003 The Things I Buy — and Why 消费心理学 – 买东西，是因为需要还是情绪？

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When I first started making my own money, I felt powerful — like I finally had control over my life.
I grew up hearing that money brings freedom, so I thought spending it meant I was free.

刚开始自己赚钱的时候，我感觉很有力量——彷佛终于能掌控人生。
我从小就听人说「有钱就有自由」，所以我以为「花钱」就代表我自由了。

Every paycheck felt like a little celebration.
I’d walk into a store “just to look,” and walk out with a new bag, a lipstick, or a gadget I didn’t need.

每次领薪水都像在庆祝。
我走进店里口口声声说「只是看看」，结果出门时手上多了一个包、一支口红，或一个其实不需要的小玩意。

Trendy clothes, skincare, phone cases, home décor — you name it.
Half the time, I didn’t even open the boxes.
But that quick swipe of a card felt like proof I was doing okay, that I was moving forward.

流行衣服、保养品、手机壳、居家装饰——你能想到的我几乎都买。
有一半甚至连盒子都没打开。
但刷卡那一瞬间，让我觉得自己过得不错、人生在往前走。

I followed every trend and told myself I deserved it.
When guilt crept in, I’d say, “Well, I work hard.”
But the truth was, I wasn’t buying things — I was buying a feeling.

我追着潮流跑，还对自己说「我值得」。
内疚冒出来时，我会补一句：「反正我很努力工作。」
但说穿了，我买的不是物品——而是一种感觉。

Then came the decluttering phase.
Every few months, I’d pull everything out, make piles of “keep,” “donate,” and “maybe.”
It felt liberating for a week, and then the midnight scrolling returned.

接着是断舍离时期。
每隔几个月我就把东西全部翻出来，分成「保留」「捐赠」「再想想」。
那种轻松只维持一两周，之后半夜滑购物网站的习惯又回来了。

It turned into a cycle — buy, regret, declutter, repeat.
The funniest part?
When I first learned to swim, I couldn’t even float, but I had gear like an Olympic athlete.
Just kidding — but you get the point.

于是形成了一个循环——买、后悔、断舍离、再重来。
最好笑的是：刚学游泳时我连漂浮都不会，装备却齐全到像奥运选手。
开玩笑的啦——但你懂我的意思。

Shopping stopped feeling fun.
I felt tired — like I was chasing something I couldn’t catch.
My apartment looked neat, but my mind felt crowded.
Then I checked my savings and realized nothing had grown.

购物不再有趣，我只觉得累——像是在追一个永远抓不到的东西。
房间看起来整齐，心却很拥挤。
某天我看了一下存款，才发现多年来几乎没增加。

That’s when I opened up to a friend.
She listened and said, “Maybe don’t just stop spending — redirect your focus.
Start creating.”
I didn’t fully get it, but the words stayed with me.

那时我把心事告诉朋友。
她听完说：「与其只逼自己别花钱，不如把注意力挪开——去创造。」
我一开始不太懂，但她的话留在我心里。

A few weeks later, by pure chance, I found my dad’s old camera while cleaning the closet.
I wiped off the dust, curious whether it still worked, and decided to take it outside.
That weekend, I started taking photos — morning light on the kitchen table, reflections in bus windows, strangers holding hands at crosswalks.
It wasn’t planned, but something about capturing quiet moments made me feel calm again.

几周后，机缘巧合之下，我在整理衣柜时发现了爸爸送我的旧相机。
我随手擦去灰尘，心想不知道还能不能用，于是决定拿出去试拍。
那个周末，我开始拍照——厨房桌上的晨光、巴士窗上的倒影、斑马线上牵手的路人。
一切都不是刻意的，但捕捉那些安静瞬间的过程，让我重新感到平静。

At night, instead of browsing shopping apps, I browsed my own shots.
I edited colors, cropped edges, added tiny captions.
I stopped needing to buy inspiration — because I was making it.

