One of my favourite concepts of all time is Lucy Liu’s concept of “f**k you money”. Everytime the same clip of her goes viral I always sit with her words.
I worked a lot in order to just have money. It was called “f##k you” money. If you have it, and something’s not working out, and they say you have to take this job, or you’re fired, you can be like, “f##k you.”
F##k you money prevents someone from being trapped - whether it be a bad job, a bad relationship, a bad apartment, or something else entirely. Yet lately, it seems that I am being trapped by myself. My fear of consuming, of over consuming, is making me save up without a reason to say f##k you.
A few days ago I did a quick closet clean with the intention of purchasing things that are still sitting in my multiple open tabs. I enjoy having less because it gives me more free time. Yet, this free time from picking through hundreds of options of products each day before leaving the house gives me ample time to go online and watch others do exactly that. I under consume physically to over consume digitally.
Many women tend to hesitate to consume as we have been hounded by the horros of overcosumption. As therealmanifestelle mentions in one video, we willingly internalise the misogynistic myth of overconsumption because:
It is under the guide of something generally reasonable: the premise that overconsumption is bad. (…) women cannot take up space. (…) It is important to dispel these myths because they trick us into believing that our economic influence is a liability instead of what it truly is: one of the most powerful levers women have to shape culture, markets, innovation and future.
Consumption isn’t the problem - unquestioned/ unintentional consumption is. So, as an attempt to say “f**k you” to the misogynistic myth of overconsumption, here is how I combat overconsumption - and its myth - while consuming.
I believe everyone should have a list of things they would like to buy. Whether it be a phsycial list in your notebook, a digital list in your notes app, or anything else - everyone should have a list of things they’d like to treat themselves to, no matter how unrealistic. In fact, the more unrealistic the better.
Now in order to know what you truly like, and what you’ll truly use, you need to know your pattern of interest. Because consumption is not wrong, uninformed consumption is! I myself see it through the collages I make - I notice what colours, what textures, what silhouettes and products I’m drawn to. I also make sure to take pictures when I see something I like but is not quite right.
The perfect everyday bag
I have been scouting the perfect everyday bag that would fit my needs for over a year. I know my requirements (big enough for a book, doesn’t reduce itself to a puddle when empty…) and have been seeing what catches my eye by taking and saving pictures. Most recently, I’ve ended up on this beautiful bag that might fit all my requirements.
The print is inspired by the Islander bags I saw on my trip to Edinburgh last year (I took terrible pictures so I won’t share - but they do exist). This version has much larger straps which will allow for most than one book, and is also much less sturdy. Also, while looking at my purchases in the last year, I’ve noticed I’ve navigates away from black and closers to brown: brown coat, brown sunglasses, brown hair elastics… Therefor, this bag would be in closer harmony to what I gravitate towards.
A camera to carry with me at all times
Similar to bags, I’ve been meticulously watching people on social media showing off their cameras for months. I see what camera they have, how the pictures look and what kind of pictures they take, hoping to make an informed decision. I have a whole Tiktok album dedicated to cameras. Now, part of my decision will ultimately be reduced to the brands that ship to Denmark, and the products the brands ship to Denmark (as the range of products aren’t as broad as in the US/UK).
For now, I seem to have settled on a Canon one, and will try to see what some of the experts at camera stores in Copenhagen recommend. If possible, when making a larger purchase, I always try to see the product in person and have a conversation with someone who knows much more than me.
Creative materials
As I will have more free time on my hands when my internship ends, I have had to question how my routines and habits will evolve and how I might nurture and feed them. I have decided to focus on my creative skills, which might include buying certain products or investing in a retreat to hone in on my skills or diversify my interests. I have not yet settled on specifics as I am still scouting what feels right for me, so for now I am using all the materials I already have, whether physically or digitally.
If you’re interested in reading more about that, please let me know!
I will end my thoughts now, as it is not my intentions to make a long list of things of things to consume (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but rather show to important of consuming when it is done thoughtfully. So f**k you to the misogynistic myth of overconsumption, and let me know what you intend of buying/ consuming soon!
Love,
Anastasia
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