Overconsumption Is Keeping You in Chains
What is keeping you in chains?
We live in a world that thrives on making us feel like we are never enough. Not successful enough, not attractive enough, not wealthy enough. And the solution? Buy more. Upgrade your car, your wardrobe, your phone, your home. Spend your way to happiness, they tell us. But what if the very act of consumption is what’s keeping you trapped? What if real freedom isn’t about acquiring more, but about stopping the cycle altogether?
Why High Earners Stay Broke
When you were younger, you probably imagined a salary number that would make you “rich.” Maybe it was six figures. Maybe it was a million. But now, if you’ve reached that number, do you feel rich? Do you feel free? Chances are, you don’t. Because with every raise, lifestyle inflation creeps in.
Lifestyle inflation is the silent killer of financial freedom. You get a promotion, and suddenly, your car isn’t good enough anymore. Your apartment needs an upgrade. Your wardrobe must reflect your “status.” You start spending money on things your younger self would have thought were unnecessary, all in the name of keeping up.
The truth is, you already make more money than you once believed you ever would. So why don’t you feel wealthy? Because the system is designed to ensure that you don’t.
The Lie of Consumerism: “You Need More”
Think about every ad you see, every influencer post, every marketing campaign: all of them are selling the idea that you’re incomplete. That without the latest gadget, the designer bag, the expensive vacation, you’re falling behind. It’s a lie. And it’s a profitable one.
The entire economy relies on you believing that happiness is just one more purchase away. And when that purchase doesn’t deliver lasting joy? They convince you to buy again. And again. The cycle never ends because it’s not designed to.
The Only Escape: Stop Buying Sh*t
Real freedom doesn’t come from a higher salary. It comes from breaking the chains of consumption. It comes from realizing that you don’t need half the things you think you do. It comes from asking yourself:
🤔Am I buying this because I need it, or because I’ve been conditioned to want it?
🤨Does this purchase genuinely add to my happiness, or does it just momentarily fill a void?
🤯What would happen if I stopped playing this game altogether?
The only way to escape corporate slavery is to opt out of the trap. It’s not easy. Every message in society tells you to consume. But the second you stop, you’ll feel something you haven’t in a long time—control.
A Personal Confession: When I Fell for the Trap - With Hair Straighters
I recently bought a $400 GHD hair straightener—to tame my unruly curls, at least that’s what they told me. The irony? I’ve been actively trying to embrace my natural hair, to love it the way it grows. But somehow, I was convinced that I needed this straightener. And now it sits there, a shiny, expensive reminder of how powerful marketing can be. (Here’s the Amazon link in case you’re curious or want to check it out: GHD Platinum Plus Hair Straighters
That said, I don’t regret all of my extravagant purchases and in all honestly I live pretty frugally. The one big-ticket item I splurged on recently is my Peloton Bike+ and honestly, I wish I had bought it sooner. It’s part of my self-care strategy, a tool for my mental and physical well-being. Last year, I burned out, and looking back, maybe if I had invested in my health earlier, I could have saved myself from a difficult year. Unlike the straightener, which plays into my insecurities, the Peloton in this case (I know this is not the case for everyone) is something that actively improves my life and gives me a sense of control over my well-being. Spin class is my favourite gym class and while I was burnt out last year I weren’t able to attend the classes. Thus, having this in my home has been a great health benefit for me. If you're considering getting a Peloton and want my referral code, feel free to reach out! Contact Page
Aside from these two, I rarely splurge—I’m a total tight ass when it comes to spending, and that habit has stuck. I live a debt-free life apart from my mortgage, which I’m aggressively paying down. I have one credit card, but whenever I use it, I pay it off in full to avoid interest, and thus I only spend what I know I can cover. Like I said, I’m a tight ass because my highest value is freedom. It’s how I managed to save enough to buy a home in Sydney on my own. But this discipline is exactly what is allowing me to create my dream life and work towards financial freedom.
Journey to freedom
How to Break Free
Pause Before You Buy – Before any purchase, ask yourself if you really need it or if it’s just an impulse.
Avoid paying interest – If I could have brought my home with cash I would have, with that exception avoid interest like the plague
Own Less, Live More – Experiences bring more joy than things. Invest in what truly matters.
Redefine Wealth – Wealth isn’t about what you own. It’s about freedom, security, and the ability to live on your terms.
Challenge the Narrative – Every time you see an ad telling you you’re not enough, remind yourself that you are.
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📚 Books & Resource Recommendations
For general financial knowledge:
The Barefoot Investor – Scott Pape (Amazon)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich – Ramit Sethi (Amazon)
The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko (Amazon)
Stop Acting Rich – Thomas J. Stanley (Amazon)
The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason (Amazon)
🔗 Related Reads
If you found this post helpful, check out these related articles:
Final Thought: What’s Truly Keeping You in Chains?
Debt? The need for approval? The fear of missing out?
When you step back and truly evaluate what’s holding you captive, you might find that the biggest burden isn’t the job or the bills—it’s the endless desire for more. And the good news? That’s something you can change.
Stop buying sh*t. Start reclaiming your life. Real freedom starts when you decide you already have enough.
