Excess of consumism is horrible for people. Maybe it is good for today's economy, but it is not good for people because it changes them and make them buy things even if their pocket can not handle it. Maybe those are extreme cases, but there are lots of people that suffer this problem and millions of people consume a lot, including you and me. But we can handle it. we all can defeat consumism. The onl hard thing we have to do is clear up our minds asking ourselves this question: "What do I really need?" and "What can be productive?"
The second question is about those things that we can really USE and that can teach us or be productive. One example is a book. A book can teach many things and is a really important cultural symbolism that should remain many years in our society because they have something to teach us. Another example (that can be accepted or not) might be music because it has lots of messages and is rich culturaly. And there are more things that are usefull and productive.
Consumism is not an illness that one person has or a problem you have some days and then it disappears. There are millions and millions of people that has deeply inside their minds this concept and they do not even notice about it. If you want to change and make other peopple to notice about consumism, spread the message. Do not let anyone to not know what consumism really is and what they are doing to themselves when they buy unnecesary products.
Fight the problem before it consumes you.