Business & Finance Owning stuff is nice

[Sanders]

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.

The politics of envy make the world go round, don't sweat it.

People want to be who they aren't, have what they don't

Just lay off the store cards

 

[Poetic Justice]

By all means, I don't mean go after status if that's what you want but can't afford it - that's ludicrous.

But I choose to have nice stuff due to materialism and I can justify myself to those who question it due to my ability to service my desires.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

By all means, I don't mean go after status if that's what you want but can't afford it - that's ludicrous.

But I choose to have nice stuff due to materialism and I can justify myself to those who question it due to my ability to service my desires.

The correlation between narcissism and consumption is the primary mental illness of western society.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Either way, my most expensive possession is either my $1800 couch or $1400 fender stratocaster.

I wasn't implying I go out and spend $5k on a fridge, or anything that tall. But in many cases of the possessions I own, I chose something that was in my opinion nicer and perhaps more expensive.

I'm not suggesting I go out and spend thousands upon thousands to impress people, or drive a ferarri, or anything like that.

 

[bunsen burner]

By all means, I don't mean go after status if that's what you want but can't afford it - that's ludicrous.

Buying material goods to build your status is what is ludicrous.

Can I ask: do you own a house?

But I choose to have nice stuff due to materialism and I can justify myself to those who question it due to my ability to service my desires.

How do you justify to yourself that you have some sort of insecurity in that you need to prove you are better than the next man because you have more/better toys and better brand names?

 

[bunsen burner]

Either way, my most expensive possession is either my $1800 couch or $1400 fender stratocaster.

I wasn't implying I go out and spend $5k on a fridge, or anything that tall. But in many cases of the possessions I own, I chose something that was in my opinion nicer and perhaps more expensive.

I'm not suggesting I go out and spend thousands upon thousands to impress people, or drive a ferarri, or anything like that.

You're trying to make people envious with a $1800 dollar couch and a $1400 guitar? You from Corio brah?

 

[Poetic Justice]

You've taken it as though I only go out and be a snob about what I buy which wasn't the point I was trying to make.

It was that I would choose to buy a nice couch over some shitter at a garage sale simply because "it does the job and is cheap" etc.

I don't think there's anything psychologically wrong with a person who wants to portray themselves as "doing well". If so, there's a million crazy people out there.

I choose not to own a house at this point because several of my friends all have them and I see how much they have to skimp and not have a good time more often than not because they're up to their eye balls in mortgage repayments. Will it pay off for them? I have no doubt. But there's always a time to get in to the property market and if anyone suggests there isn't going to be growth areas in the future is just naivety. Ultimately, my choice is to wait until I have a significant other until I get into the property market, or perhaps when I turn 30 (which is 2 years off.)

 

[Sanders]

The correlation between narcissism and consumption is the primary mental illness of western society.

Feel free to support with evidence & statistical work

 

[Sanders]

Either way, my most expensive possession is either my $1800 couch or $1400 fender stratocaster.

I wasn't implying I go out and spend $5k on a fridge, or anything that tall. But in many cases of the possessions I own, I chose something that was in my opinion nicer and perhaps more expensive.

I'm not suggesting I go out and spend thousands upon thousands to impress people, or drive a ferarri, or anything like that.

Do whatever you want because you want. Its your money

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

You're trying to make people envious with a $1800 dollar couch and a $1400 guitar? You from Corio brah?

First you chastise him/her for mindless consumption and then you make a derogatory class judgement on the degree of that consumption.

Conflicted much?

 

[Sanders]

How do you justify to yourself that you have some sort of insecurity in that you need to prove you are better than the next man because you have more/better toys and better brand names?

You're trying to make people envious with a $1800 dollar couch and a $1400 guitar? You from Corio brah?

Sweet Jesus, the irony

Second statement is designed to make him think you are more sophisticated, successful & urbane; right after piously wanking 2 mins before

 

[bunsen burner]

You've taken it as though I only go out and be a snob about what I buy which wasn't the point I was trying to make.

It's much worse than that. You said this:

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.

I am having a problem correlating "I've worked damn hard to get where I am" and "All I have is an $1800 couch and a $1400 Fender".

That couch a fold out bed brah?

I don't think there's anything psychologically wrong with a person who wants to portray themselves as "doing well".

Personality defect IMO.

I choose not to own a house at this point because several of my friends all have them and I see how much they have to skimp and not have a good time more often than not because they're up to their eye balls in mortgage repayments.

The reason I asked is this (and I'm not necessarily accusing you of doing this):

Smart People: buy appreciating assets like shares and property

Dumb arses: they buy shit like nice cars, nice clothes, and depreciating consumer goods. Why a nice a car and nice clothes:

Because they are portable. They can wear their clothes everywhere and drive around in their nice car where EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM. These people usually aren't just dumb but they suffer from small dick syndrome where everything about them is a facade to impress other people.

That last sentence ring a bell?

or perhaps when I turn 30 (which is 2 years off.)

28 and you have an envy invoking $1800 couch and a Fender? Living the dream brah.

