the cost of enough

Lately, I came across a TikTok video that hit me: Consumerism is the perfection of capitalism. We’re trained to work endlessly so we can spend endlessly, and the system celebrates us when we keep wanting more.

I’ve talked about this with friends; how good shopping feels, how it gives that instant rush, yet when you think about it, we’re just feeding into a cycle where we end up as the perfect victims. I’m guilty too. The “I deserve this” marketing works on me every time. I’ve splurged more than I needed, and sometimes it feels impossible to pull back.

The dilemma is real: buying less isn’t easy when affordable, long-term quality items barely exist anymore. So we’re left choosing between overconsumption and compromise.

But I’m learning to take small steps. I’ve started looking at affordable thrift stores and actually enjoy the hunt for pieces with history. I’m on a "Project Pan"; no new skincare, makeup, or perfume until I finish what I already own. Plus, an added filter for myself: if it’s not cruelty-free, I don’t buy it.

These aren’t perfect solutions, but they make me more mindful. And maybe that’s the point? Not to be flawless, but to be aware, to value what’s already here, and to remember that not every desire deserves a swipe of our exhausted card.

Because the quiet rebellion in all this might just be learning how to live with enough.