晚上我不再逛购物网站，而是翻看自己的照片。
调色、裁边、写下一小行说明。
我不再需要「买灵感」——因为我正在创造它。

Around the same time, I began running.
Ten minutes at first, barely breathing, then longer.
It became my morning ritual: lace up, step outside, listen to my footsteps before the city wakes up.

差不多同一时间，我开始跑步。
一开始只有十分钟、气喘吁吁，后来慢慢加长。
它成了我的晨间仪式：绑好鞋带、走到户外，在城市苏醒前听见自己的脚步。

Those simple routines filled the space that shopping used to fill.
I wanted movement and meaning, not another box at my door.
Months passed before I noticed I hadn’t bought anything useless.

这些简单的日常，填满了过去靠购物填补的空白。
我渴望的是流动与意义，而不是门口又一个纸箱。
几个月过去，我才发现自己很久没有乱买了。

When my friend asked what changed, I laughed.
“I guess I was never buying things — I was buying comfort.”
Now, the things I buy have a reason: a lens I’ll use for years, running shoes that carry me forward, a coffee I actually have time to enjoy.

朋友问我「哪里变了」时，我笑了。
「我想我从来不是在买东西——我是在买安慰。」
而现在，我买的东西都有理由：会用很多年的镜头、带我向前的跑鞋、以及我真的有时间细细品尝的一杯咖啡。

I used to think happiness came from what I owned.
Now I know it comes from where I place my energy.
When my heart has direction, my wallet finally finds peace.

我曾以为幸福来自拥有什么。
现在我知道，它来自我把心力放在哪里。
当心有了方向，钱包也终于得以安静。

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What kind of buyer are you?

We all spend money for different reasons — comfort, habit, identity, or meaning. These four voices show how buying is never just about things — it’s about who we are and what we seek.

每个人花钱的理由都不同——为了安慰、为了习惯、为了身份、或为了意义。 这四种声音展现了：购物从来不只是关于物品，而是关于我们是谁、在追寻什么。选择与你相似的部分，改写成你自己的版本。

A. The Minimalist Worker – “Too Busy to Buy”

I work as a project manager in a tech company, and my days are a mix of meetings, deadlines, and endless updates.
Shopping used to be fun when I was younger, but now it just feels like another task on my to-do list. There are too many choices — when I see a hundred versions of the same product, I lose patience before I even start comparing. So I buy the same things again and again: the same notebook, the same shampoo, the same sneakers.
If it works, I stick to it.
For me, simplicity saves time, energy, and peace of mind.

我是一名科技公司的项目经理，每天都被会议、截止日和报告淹没。 年轻时购物曾让我开心，但现在只觉得那是待办清单上的另一项任务。 选择太多——当我看到同一产品的上百种版本时，还没开始比较就已经觉得厌倦。
所以我反复购买同样的东西：同样的笔记本、洗发精、球鞋。 「能用就不要换」成了我的原则。
对我而言，简单让我省时间、省力，也保有心的平静。
– If it works, don’t replace it. → 表「如果它好用，就不需要替换」，常用于极简主义生活哲学。

B. The Trend Follower – “Buy Now, Regret Later”

I used to dream of becoming a fashion influencer.
My closet was like a trend museum — cottagecore dresses, oversized blazers, everything I saw online. Each time I clicked “add to cart,” I told myself this outfit represented a new version of me.
But deep down, I knew it was just impulse.
Whenever I felt stressed or lonely, online shopping became therapy.
For a few minutes, I felt seen, confident, alive. But when the packages arrived, the excitement disappeared faster than the unboxing video.
Now I’m trying to tell the difference between what I like and what I truly need.

