Buy less

Supply chain problems mean a lot of people are telling you to shop early this holiday season. If Hallmark's in the market for a movie idea, the current moment is fodder for a pretty good one. Supply chain disruptions and mail delays are tossing the upcoming holiday season into chaos, with millions of people worried that their toys and gifts won’t arrive on time. What if, instead of appeasing eager-to-sell retailers and rushing to buy this year’s presents early, we all just didn’t? In the Hallmark version, we remember the reason for the season and cherish the moments with family and friends. In the real-life version, we buy less. That’s [the idea Terry Nguyen explores]( in her latest story for Vox. She dives into the environmental impact of consumerism, whether individual choices on purchases matter, and what it looks like to buy nothing, or at least, less than normal. I’d imagine Hallmark’s 2021 holiday movie slate is set already, but if not … call us. —[Emily Stewart](twitter.com/emilystewartm), Senior Reporter It’s time for Americans to buy less stuff [a man unloading Amazon boxes ]( Getty Images I started getting emails from brands in September, hinting that I should get a head start on my holiday shopping. Next came the headlines, and then the reminders from social media users dishing out the same advice. Holiday shopping starts a little earlier every year, but this isn’t just the typical push. People are encouraged to order their gifts as soon as possible or risk having packages arrive late, due to rampant [supply chain disruptions and mailing delays](. Even [books]( (yes, books!) aren’t safe from the impending shortages. The holiday shopping industrial complex feels especially unavoidable in 2021, with Halloween still more than a week away. [Amazon](, Macy’s, [Target](, and Walmart have launched early-bird sales, and retailers are preparing to dish out millions of dollars on ads for strong fourth-quarter sales. The pandemic briefly curbed consumer spending, but not for very long: As the country opened back up, Americans felt the [urge to get out and shop](, an impulse that retailers and marketers happily indulged. The early fall holiday shopping schedule is billed to benefit customers by reducing their annual holiday stress, which will likely be compounded by supply chain delays. But when the early bird catches the worm (and the sales), the retailers rake in all the profits. Early holiday shopping sprees are good news for retail corporations, logistics companies, and the US economy, but bad, ultimately, for millions of workers (manufacturing, retail, [logistics, warehouse]() and the planet. Instead of opting to order our Christmas presents early, perhaps now is the time to reconsider America’s great shopping addiction. [Read the full story >>](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( When can we start enjoying nightlife again? Scientists don’t want you to be going out right now. But if you must … [Read the full story >>]( The past, present, and future of body image in America Millennials grew up hating their bodies. Does Gen Z have to be the same? [Read the full story >>]( More good stuff to read today - [The best $160 I ever spent: A session with a Black therapist]( - [A last will and testament can be a huge fight for families]( - [What’s the deal with fictional influencers?]( - [The chaotic, irreplaceable Wendy Williams]( - [The problem with America’s semi-rich](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=goods). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.