i’m with you lacy, but i still find it hard. i see the new stuff and think it would be nice, i have to remind myself daily that it is just… you know…. stuff. it is the same old story. how do we overcome the temptations. it has helped me visiting this site and getting suggestions from other people. if i get a little extra money, i think about what i can buy, or where i can go. this has been instilled in us, or at least me, since i was little. it is hard to change, but i am trying. even harder is getting people around me to understand, but i am trying. we have to all stick together. i guess it would be more encouraging to say that mindful consumerism rocks. we all have our battles to fight.

I’m with you both.  Right now I am fighting to help my kids resist all the stuff.  It’s really hard when other kids’ parents keep buying more and more stuff, and no one seems to be paying attention.  But I have a growing group of friends—other parents—who feel the same way, and we are supporting each other and sticking together.  I really feel like the way to change our culture is to start with the kids.  But nobody wants their kid to be the oddball or to stick out.

jlc mom - May 28, 2008 04:31pm

I’m with you both.  Right now I am fighting to help my kids resist all the stuff.  It’s really hard when other kids’ parents keep buying more and more stuff, and no one seems to be paying attention.  But I have a growing group of friends—other parents—who feel the same way, and we are supporting each other and sticking together.  I really feel like the way to change our culture is to start with the kids.  But nobody wants their kid to be the oddball or to stick out.

i have thought about that a lot… About how in order for things to change, children need to be raised everyday learning about these things: recycling, frugality, respect for all living things, etc…  (i don’t have children) but i can see where the struggle is with that because kids can be so mean to each other, and if someone is different and doesn’t have, i don’t know, GAP jeans then they are a freak or an outcast… I think a big part of it is the insane amount of advertising that we are exposed to pretty much from birth…  that’s why i love PBS…. very few commercials but abundant, thought provoking programs and not to sound cheesy but there really is something for everyone on that channel…  wow… that was a total rant.. sorry but i had to get that out!!!  i’m glad there are others that see this happening and it’s not just me.

What is wrong with consumer spending? If it with in the means of the individual and is responsible in the sense that it does not put them in debt, than what is wrong with it?

Luckily organizations (like all at once) are finding ways to make consumerism work for them. While people do enjoy buying things they also like to know that part of that money is going to a good cause. I’m all for consumerism for a cause and I hope it is something that stays because yeah it does suck to see people blow money on things that really don’t matter.

lazyguitar - May 29, 2008 02:24pm

What is wrong with consumer spending? If it with in the means of the individual and is responsible in the sense that it does not put them in debt, than what is wrong with it?

I’m not saying spending in general is a bad thing.  Of course we all do it, I do it I’m not saying that I don’t buy things.  I’m just talking about our countries over the top spending on things that are not needed (like i said I’m guilty of this myself in some cases).  I’m talking about the advertising that makes people feel like they have to go out and buy the newest ipod or clothes to feel good about themselves… I’m talking about people buying things just to buy them and show them off…  mindless spending when there are other things that the time and money could go towards to better the world or even just a town.  I just feel that our society is moved by what is in the media, and that there are a lot of people who don’t see through it. I’m just kind of ranting, here so i apologize if what i’m saying isn’t correct.

For me, I think it has been watching the kids that has made me think about this.  I live in an area where there are a lot of people that can afford pretty much whatever they want.  I see parents that just buy the kids anything and everything.  The kids aren’t expected to do anything to help out, they aren’t appreciative, just spoiled brats.  I’m talking about the worst case scenario here, obviously they are not all that way.  The kids go to the best private schools, drive the nicest cars, have the best of everything.  The parents bail them out if they get into any kind of trouble—no accountability.  Some of these kids, after college, either live at home and can’t find a job, or are still “finding themselves” years later. 

There are several books out that talk about this cycle and that it is manifesting itself in higher rates of depression in kids, teens and young adults.  Materialism out of control is NOT good for our health! 

Books:  Too Much of a Good Thing by Dan Kindlon
The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine
The Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel

How’s that for a rant??  :) 

The other side of it, for me, is that we in the developed world have so much and we are so wasteful, while so many people in the rest of the world have so little.  Just seems wrong.

New “stuff” is usually better than old stuff.  For instance I just bought a new dishwasher that is much more energy efficient than my old one and it is really cool looking.  If I don’t like waiting for internet pages like this one to open, I go purchase a new computer.  I buy everything I want, as long as I can afford it, and it usually ends up being better than the old “stuff.”  I then sell the old stuff to people with really old stuff, and everyone wins!  Ya’ll should try it.

But Crespi, your consumerism doesn’t sound mindless at all, sounds very reasonable!  If the stuff you buy fills a need, makes your life more convenient or efficient, etc. and you can afford it, I see nothing wrong with that!  It’s the out-of-control materialism we are talking about.

