Business & Finance Owning stuff is nice

[Jackfrost]

The Mrs wants us to get a new couch when we move hopefully soon (just put house on market and intend to upgrade/size). This is making me quite nervous. Sure our current couch is looking a bit old, ragged and dirty but it's still comfy and my biggest fear is the new couch will end up just as bad considering 2 children under 4 inevitably adds up to mess.

The very reason we've gone with black leather

 

[Papa Juggs]

The Mrs wants us to get a new couch when we move hopefully soon (just put house on market and intend to upgrade/size). This is making me quite nervous. Sure our current couch is looking a bit old, ragged and dirty but it's still comfy and my biggest fear is the new couch will end up just as bad considering 2 children under 4 inevitably adds up to mess.

Get a kids couch and a dad's La-z-boy

 

[Andre]

In fact, the lawn mower is so good (some old model) that some old codger stopped his ute on the side of the road to chat to me about it while I was out mowing one Sunday afternoon

Careful, he now knows where you live. Don't leave it unattended during hard rubbish week.

 

[THRILLHO]

Careful, he now knows where you live. Don't leave it unattended during hard rubbish week.

I immediately suspected it was grizzlym's dad

 

[shurg123]

It's not owning the stuff as much as using the stuff for personal enjoyment which is nice. I own a pretty quick car, having it sitting in the garage isn't nice per se, but the feeling of getting pushed back in your seat when you put your foot down is nice.

Same goes for my gaming rig, not so nice when it's sitting there doing a Windows update, but a hell of a lot of fun when I'm having a late night BF3 session with 9-10 mates.

I couldn't really enjoy a possession that doesn't really *do* anything, like an expensive painting or expensive designer clothes.

 

[Simple Jack]

I drive a Holden. I'd love a BMW or an Audi despite the fact they fulfil identical functions, will cost me more up front and throughout their lifetime and be (in the case of Audi) on balance less reliable than the Holden. It will be nicer inside and hot women will look past my grey hairs and physique and want to have relations with me. Of course.

Can't agree with this part Mess. They fulfil identical roles in the same way eating with a stick you find on the ground fulfils an identical role to a fork. They do, but don't really go about it in the same way.

The difference between a Holden and BMW is nowhere near that large but I don't think you can beat a good condition low ks 2nd hand BMW. A BMW a couple of years old will likely have more features than any new 'non premium' car and if you have a tiny bit of DIY ability isn't much more expensive to maintain, plus things like the ride quality/quietness/general comfort make a big difference if you drive a lot. Also I think you would probably get at least equally or a more reliable car with a BMW or Mercedes than a Holden.

The only major downside they have is terrible depreciation. I'd never buy a new one.

Can also report that the last part doesn't work anywhere near as well as the advertising campaigns would have you believe . Probably need a Ferrari for that.

 

[raskolnikov]

I'm a minimalist. I only own the bare necessities. And not because I can't afford it. I just don't see the point in having a lot of possessions. It's a hassle, especially if you have to move. I have a friend who is a hoarder. His house is so full you can hardly move. I pity him if he ever decides to move.

 

[Scotland]

You can be a minimalist and a materialist.

I'd rather have one nice couch that I enjoy sitting on than a couple of grand worth of stuff from Fantastic Furniture and no floor space.

Some people have video game consoles and dozens of games that have been played to death. Others have a Wii or a PS3 and one or two games that have been used a handful of times and collect dust.

Provided your purchases match your level of income and you have your priorities in order I don't it really matters what you choose to spend your money on.

 

[grizzlym]

People more often than not buy more expensive items or brands for emotional reasons. The brand fulfills some emotional need: makes you feel better, sexier, happier, safer etc. Functionality may almost be identical to other things but the emotional aspects often win out. Or that's what I can remember from marketing at uni.

 

[nicky]

I have designer kitchen chairs by Gio Ponti (he designed them for a university in the 50s ) . They are beautiful. My best friend is an architect and is in the know when things go on sale. Anyway I got them at a reasonable price and am happy with the chairs.

Marvel at the sleek lines and great colour

I also have a yellow turn table - yellow is such an underrated colour.

 

[THRILLHO]

Looks like a $10 chair from Ikea with a name like Tromønµrk.

 

[nicky]

Wash your mouth out.

 

[bunsen burner]

People more often than not buy more expensive items or brands for emotional reasons. The brand fulfills some emotional need: makes you feel better, sexier, happier, safer etc. Functionality may almost be identical to other things but the emotional aspects often win out. Or that's what I can remember from marketing at uni.

My partner has a friend who bought all designer baby furniture. Some brand called Boori is apparently the shiznitz.

I'm thinking "it's a ****ing cot FFS. Who cares what brand it is? And that cot is EOL in 18 months.

Any of you folk having kids soon: trust me, the cheap shit is the best. Don't be buying prams that are like landcruisers. Just go to Toys R Us and get a cheap. They only thing you go to make sure is that the wheels are good.

 

[grizzlym]

My partner has a friend who bought all designer baby furniture. Some brand called Boori is apparently the shiznitz.