 

[bunsen burner]

First you chastise him/her for mindless consumption and then you make a derogatory class judgement on the degree of that consumption.

Conflicted much?

I'm not the one with the conflict.

1. I buy nice shit to make people envious
2. That nice shit that people are envious of is two items worth $3k.

Despite in yours and my opinion he isn't living it large, he thinks he is and has a mindset where where impressing others is paramount.

I'm going to pay out on both if it's okay with you.

 

[Poetic Justice]

You must be doing well, to be this condescending in what you're saying.

But hey, as I said in an earlier post, it's all about choice. People don't need to understand the choices other people make if it doesn't fall in line with their own beliefs.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Jump on to a couple of small items to strengthen your argument at your own free will but I think you know I threw up a couple of examples to show you that perhaps I wasn't trying to come across as being the desperate **** that you imply I am.

Nor did I mention where and how I live, other things I spend my money on be it entertainment, dining, holidays, possessions. Alas, you're being one hell of a troll, which must be a good kick for your Saturday night

 

[bunsen burner]

Sweet Jesus, the irony

Second statement is designed to make him think you are more sophisticated, successful & urbane; right after piously wanking 2 mins before

It's not about me. At 28 I had some cheap Fantastic Furniture furniture. But I bought it just to get by without spending too much, didn't have thoughts of impressing friends, and certainly didn't think I was living the dream.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

You must be doing well, to be this condescending in what you're saying.

But hey, as I said in an earlier post, it's all about choice. People don't need to understand the choices other people make if it doesn't fall in line with their own beliefs.

There's no problems with owning a nice instrument and what not, but don't get caught up in the mindless crap surrounding the attainment of goods in relation to your own self respect.

Your ego will continue to write bigger shopping lists until you arrive at the inevitable conclusion that you have been wasting your life with irrelevant bullshit.

 

[bunsen burner]

You must be doing well, to be this condescending in what you're saying.

I'm not the one who cares about material stock piles, remember?

But hey, as I said in an earlier post, it's all about choice. People don't need to understand the choices other people make if it doesn't fall in line with their own beliefs.

Come on, that's silly. A nothing statement. We all bag other people for their choices. You're bagging me for my choices right now.

 

[Messenger]

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.

Yeah, we bought Boori for our first and are now using it on our second. It's nice but it ain't that nice.

 

[WCErevival]

I was going to make a similar thread to this the other day. I don't understand why people are so money driven and materialistic these days. The way I see it if I turned my house into a million dollar mansion with the most expensive furniture and changed my car to a Ferrari would I be any happier? The answer is no I would feel exactly the same. Don't understand why people work rubbish hours/jobs to earn more money just to spend it on stuff they don't need. Maybe I'm in the wrong generation who knows.

 

[Sanders]

I was going to make a similar thread to this the other day. I don't understand why people are so money driven and materialistic these days. The way I see it if I turned my house into a million dollar mansion with the most expensive furniture and changed my car to a Ferrari would I be any happier? The answer is no I would feel exactly the same. Don't understand why people work rubbish hours/jobs to earn more money just to spend it on stuff they don't need. Maybe I'm in the wrong generation who knows.

Without stepping through the worm hole how do you know how you'd feel?

 

[WCErevival]

Without stepping through the worm hole how do you know how you'd feel?

I don't see how it could possibly make me feel any better. Would still be me rattling around in a house. I drive different cars everyday so they don't impress me anymore. The only thing is it may attract some new people but would only be because they think I am rich so a pretty poor base for a friendship/relationship.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

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?

Free to do what you like obviously, but if you're doing and buying things in order to elicit a reaction from others (envy), or to impress them etc, it's worth keeping in mind that it can be a slippery slope. If you're making decisions primarily with other people in mind, good chance you'll never be fulfilled. You can only ever truly fulfill you own expectations, not those of others, because they are endless. There'll always be someone else to impress or something else to do it with. It's worth maybe trying to concentrate on what you want.

Also, have a think about who you're trying to impress. Most healthy, balanced people dont really get true envy. People may admire things etc, and think it's cool, but if you think people actually give it much thought thereafter, you're probably wrong. Not sure many people would sit around suffering genuine envy about your stuff. If they do, they're probably a touch weird.

Just a few thoughts. I'd focus on impressing yourself first and foremost.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I don't see how it could possibly make me feel any better. Would still be me rattling around in a house. I drive different cars everyday so they don't impress me anymore. The only thing is it may attract some new people but would only be because they think I am rich so a pretty poor base for a friendship/relationship.

The simple point is: some people enjoy some things, others don't. I'm sure whatever it is that makes you tick is something you focus on. If it's not driving a nice car, it's not driving a nice car. That doesn't mean it's wrong if someone has different interests to you.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I apologise for my opinion, its becoming more and more obvious that it was taken way out of context.

But I still remain confident that some people, alot of people, like to present themselves as 'doing well' and it generally involves owning nice things - and in most cases, it's because they can afford to.