我曾经梦想成为时尚网红。 我的衣柜就像潮流博物馆——从田园风洋装到宽版西装外套，网上看到的几乎全都有。 每次点下「加入购物车」时，我都告诉自己那代表全新的我。 但其实，我心里清楚那只是冲动。
每当我感到压力或孤单时，网购就成了我的心理治疗。 短短几分钟，我觉得自己被看见、有自信、充满活力。 可当包裹送到时，那股兴奋比开箱影片还快消失。
现在我正在学着分辨——什么是我喜欢的，什么才是我真正需要的。
– add to cart → 网购常用语，表示「加入购物车」。
– the difference between what I like and what I need → 表「喜好与需求之间的界线」。

C. The Over-Spender – “Buying Comfort”

There was a time when I thought buying things could fix how I felt. I bought self-help books, aromatherapy oils, yoga mats — all in the name of self-care.
But most of them stayed unopened. I wasn’t really investing in healing; I was collecting symbols of comfort, as if owning them could make me feel whole.
Each purchase was like a promise: “This will make me better.”
But the truth? It never did. One day, I looked around my apartment — shelves full of untouched “healing tools” — and realized I was trying to buy peace instead of finding it.
Now, I still like beautiful things, but I ask myself before buying:
“Will this truly help me, or just help me escape?”

有一段时间，我以为购物能修复内在。
我买了各种心灵成长书、芳疗精油、瑜伽垫——都打着「自我照顾」的名义。
但大多数都没拆封。
我并不是在投资疗愈，而是在收集「安慰的象征」，彷佛拥有它们就能让自己完整。
每次购买都像一个承诺：「这会让我变好。」
但事实是，它从没让我好过。
某天，我望着满屋未使用的「疗愈工具」，才明白我追求的不是平静，而是想用购物换得平静的假象。
现在我仍喜欢美好的事物，但会在购买前问自己：
「这真的能帮我吗？还是只是帮我逃避？」
– buy peace instead of finding it → 表「想用购物换得心灵平静」，隐喻逃避式消费。

D. The Sentimental Collector – “Buying Memories”

I’m not into brands or trends.
I buy postcards, little souvenirs, and books from every city I visit. Each item feels like a memory I can hold. But as years passed, my shelves became crowded.
One day, while dusting, I realized I wasn’t keeping memories — I was keeping proof that I had lived happily.
That hit me hard. Now I still buy things, but only one per trip — something small, meaningful, timeless.
I’ve learned that buying isn’t about owning; it’s about connecting — to moments, to stories, to the feeling of being alive.

我对品牌和潮流没兴趣。
我买明信片、小纪念品，还有每座城市的一本书。 每样东西都像一段能触摸的回忆。 但随着时间过去，书架越来越拥挤。 有一天，我在擦灰时突然意识到：我保存的不是回忆，而是「幸福的证据」。 那一刻我很震撼。
现在我依然会买东西，但每次只买一件——小巧、有意义、能长久留存的。
我明白购买的意义，不在于拥有，而在于连结：
与时光、与故事、与活着的感觉。
– buying isn’t about owning; it’s about connecting → 表「购物不为拥有，而为连结」，象征成熟心境。

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Emotional Word Map — 常见情绪词与表达练习

在反思购物行为时，我们往往混合了多种情绪：想要、放松、焦虑、内疚、满足。
这一部分帮你扩展情绪词汇，并学会自然地表达购物背后的感受。

Emotion	English Expression	Example Sentence
Comfort	seek comfort in buying	I used to seek comfort in buying things I didn’t need. 我过去常透过购物寻找安慰。
Guilt	feel a wave of guilt after shopping	I felt a wave of guilt after buying something I didn’t even like. 买了其实不喜欢的东西后，我感到一阵罪恶感。
Relief	feel relieved once I decide not to buy	I felt relieved when I closed the app and walked away. 关掉购物App、放下手机时，我反而感到轻松。
Control	buy things to feel in control	I used to buy planners and notebooks to feel in control of my life. 我过去常买笔记本来找回掌控感。
Escape	use shopping as an escape	Sometimes I used shopping as an escape from stress or boredom. 有时我把购物当成逃避压力或无聊的方式。
Joy	feel genuine joy when buying something meaningful	I feel genuine joy when I buy something I’ll use every day. 当我买到每天都会用到的东西时，感到真正的喜悦。

