In some countries, people are now buying fewer new things and buying more second-hand things instead. Is this a positive or negative trend?
Consumerism Essay
This consumerism essay question asks you to write an essay about why some people are buying fewer new things.
So, let's discuss consumer culture, buying habits, and the current trend of minimalism or minimalist living.
In your opinion, what are some possible reasons for this, and is this a positive or negative trend?
Consumerism Essay Answer
People choosing to purchase pre-owned goods rather than spend money on new items could be because of various reasons. Some of these reasons are outlined below. However, overall this should be seen as a negative trend as many modern economies are built upon consumerism and require an active consumer society.
In general, many people have been experiencing the economic pinch in recent years, ever since the global financial crisis. It is, therefore, only natural that some people prefer not to spend their hard-earned money on new items when they can purchase a suitable second-hand model, for example, a car. There is also a greater awareness of the dangers associated with mass consumerism since the time of the industrial revolution, such as increased pollution, personal debt, and the fact that simply consuming more does not make people feel any happier in the long term. Therefore, this trend may be a good thing as it indicates greater awareness by the population regarding several important issues in modern society.
However, unfortunately, most developed countries rely heavily, sometimes exclusively, on consumption by people to produce income and support employment. Many of these countries have lost their traditional manufacturing base and outsourced many service functions. The result - it is essential that people continue to consume, and at sufficient levels, to avoid an economic collapse of the current model. Sadly, therefore, living more frugally and in a greener manner while being good for the environment is bad for nations in economic terms because of the nature of their economies.
Overall, minimal consumerism should be considered a good thing. However, while some people opting to buy fewer second-hand items is positive, if too many people follow the trend, it may have a disastrous long-term economic impact on the economies of those countries which depend on consumerism to survive.
Buying Patterns: What's Driving Current Consumer Buying Habits?
Here are some more ideas about things you could discuss to respond to this essay question
The younger consumer society, especially millennials, is driving the trend of buying fewer items than before. They are looking for a minimalist lifestyle that includes less clutter and possessions, which can be hard to find in today's world of fast fashion.
Positive or negative trend?
While some consider this a positive change, it impacts the economy as people buy fewer new things. The rise in demand for recycled or repurposed items has been seen through various channels - online selling sites like eBay or Etsy, and physical stores such as thrift stores or vintage clothing shops. In part, this is a response to unfair trade practices and exploitation of labor in developing countries. It also reflects today's focus on reducing environmental degradation caused by large-scale environmentally unregulated overseas manufacturer practices.
In recent years there has also been a rise in "fast fashion". Companies like Forever 21 continue to churn out low-quality clothes at high speed without any thought about sustainability or longevity. This means that many natural resources and money are wasted as the clothes have to be replaced constantly.
Factors driving the change
Many millennials also want to spend their money on experiences rather than things. It's a trend that has been seen for years now and will continue.
The rise in demand for second-hand items could be attributed to this shift of mentality regarding modern consumerism by younger generations - they see buying something as an investment rather than a purchase and prefer to spend their money on things that will last. Many factors are driving the trend, but it seems like this is an overall positive thing for our society as people who buy second-hand often donate or resell items they don't need themselves. A result that has proven to be great for those in poverty.
Many young people prefer to spend less on 'things' or seek out second-hand items to save money.
The impact of COVID-19
Are people now saving more because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Many people have been affected by COVID-19 and need to save money because of the pandemic. Some people feel that buying pre-owned items is a waste of time and they would be better off shopping at the mall. However, some people do not have the luxury or resources for shopping in malls, especially if they have limited income for purchasing basic needs.
Some people have less money to spend now because of the pandemic. People in some countries are finding that they're not making as much money per hour or month. Also, many jobs aren't available anymore. This means modern consumerism has been affected, as their buying habits are more limited since they can't afford to buy a bunch of unnecessary things.
Buying new things can be expensive and sometimes people just want to spend their money on something that will last rather than have it break after a few uses or become outdated quickly.
Is buying fewer things a positive trend?
Buying fewer things is a positive trend because people are taking care of their environment by not purchasing unnecessary material possessions. Contributing less waste to landfill sites might also be considered a minimalist lifestyle.
Any change in modern consumerism affects our economy if more people buy second-hand clothing or other items. For example, if people prefer purchasing second-hand clothes, there will be less demand for new clothes. Thus, consuming fewer natural resources for the production of new goods.
Buying secondhand is a trend that millennials tend to follow, and it's disruptive because they are the future of our society and economy. What they purchase will likely be more environmentally friendly and less wasteful and not have any dire environmental consequences.
Is buying fewer things a negative trend?
Buying more second-hand items and fewer new goods is not necessarily a bad thing. In modern life, people are taking care of their environment by recycling, which helps reduce our carbon footprint. If we buy fewer clothes this could help us save money too. A negative aspect of this trend is that some stores are going out of business or closing because they can't survive because of this new trend.
Some people would say that the industrial revolution sparked the beginning of mass consumption or mass consumerism. Mass-produced goods suddenly became cheaper to buy for ordinary people, which then drove even more consumerism. Then, there is the question of how minimalism impacts manufacturing industries now. It impacts them in a few ways; for example, it has led to some manufacturers producing more sustainable and longer-lasting products.
But society's lifestyle trend of minimal consumerism means that people are buying fewer new things and some manufacturing companies or factories go out of business if there is a lack of demand for their products due to changing consumer trends.
Nowadays there is a trend of buying goods even when they are not necessary
What's your opinion?
What are the current trends in purchasing habits in your country?
How would you answer this question about purchasing habits?