Hi, I'm Toni and I absolutely love shopping. Preferably every day. Are you like this too?
“I must have it!” “Do I really need it?”
Start
I love beautiful things and buy several of each item. I just need that!
SALE
When I look in my closet, I often get in a bad mood. I can't find anything, everything is too much!
Does this sound familiar? You go into a store to buy one small item. And you leave with lots of things you didn't actually want to buy. These are impulse purchases. They happen quickly, spontaneously, and without thinking. They cost money, time, and space. Furthermore, they also harm the environment. Let's join Toni in taking a look at how to consciously interrupt and reflect on purchasing decisions.
But why do I buy so much?
Let's think about it together Is it a Is it an Is it a
need
influence
desire
Comfort
What are my needs?
Desire
Relaxation
Hi, Toni. Don't you want to go to the mall?
Hi Cleo, would you like to go to the kids' club with me?
I'd rather chill together.
Okay, see you at the club.
Why do I buy so much?
need
influence
desire
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
Social media such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are a big part of our everyday lives. We constantly see posts from influencers there. When we see them buying or using something, we think we need it too. These influencers can influence our decisions. This can lead us to buy more than we actually need.
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
When we go shopping, there are many tricks designed to make us buy things. These are called sales strategies. For example, special offers or discounts that make us think we have to buy something quickly before it becomes more expensive. Products often have labels saying “Limited offer.” This makes us afraid of missing out on something. These tricks play on our emotions. We buy things spontaneously, without thinking about it.
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
If everyone in your class has the latest smartphone, you may feel pressured. You think you have to buy it to be included. This can lead us to buy things just to fit in or receive acceptance. It is important to ask ourselves whether we really want it or just because others have it.
I have realized something.
I buy things just because I've seen them on social media. Special offers have often led me to make spontaneous purchases. I've bought things just to be part of the crowd. I want to find my own way and be less influenced by others.
Why do I buy so much?
need
influence
desire
I understand your wish. How about buying it secondhand?
That's all well and good. But I still want to continue shopping.
How about swapping or renting? Clothing is ideal for this.
Okay. Let's take a closer look at your request.
I want the new smartphone. Everyone in my class got it.
I've got something to help you decide. Ready?
Always check whether it is an impulse purchase.
Alright. Show me your decision aid.
Here are a few questions to help you decide whether to buy something new.
Yes, I really need the smartphone
Do I want to buy the smartphone because the other one is no longer usable?
Are you really sure you need this new smartphone? Just sleep one night on it and think it over again.
No. The new smartphone is better than the old one.
Yes, I just want this new smartphone
Do I want to buy the phone to have a new one?
No, that's not good for the environment.
Use your new smartphone properly: take care of it, repair it, and enjoy it. If we are more mindful with our items, we need less overall.
Yes, I've been planning that for a very long time!
I've been thinking about buying a smartphone for a while now.
No, I just fell in love with it.
I feel ready!
Before I buy something, I will ask myself: ‘Is this a real need or just a desire?’ In the future, I want to be less influenced by external circumstances. Before every purchase, I will pause and ask myself whether the item is truly necessary.
For practice
Reflect on the items you have purchased that you do not actually need.
1 Consider what you regret
Write down the things you don't want to buy in the future.
2 Create a list
Set a period of time (e.g., eight weeks) during which you will not buy the items on the list.
Check regularly to see if you are following your list.
3 Set yourself a deadline
4 Check yourself
checked!
And now?
Congratulations, you have journeyed through your own world of consumption. Now you have arrived here. Take a short breath and breathe in deeply again. You have done it! The first step has been taken, and that is what matters!
IMAGES The character Toni and the final image were created using the image generation program MidJourney. All other images and graphics are from Genially Resources.
TEXT The course is based on the results and exercises of the TU Berlin research project “Meinding – Ich bin, was ich nicht habe” (Meinding – I am what I don't have). tu.berlin/aloenk/forschung/projekte/meinding-ich-bin-was-ich-nicht-habe Some of the texts in the course were generated using ChatGPT.
More information: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@designecologist/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@rdne/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@suzyhazelwood/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@mikhail-nilov/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@mikhail-nilov/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@rpnickson/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@luis-moya-354419999/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@pixabay/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@olly/
Sometimes we want to buy new things because we feel sad and need comfort. TIP: Do something with your friends.
Sometimes we are exhausted and want to reward ourselves with shopping. The need behind this is relaxation. TIP: Go out into nature to run, walk, or hike.
Sometimes we just feel like doing something new. TIP: Read, repair broken items yourself, organize a swap party.
“I must have it!” “Do I really need it?”
