’re on this journey together, and there’s still so much that I have to learn.

with love,

Emma