I'm thinking "it's a ****ing cot FFS. Who cares what brand it is? And that cot is EOL in 18 months.

Any of you folk having kids soon: trust me, the cheap shit is the best. Don't be buying prams that are like landcruisers. Just go to Toys R Us and get a cheap. They only thing you go to make sure is that the wheels are good.

The brother in-law (who is the biggest tight-arse I've ever met) bought some el cheapo pram from a fire sale. Like all the stuff had been in a fire. He paid $25 for it. And everything was warped from the heat and smelt like smoke. It got used a handful of times by his reluctant wife before the front wheel fell off.

They gladly accepted our old Mountain Buggy that saw us through 2 kids. I only bought that for the wheels and sturdy construction, purely prgmatic decision and it was brilliant.

But yes, designer baby gear is almost the ultimate emotional purchase.

 

[grizzlym]

I have designer kitchen chairs by Gio Ponti (he designed them for a university in the 50s ) . They are beautiful. My best friend is an architect and is in the know when things go on sale. Anyway I got them at a reasonable price and am happy with the chairs.

Marvel at the sleek lines and great colour

I also have a yellow turn table - yellow is such an underrated colour.

Dare I ask how much?

 

[bunsen burner]

I'll let you two continue the conversation from here.

 

[nicky]

Any of you folk having kids soon: trust me, the cheap shit is the best. Don't be buying prams that are like landcruisers. Just go to Toys R Us and get a cheap. They only thing you go to make sure is that the wheels are good.

I prefer the cheaper looking prams in every way. The landcruiser prams are rude as they take up the whole footpath. I like the little prams that everyone used to have.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

i too am part of those that loves owning stuff. some may call me materialistic for it. i really dont care

i blame my upbringing for being forced to have $20 dunlop shoes over $80 nikes at school where id be ridiculed. the fact was my old man was stingy with the spouse and kids but with himself would splurge as if he was king dick.

my old man now hates how i enjoy myself. i blame it on jealousy.

at the end of the day, life is too short. you wont be taking your money with you to your grave. enjoy the high standards of life when you can but just dont buy unnecessary shit for the sake of it

 

[The Dice Man]

But theres nothing about Nike that is high standard... Unless you're talking about a perceived image?

 

[Poetic Justice]

I buy good stuff because I earn good coin for my age and want people to know about it.

I'm materialistic and I'm more than happy to admit it. I take pride in the things I own and the way I present the place I live in and I want people to envy me because I've worked damn hard to get to where I am.

If it makes me a bad person, I'll happily live with that.

In regards to the OP - if someone was truly okay living with the bare essentials, he probably wouldn't speak of it. To me, it smells of jealousy that he cannot himself live the life he wants to live. If someone can afford a $5k fridge and can afford to keep living comfortably after he's purchased it, whose right is it to question his choice?

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

I have designer kitchen chairs by Gio Ponti (he designed them for a university in the 50s ) . They are beautiful. My best friend is an architect and is in the know when things go on sale. Anyway I got them at a reasonable price and am happy with the chairs.

Marvel at the sleek lines and great colour

I also have a yellow turn table - yellow is such an underrated colour.

Horrible looking chair and looks very uncomfortable

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

http://www.thesocialcontract.com/pdf/three-three/Durning.pdf

 

[Bosun]

My partner has a friend who bought all designer baby furniture. Some brand called Boori is apparently the shiznitz.

I'm thinking "it's a ****ing cot FFS. Who cares what brand it is? And that cot is EOL in 18 months.

Any of you folk having kids soon: trust me, the cheap shit is the best. Don't be buying prams that are like landcruisers. Just go to Toys R Us and get a cheap. They only thing you go to make sure is that the wheels are good.

This, when we had our first I actually had colleagues in my office ask what pram we we bought!? Da ****? It was just more disturbing that most of them were male. They were quite shocked when I informed them I bought a pram from K mart rather than a Bugga Boo, who in the world would spend $1500 on a pram?

I guess each to their own, however I don't ask any expecting father what ****ing type of pram he bought.

 

[bunsen burner]

I buy good stuff because I earn good coin for my age and want people to know about it.

I'm materialistic and I'm more than happy to admit it. I take pride in the things I own and the way I present the place I live in and I want people to envy me because I've worked damn hard to get to where I am.

If it makes me a bad person, I'll happily live with that.

Do you not think it's tragic that you buy stuff to impress others? Specifically to make people feel envious? That's some personality defect shit right there.

I'm you're aware of it which is positive but surely when you realise you are doing this you slap yourself and tell yourself to stop being childish?

In regards to the OP - if someone was truly okay living with the bare essentials, he probably wouldn't speak of it. To me, it smells of jealousy that he cannot himself live the life he wants to live.

I totally agree with this.

 

[Poetic Justice]

For the time being I don't see it as being childish.

Some people like status, plain and simple. If it's not you, that's fine, but I'm not trying to force my beliefs or choices on people, merely trying to explain it.