By Lena Vasquez | Community Features & Culture Editor

The marketing industry would have you believe you need to buy more. Consumption in America has risen dramatically since our grandparents’ time, but is all of this stuff actually making us better off?

A growing body of research suggests it isn’t. Not only are unnecessary purchases draining bank accounts and creating financial stress, the clutter they leave behind can take a toll on your mental state too.

There was even a study published in 2009 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin that found clutter can raise cortisol levels, the hormone tied to stress. In plain terms, the more excess you’re surrounded by, the harder it becomes to relax and focus. Every item in your environment takes up a little bit of mental space. It’s another thing to organize, clean, store, or think about.

And that’s before you factor in everything else competing for your attention. Phones constantly lighting up. Spam calls and texts. A nonstop stream of news pushing urgency, fear, and distraction.

At the same time, Americans are more productive than ever. There’s more abundance, more access, and more output than at any point in history. Yet many people feel like they’re barely keeping up. Part of that tension comes from the constant pressure to consume more. Advertising rarely tells you that you already have enough, because there’s no profit in that message.

The numbers reflect it. A large share of Americans would struggle to cover even a modest unexpected expense. Overconsumption plays a major role in that.

So what’s the alternative?

Simplify, a little at a time. If you haven’t used something in years, you probably don’t need it. Clear out duplicates. Let go of clothes you don’t even like wearing. Donate what you can. Get rid of what you can’t.

It’s not about deprivation. It’s about removing the noise.

Because when you cut back on what you don’t need, you’re not just saving money. You’re creating space. Space in your home, space in your head, and a little more control over your day-to-day life.