Mandy Töppel
Created on August 27, 2025
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Transcript
Hi, I'm Toni and I absolutely love shopping. Preferably every day. Are you like this too?
“I must have it!” “Do I really need it?”
Start
I love beautiful things and buy several of each item. I just need that!
SALE
When I look in my closet, I often get in a bad mood. I can't find anything, everything is too much!
Does this sound familiar? You go into a store to buy one small item. And you leave with lots of things you didn't actually want to buy. These are impulse purchases. They happen quickly, spontaneously, and without thinking. They cost money, time, and space. Furthermore, they also harm the environment. Let's join Toni in taking a look at how to consciously interrupt and reflect on purchasing decisions.
But why do I buy so much?
Let's think about it together Is it a Is it an Is it a
need
influence
desire
Comfort
What are my needs?
Desire
Relaxation
Hi, Toni. Don't you want to go to the mall?
Hi Cleo, would you like to go to the kids' club with me?
I'd rather chill together.
Okay, see you at the club.
Why do I buy so much?
need
influence
desire
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
Social media such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are a big part of our everyday lives. We constantly see posts from influencers there. When we see them buying or using something, we think we need it too. These influencers can influence our decisions. This can lead us to buy more than we actually need.
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
When we go shopping, there are many tricks designed to make us buy things. These are called sales strategies. For example, special offers or discounts that make us think we have to buy something quickly before it becomes more expensive. Products often have labels saying “Limited offer.” This makes us afraid of missing out on something. These tricks play on our emotions. We buy things spontaneously, without thinking about it.
Am I really being influenced? How?
Social Media
Friends
Great deals
If everyone in your class has the latest smartphone, you may feel pressured. You think you have to buy it to be included. This can lead us to buy things just to fit in or receive acceptance. It is important to ask ourselves whether we really want it or just because others have it.
I have realized something.
I buy things just because I've seen them on social media. Special offers have often led me to make spontaneous purchases. I've bought things just to be part of the crowd. I want to find my own way and be less influenced by others.
Why do I buy so much?
need
influence
desire
I understand your wish. How about buying it secondhand?
That's all well and good. But I still want to continue shopping.
How about swapping or renting? Clothing is ideal for this.
Okay. Let's take a closer look at your request.
I want the new smartphone. Everyone in my class got it.
I've got something to help you decide. Ready?
Always check whether it is an impulse purchase.
Alright. Show me your decision aid.
Here are a few questions to help you decide whether to buy something new.
Yes, I really need the smartphone
Do I want to buy the smartphone because the other one is no longer usable?
Are you really sure you need this new smartphone? Just sleep one night on it and think it over again.
No. The new smartphone is better than the old one.
Yes, I just want this new smartphone
Do I want to buy the phone to have a new one?
No, that's not good for the environment.
Use your new smartphone properly: take care of it, repair it, and enjoy it. If we are more mindful with our items, we need less overall.
Yes, I've been planning that for a very long time!
I've been thinking about buying a smartphone for a while now.
No, I just fell in love with it.
I feel ready!
Before I buy something, I will ask myself: ‘Is this a real need or just a desire?’ In the future, I want to be less influenced by external circumstances. Before every purchase, I will pause and ask myself whether the item is truly necessary.
For practice
Reflect on the items you have purchased that you do not actually need.
1 Consider what you regret
Write down the things you don't want to buy in the future.
2 Create a list
Set a period of time (e.g., eight weeks) during which you will not buy the items on the list.
Check regularly to see if you are following your list.
3 Set yourself a deadline
4 Check yourself
checked!
And now?
Congratulations, you have journeyed through your own world of consumption. Now you have arrived here. Take a short breath and breathe in deeply again. You have done it! The first step has been taken, and that is what matters!
IMAGES The character Toni and the final image were created using the image generation program MidJourney. All other images and graphics are from Genially Resources.
TEXT The course is based on the results and exercises of the TU Berlin research project “Meinding – Ich bin, was ich nicht habe” (Meinding – I am what I don't have). tu.berlin/aloenk/forschung/projekte/meinding-ich-bin-was-ich-nicht-habe Some of the texts in the course were generated using ChatGPT.
More information: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@designecologist/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@rdne/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@suzyhazelwood/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@mikhail-nilov/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@mikhail-nilov/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@rpnickson/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@luis-moya-354419999/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@pixabay/ https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@olly/
Sometimes we want to buy new things because we feel sad and need comfort. TIP: Do something with your friends.
Sometimes we are exhausted and want to reward ourselves with shopping. The need behind this is relaxation. TIP: Go out into nature to run, walk, or hike.
Sometimes we just feel like doing something new. TIP: Read, repair broken items yourself, organize a swap party.