Back to School Shopping: 7 Tips to Avoid Overconsumption This Year

Even something as simple as an outfit for the first day of school can be a status symbol among students, regardless of grade level. Every school year, there is pressure on students to keep up with trends. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice for the first day, but the need to impress other classmates can lead to overconsumption: buying way more than you actually need or use.

Because of apps like TikTok and Instagram, trends come and go faster than ever. We spend money to buy the most popular items, and then the trend is over, and we’re on to the next thing. This cycle can feel inescapable, but never fear!

Here are 7 tips to avoid overconsumption this school year:

Before you buy something, go through what you already have: Sometimes I want to buy something new for the school year, but when I go through my old school supplies, I find things I haven’t used. It’s always good to go through everything first, that way you can have an accurate idea of what you actually need. The same goes for clothes. Do you have something you like and haven’t worn? Try to make an outfit with that.

Repurpose what you can: Once you’ve looked through items you already have, try to find ways to repurpose what you find. When I was in high school, I would cut up pieces of paper, write subjects on them (“Math,” “Science,” etc), and use them in my binders, instead of buying totally new labels. I used this particular binder throughout high school and college!

Give away extra things: Let’s say you find something in your closet that you don’t like and can’t find another use for. If that’s the case, donate them! There are plenty of schools that accept school supplies for students, and even teachers who aren’t able to buy everything they need for their classrooms. If you know any teachers, ask them for a list of things they need for their classroom. I guarantee that the teachers and students will be so grateful!

Thrifting is your friend: I’ve bought many of my favorite clothes from places like Goodwill or Miracle Hill, and I’ve even donated my own clothes that I could not find a new use for. It’s a good way to spend a little less money, contribute to saving the environment, and keep overconsumption under control!

Do you actually like it, or is it just popular?: Before you spend a dime, determine if you want to buy something for school just because it’s popular or if you really need it! For example, there is a specific brand of notebooks that I like to use, and even though they are on the expensive side, I buy them because they are made from recycled materials and have plenty of pages. It fits with my values, and it’s actually useful. Think about your values and personal preferences, and this will help you decide if you really need to buy something or not.

Everything in moderation: Even though I like this particular brand of journals, I only buy one at a time, and I do not buy a new one until I have used all the pages. I will even go as far as to change the dates in my old planners just so I can use them for a new year. This also goes for clothes. Fast fashion often goes hand in hand with overconsumption because people can buy popular styles in bulk for cheap, but then the majority of the clothes end up in landfills. You are more likely to re-wear clothes you actually like, rather than clothes you only bought because they were trendy.

Remember that material things don’t define your worth: It doesn’t matter what clothes you wear or how many influencers try to convince you that you need the latest item in the TikTok shop. You are valuable even without those things!

As you complete back-to-school shopping for this year, remember to have fun! And trust me, you definitely don’t need a miniature backpack for your Stanley Cup! Happy shopping!