Summer jobs, no bills, mall trips, online shopping, ah yes, the joys of teenage years. Spending is so easy and effortless that it seems silly to think of other options, but why not try to make some of that stuff you love to buy?
I, like many other teens, love to spend money. I get paid, and the next day I’m already out on a shopping spree. It feels so good to not have to pay anyone back or hold back because of the cost. It’s all my money, and I can do literally whatever I want with it.
Recently, though, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things I have, and after the spending haze disappears, I realize that I have no real attachment to the object that I just purchased.
So, I have turned to a new outlet, something that I can still spend my own money on but feel more fulfilled about: simply making things. As I walk through the hallways of school and really observe the people around me, I see that humans are so incredibly customizable.
If we stop feeding into the newest trend and giving all our money to big corporations and instead try to make something of our own, it can really be super cool. I am not saying that you should start sewing your clothes from scratch. I am trying to say that, maybe take some old clothes and dye them, paint them maybe, or even iron cool designs on them!
In this new era of AI, I am scared that we are going to lose the human touch of art. We should stop letting computers and big companies control our taste and spending habits. Making something unique to you is way more fulfilling than anything a computer can generate or any website can dropship; it’s human, and it’s made by you!
At this point in your life, you probably have a lot more free time than you ever will, so maybe being creative will help you find a new thing that you truly love doing. You’ll also find that people think it’s really cool when you can make cool art, and it truly inspires people.
Try to think outside of the box and don’t be afraid to be different! So, before you hit purchase on that shirt that you already have in 12 different colors, think about how you can be crafty and potentially make that same shirt on your own for cheaper!
