The Cost of One Sweater

When we shop, we often think of the cost as only what’s on the price tag. However, the cost of what we purchase extends way beyond that. Let’s take a sweater as an example.

I purchase a sweater. It’s navy and most of my shoes go with black, so I need to buy another pair (blavy is a NO in my book). I find ankle boots, so I also buy a few pairs of ankle socks for them. I buy another scarf that goes better with the outfit because I’m in a “spendy” mood.

When I’m online shopping for those new boots I come across a pair of earrings I like. They’re not that much money, so I add them to my cart. I’m a few dollars away from free shipping, so I add something else.

The boots don’t fit right, so I have to mail them back. I go out to buy packing tape and drive to the post office to make the return.

Let’s go back to the sweater. It’s made out of a nice material, and I want to keep it up, so I take some time to research the best way to maintain it’s quality. A video I found tells me to buy a sweater comb to prevent pilling and maybe some new detergent for delicate fabrics. Or, I decide to dry clean it every time I wear it, which costs time and money.

I’ve started to accumulate quite a bit, so I go to Target to buy some storage containers to help keep myself organized. When looking at home goods, I figure I might as well buy those picture frames I’ve been considering and a new candle. There’s a Starbucks at Target, so I get myself a coffee too.

Purchases accumulate fast and the time spent thinking about and actually shopping adds up. That’s why it’s so essential that we seriously consider what we buy. Minimalism offers a reprieve from the time, energy, and money we spend when buying sweaters, among other things.

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