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here on the Old DU that got me thinking, once again, about consumerism... and choice.
The details, for obvious reasons, shall remain nebulous. Suffice it to say that somebody is having some issues making ends meet with a higher income than average, and I read the ever so popular, but we don't have a choice.
Well, here is the rub. We all have a choice, but as I start cleaning the crap and not so much crap, at my storage units, I realize just how much crap we have. Granted, most of it are hidden treasures, like my large, personal library... which these days grows in electronic form. But I fear quite a bit of it is also crap... things, we got, when we still tried to get things and keep up with others.
We made a choice, a conscious choice, back in Hawaii, NOT to replace things just for the sake of it. Not to buy things for the sake of it. We made a decision to SAVE... and not buy things unless needed. Ok I made that decision, but it's worked wonders.
Ok, we make an exception for our hobbies... but even those we got more than enough for a life time. And it is a way to talk to each other, painting minis, and playing with toys.
Now let me apologize. If most Americans did what we are doing I am afraid the economy would have crashed a while ago. I mean we just don't consume as much or close to even the low average. We save for all we finally decide to buy and... we save for the future. No, we are not righteous. We are simply living a different way than most people do today.
Yes I own a credit card, fully paid every month. And my bills, that I pay every month, and a neatto savings account. We chose not to consume, as much... so this is the point. When I hear the but you don't get it, and my (insert money here) don't last... I will now tell you the same thing I told many a fellow Navy Wife that said that. Yes, yes you do. Perhaps it is time to sit down and see what you can or should cut out of your spending.
Now I will not blame the average American. Watch the TEEVEE, not to watch our favorite shows... but to examine HOW you are primed to consume. Realize that no, you don't have to. That is beyond food, and shelter and a few other basic things like clothes and yes vehicles, no you don't have to.
On the down side, if we all started saving like we do... I fear the economy would slow down. NO, a few of us doing it, has little effect. But if forty million people did... that would be a problem the way our economy is designed to work. Hell if that went up to 150 million... it would be a definite problem. Which is why our "masters" are right now trying to figure out how to make the average middle class Chinese open up on the purse strings. Their savings rates are above 30% and damn I wish I could match that. And why you need to pay attention to them adds, and how they prime you for consumption.
At the risk of showing a good, very obvious example, look at the Apple Commercials, as well as the Droid Commercials. This is what I call... "Lifestyle adds." No, they are not selling you cool stuff, they are selling you a cool brand and a lifestyle. The next in the fun department are the insurance adds. Oh the barbs they are taking at each other, and all of them are also lifestyle commercials. I got to say it though Mr. Mayhem is replacing a certain gecko as a cute way to get the message... but a certain Flo is still amusing. I did not mention a brand, and I am sure you KNOW who or what I am talking about. They are that good at getting the message across.
So here is your homework: Start really paying attention on how needs are created and even if you have a good income right now, and you feel you don't need to. THINK of the things you really don't need. Hell, for us an afternoon together having some coffee is just great... or just reading. Speaking off, I need to get some done.
Or rather some more reading done.
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