小练习：从上表选出三个最能代表你的情绪，用它们各写一句你自己的英文句子。

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Reflection Practice: The Things I Buy — and Why

Use the structure STATE → DO → FEEL to reflect on your own spending habits.
Think about what triggers your buying decisions, what kinds of things you tend to purchase, and how those choices make you feel afterward.

使用 STATE → DO → FEEL 的结构，反思你的消费习惯。
思考是什么触发你的购买行为、你通常会买哪些东西，以及这些选择带给你的感受。

Step 1 — STATE

Describe your current relationship with buying.
When do you usually feel the urge to buy something — when you’re happy, stressed, or just bored?
What kind of things catch your attention the most?

描述你目前的消费状态。
你通常在什么时候会想买东西——开心、压力大，还是只是无聊？
哪些类型的东西最容易吸引你？
– feel the urge to… → 表「突然有冲动去做某事」。

Useful words: impulse, comfort, reward, stress, boredom, desire, control, escape

常用词汇：冲动、安慰、奖励、压力、无聊、欲望、控制、逃避

Sentence options:
• My shopping habits usually reflect how I feel — sometimes relaxed, sometimes anxious.
• I tend to buy things when I feel tired, lonely, or excited.
• Buying something makes me feel calm, rewarded, or in control — at least for a moment.

句型练习：
・ 我的购物习惯通常反映我的情绪——有时放松、有时焦虑。
・ 我往往在疲惫、孤单或兴奋时买东西。
・ 买了东西会让我觉得平静、有奖励感或掌控感——至少那一刻是这样。

Step 2 — DO

Explain what you actually buy and how you decide.
Do you plan your purchases, compare options, or just act on impulse?
Do you buy more for function or emotion?

说明你实际会买什么，以及你是怎么决定的。
你会计划购物、比较选项，还是凭冲动下单？
你的消费更偏向功能需求，还是情绪反应？
– act on impulse → 表「凭冲动行动」。

Useful words: essentials, collections, trends, comfort items, gifts, online shopping, secondhand, minimalist

常用词汇：日用品、收藏、潮流、安慰性物品、礼物、网购、二手商品、极简主义者

Sentence options:
• I usually buy everyday things like coffee, notebooks, or skincare — small comforts that make my day easier.
• When I shop, I look for something useful or something that feels new.
• I don’t buy often, but when I do, it’s usually because I want to reward myself or relieve stress.

句型练习：
・ 我通常买日常用品，比如咖啡、笔记本或护肤品——能让生活更轻松的小物。
・ 购物时，我会找实用的东西，或能带来新鲜感的物品。
・ 我不常购物，但每次买通常是为了犒劳自己或减压。

Step 3 — FEEL

Reflect on how you feel after buying something.
Do you feel satisfied, guilty, excited, or regretful?
What emotions do you really chase when you spend — peace, joy, control, or belonging?

反思购买之后的感受。
买完东西后你会感到满足、罪恶、兴奋，还是后悔？
你在花钱时，真正追求的情绪是什么——平静、快乐、掌控感，或归属感？
– chase emotions → 表「追逐情绪满足」，常用于反思性消费语境。

Useful words: satisfaction, regret, calm, guilt, excitement, control, emptiness, relief

常用词汇：满足、后悔、平静、罪恶感、兴奋、掌控、空虚、释然

Sentence options:
• After buying something, I usually feel calm or satisfied because it gives me a small sense of control.
• After shopping, I often feel regretful because I know I didn’t really need it.
• Sometimes I realize I was trying to comfort myself through shopping, not to solve the real problem.
• Now I’m learning to pause and breathe before I buy — to ask if it’s comfort or habit.

