“Links That Make You Think”
A couple of days ago as I was mindlessly scrolling through TikTok when I came across a video that stuck out to me. In the clip, the girl talked about the idea of “links that make you think” – essentially the idea that you should be thoughtful and intentional about the things you purchase as opposed to just buying the first item that pops up when you Google whatever it is you are looking for. Maybe it was that I was struggling through my final days of “no spend January” or because I had just destroyed my closet and came to the conclusion that I disliked all articles of clothing I own, but this notion resonated with me, making me realize that I can probably count on two hands the number of times I have truly thought about a purchase before swiping my credit card.
Regrettably, I am not typically a practitioner of the intentional buying method. If I am shopping for an event or a trip, I usually wait till the last minute and end up having to choose from select items that will arrive within two business days. I’d much rather Amazon things right to my doorstep than take the time to drive to a store and actually see what it is I am adding to my cart and often get too impatient searching for what I truly want, that I just buy what is most convenient and “best enough”. Most of the time, these purchases satisfy my needs for a while. I wear the top on a few occasions or make the boots work with some outfits. However, overtime, I grow bored, tired, and annoyed by these purchases and fall back into the trap of buying without thinking, just because I dislike what I already own or because I “need” something new.
As I reflect back on my personal life and purchasing decisions, I realized that I chronically fall victim to shopping without thinking and that this practice has led me to waste money and time – resources that are finite and should be treated with care and consideration. In the TikTok clip, the girl wasn’t showing any extraordinary purchases she had made in the past few months. Rather, she explained that by thinking about what she actually wanted and taking the time to search online and in stores for the “perfect” thing, her purchases bring her more joy and get more use than if she had just bought the first notebook or wallet that had appeared on her laptop screen.
Obviously, there will be certain purchases that need to be made in the moment – a pair of jeans that fit great or a dress that you will have in your wardrobe for years to come. But, there is a balance. When you take the time to be intentional and purposeful in the items you buy, you get more out of them. Buying just to buy may satisfy an immediate want but will not bring you the joy or longevity of an item that is personal and special to you.