Do you know about Webkinz?  They are stuffed animals that come with a code on their tag.  You can go online and enter the code, then you can play with them in a virtual world.  It’s really fun, the kids love it.  So, how many Webkinz is a reasonable number to have?  Some kids get every new one that comes out, and they don’t even bother putting them online because there is no way they can play with them all.  Ok, I know this is not a serious life issue.  But as you watch the competition for who has the most, and hear the comments about who has what, it makes you think.  When you get nagged to buy more and more, then find them left carelessly about, it makes you think. 

I think the key is the motivation behind why a person buys stuff.  There are lots of good reasons to buy things.  But when people buy things just to impress others or to keep up, something is out of whack.

Wait, so you are saying that kids buying collectable toys, that are meant to be fun, is an issue with in our society? Because when I was a kid, I collected baseball cards. It was friggin’ great. I’d buy the new sets when they came out and it was a lot of fun trading them and discussing them with my friends. It promotes interaction.

I really do not think there is much of an argument about “mindless” consumption. The ONLY thing that I can think of that would be absolutely out there would be if someone was given $300, that person then takes that money and buys $300 worth of milk. Instead of consuming that Milk, the person lets it sit on his porch. Right there, that jerk just wasted $300 worth of a delicious, nutritious beverage. But at the same time, he just poured $300 into the economy. So, lose-win.

For serious though, the OP just sounds like someone who does not understand capitalism, and that buying things that are “indulgent” should be looked upon as icky. The truth is, a lot of people work hard for the money they earn, the right to spend it how they choose. So, if they want to buy milk, just to let that milk spoil; Let them spoil milk.

When I was a kid, I collected things, too.  You’re right, it was about the interaction, and building the collection.  You took care of the things, spent time playing or rearranging or trading or whatever.  But it’s different these days.  It’s not about collecting, it’s about acquiring, keeping up and showing off. 

Take the milk example one step further.  The person letting the milk spoil lives next door to a person who does not have enough money to buy milk for his family.  Yes, the spoiler can do whatever he wants with the hard-earned money he has.  But then he gloats to his next door neighbor that he has more than enough, so much that he can be wasteful and show off to others about how much milk he has. 

Or, maybe, the spoiler bought the last of the milk at the store, and the neighbor could afford to buy it, but there wasn’t any left to buy.

The broader question becomes, do we believe that we have any obligation to consider how our actions affect others, or is it just “every man for himself”?  I think there is a balance.  How do we maintain a system that rightly rewards people who work hard and accomplish a lot, while still maintaining some level of fairness for those less fortunate?

....and think about what this kind of behavior would do to the economy….everybody starts buying lots of milk, because they have high disposable incomes, and they like to show off how they can buy milk and let it spoil, then everyone knows how successful they are because they can buy something they don’t really need. 

So, the dairy farms all gear up and produce more milk, to fill the need for milk nobody drinks.  The farmers all depend on the new demand for milk, buy more cows and equipment and bigger farms.  They take out loans to pay for all this, based on their higher income gained from this demand for milk.

Then, something else in the economy changes, and people start losing jobs, and they decide they really don’t need their milk habit any more, so they stop buying the milk.  The false demand for milk dries up really fast, and the farmers that relied on it are devastated. 

So, was the milk-buying good for the economy?  In the short term, yes, but it didn’t make for a healthy economy, it gave everyone a false sense of economic strength.

Did anybody here think this would turn into a discussion about spoiled milk?  He, he.

Lacy - May 27, 2008 11:22am

why do people feel that they have to buy all the newest cell phones, clothes, cars etc. to feel complete?? and be tan and thin and blond and wear all that make-up?? man, sometimes i just don’t know what people in our society are thinking buying into this stuff… but it’s comforting to know that I am not the only one who see’s through all of the BS…  is anyone with me on this?

Lacy Ive found as i get older i still want new things but not the newest or the most expensive its just time to update and now there making things more enviro freindly…but i do ageree with you ..people need to start weighing up want versues need.. and donate the other working items to charities were they will go towards someone elses need..ive had this argument with myself many times do i need it or do i just want it ???
but being so skinny as some of the models and stars ive seen to me is very ugly and also too a lot of men so they have really missed the point..its a bit of an illness i think. they get so caught up in it all..and having the money makes it so much easier for them to have the best and newest..but as we all can see it also makes then very shallow.
dont be so hard on yourself or others lets just hope they learn one day that there are children starving in countries while there buying the best of everything.

Just when the discussion started to get interesting, where did you guys go??  Crespi?  Lazy??  It makes me wonder—are you here to really have discussions?  Why criticize the “OP who doesn’t understand capitalism”, then disappear when the discussion turns to economics??

I am someone who believes it is dangerous to surround yourself with only people that agree with you.  If you don’t constantly question yourself about your opinions and your actions, you run the risk of making mistakes you aren’t even aware of.  So I am glad when you bring up another point of view.  However, when you stop posting, it makes me wonder if you are just being contrary in the first place.

I want to know what you think about the economic impact of spoiled milk!! (i.e., excess).