1 . Online grocery delivery has skyrocketed (飞涨) all over the world. Since COVID-19 cases have been declining, new companies such as Zapp, GoPuff, or Getir have entered the grocery delivery market with a mission to permanently change consumer habits. These rapid grocery delivery services make a novel promise: Groceries can be delivered within minutes to your door. This option sounds great to busy parents who cannot leave their children alone to pop into the store or people who have guests and urgently need a few extra beers without leaving the house. However, shoppers should watch out for the allure (诱惑) of rapid delivery whenever possible.

While a one-time rapid delivery is certainly harmless for the shopper and the whole market, repeatedly using such services will ultimately harm grocery shops and corner shops. So far, rapid delivery companies have been backed by capital fund (资金) to finance their costs，but they need to be profitable in the long run to survive. So they will push up prices and gradually cancel promotions once their capital funding has dried up. Last week, a delivery company was reported to have shut down after running out of cash, leaving its workers jobless. We should think about the serious outcome that may come up, such as much less lively cities that miss the small shops and delivery workers who face tight deadlines and little job security.

As consumers,we often think that our daily decisions are harmless. Just as one doughnut (甜甜圈) doesn’t compromise our healthy diet and one skipped workout doesn’t affect our fitness,one rapid delivery will not harm the little shops that make our neighborhood lively. Research shows that consumers who perform a behavior regularly for about six weeks have created a habit. So ordering rapid delivery every day will hurt our neighborhoods and make us poorer once prices increase.

Thus, approach the rapid delivery option as you would refuse to accept any other allure. Be careful not to create a habit that you might later come to regret.

5 . As thrift was introduced into mainstream pop culture, young people started going to thrift stores for cheaper, fashionable finds. Gen Z consumers state that sustainability is an important factor while making buying decisions. Many choose to shop for a second-hand or resale item of eco-friendly products. Thrift shopping may have once been on the to-do list of people in poverty. But now a rise in eco-conscious thinking has caused young people to pop to thrift stores.

However, scientists recently have come to realize such trendy sustainable practices could actually be less rosy than expected.

Actually, the root of this sustainability dilemma is not only assessing what you use in your life, but the overconsumption. “Buying piles of second- hand clothing doesn’t help to build a sustainable future or challenge our addiction to shopping whenever we want them,” says Anna Fitzpatrick, a project coordinator at the Sustainable Fashion’s Centre. In some cases, the very existence of second-hand stores can give us a false sense of guiltlessness. Fitzpatrick adds, “we can clear out our entire wardrobe by leaving what we don’t want at a second-hand store with the hope that it’ll be put into good use. Instead of buying less, we trick ourselves into thinking we can shop our way out of the problem by donating again and again.”

While shopping second-hand may seem like fun, or even an adventurous activity for fashion lovers, it’s absolutely essential for people of limited budget. With thrifting reaching new levels of popularity, a great many people are noticing a rise in prices at their local thrift stores. This can influence those who rely on the used market for everyday wear.

“Actually, they aren’t shopping in second-hand shops to be sustainable or cool—they’re doing it out of necessity,” says Fitzpatrick. So, when you walk into a thrift shop or really any store, it’s important to ask yourself whether it is necessary. While buying second-hand used to be economical and sustainable, it’s now about consumption and staying on trend. Just remember, when it comes to your wardrobe, less is more helpful for society and the planet.