句型练习：
・ 买完东西后我通常觉得平静或满足，因为那让我感觉有点掌控感。
・ 购物之后我常常有点后悔，因为我知道其实不需要。
・ 有时我意识到，自己是在用购物安慰自己，而不是解决问题。
・ 现在我学会在购买前先停下来呼吸一下，问问自己：这是安慰，还是习惯？

Examples — Combine STATE, DO, and FEEL

參考上方的Sentence options, 从每栏中各选一句或两句，练习表达你的「状态 → 感受 → 行动」。
並跟读音档，最后尝试改写成属于你的版本。

Example 1 — The Minimalist Worker
State: I buy only what I need because too many choices drain me.
Do: I repeat the same products I trust.
Feel: I feel calm and efficient.

范例一 — 极简上班族
状态：我只买真正需要的东西，因为太多选择让我疲惫。
行动：我重复购买熟悉可靠的物品。
感受：我觉得平静又高效。

Example 2 — The Trend Follower
State: I buy when I feel bored or insecure.
Do: I scroll online shops and add items that make me feel “new.”
Feel: The excitement fades fast, and I’m left a bit empty.

范例二 — 跟风型消费者
状态：我常在无聊或缺乏自信时购物。
行动：我滑网店、把能让我感觉“焕然一新”的商品加入购物车。
感受：兴奋感消失得很快，留下的是一点空虚。

Example 3 — The Comfort Seeker
State: I shop when I feel tired or lonely.
Do: I buy small treats like snacks or candles.
Feel: It brings warmth for a while, but not real rest.

范例三 — 安慰型买家
状态：我在疲惫或孤单时会购物。
行动：我会买点心或蜡烛之类的小确幸。
感受：那份温暖能维持一阵子，但无法真正让我休息。

Example 4 — The Sentimental Collector
State: I buy things to remember moments.
Do: I pick one small souvenir from each trip.
Feel: I feel connected to places I’ve been, without needing to own too much.

范例四 — 情感收藏者
状态：我通过购买东西来保留回忆。
行动：每次旅行我只买一个小纪念品。
感受：我感到与那些地方依然连结，而不必拥有太多。

Try Writing Yours

Use one sentence for each step. Keep it short, natural, and true to you.

每个步骤一句话即可，保持自然真实。

These days, I buy things when…
I used to think buying meant…
What I’ve learned from my spending is…

最近我通常在……时购物。
我以前认为购物代表……。
我从消费中学到的是……。

These days, I buy things when I feel…
I used to believe shopping could…
Now I realize what I really want is…

最近我通常在感到……时会购物。
我过去以为购物可以……。
现在我明白，自己真正想要的是……。

最後…額外提供主題
→ From Buying to Meaning — 从购买到意义

最后我想跟大家说一下，这篇文章除了主题是讨论购物，我也想引起大家思考…「我们为什么买」。
学习语言是为了沟通、表达，当你能清楚表达自己的观点、价值观、想法的时候，其实你也已经深思过了 !
希望大家除了练习到英文，也能练出购物的清醒感，哈

When we stop treating shopping as comfort or escape, we can reclaim our creative energy.

当我们停止把购物视为「安慰」或「逃避」时，就能重新找回「创造」的能量。 (下面这一部分帮助你练习用英文表达从消费到创造的心态转折。)

I used to buy things to feel inspired, but now I create something small to feel alive.

我过去靠买东西找灵感，现在靠创造小事找活力。

I used to reward myself with shopping, but now I reward myself with rest.

我过去靠购物犒劳自己，现在靠休息充电。

I used to buy tools to start new hobbies, but now I start first and buy later.

我过去先买装备才开始兴趣，现在先行动再决定要不要买。

I used to buy comfort, but now I find it in movement — walking, writing, or taking photos.

我过去靠购买找安慰，现在靠行动找平静——散步、写字、拍照。