Forget about the price tag.

A month ago I visited the Gifts and Lifestyle fair in Brisbane. Although it wasn’t a huge show, I was blown away by the amount of talent and brilliant business ideas there! I had the honour of meeting with my wonderful friends from the Linen Press and we had a great chat about how there’s been a big shift in the way people make purchase decisions over the last few years.

In the past people were very focused on the cost of an item and looking for the cheapest choice- and for good reason… it’s important to make good financial choices! But as time goes on people are also becoming more mindful of the story behind a product. Perhaps it’s because we are trying to focus more on being grateful and more compassionate to the world around us and the people who have less than us.

It’s not about the money, money, money… Like Jessie J says- we aren’t just looking at the price tag anymore. We’re concerned about the people who designed and created the product- are they being paid enough and are their work conditions up to par? Are they safe and happy? And what about the environment? How is the production of this product impacting the world around us? And are the farmers/producers who provided the materials being provided for?

Then there’s a whole different mind shift about the quality of a product. I think we’ve all experienced annoying products that just don’t last the test of time and we’re starting to try to seek out products that we know we’ll keep for years and years to come. We want products that our grandchildren and great grandchildren can enjoy. We want products that are safe for our family- not just cheap, chemical laden items that we’ve bought impulsively that will clutter our homes and then end up in landfill.

If this is you then I want to give you a big pat on the back! I know it’s not easy. It takes a big mind shift. You need to be intentional. Often you need to save and budget. Sometimes (even if you want to) you can’t always go for the better option and sometimes you cave in a moment of weakness and impulse buy something you regret later. I’ve been there and I’m still a work in progress! I think it’s just all a part of life experience. Once you’ve decluttered your house once, twice (or six) times you begin to really hone in on what’s important to you and your family. What makes like easier for all of you and what you want to spend you time focussing on.

I think it’s great to have these conversations and encourage each other to make better choices. It’s a way that we can serve ourselves, our children, our animals, our neighbours, and our land.