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It really amazes me just how materialistic some of the Lifehacker comments seem to be. While I understand that not having enough money for food, shelter, clothing, transportation (ie. the basics) would be depressing, it’s tough for me to understand the retirees that have plenty of time and have more than covered the basics for the remainder of their lives, but yearn for more money. I guess I’d have to know what they really intend to do with the money once they have it.
Travel is a big draw to many, but if that’s unattainable, perhaps a library card would suffice for entertainment.
Perhaps I’m too young to truly understand the need for material things beyond the basics needed to live. It just seems so much easier to concentrate on reducing any debt acquired for education, then work on transportation and shelter. Once you get that taken care of, relax…buy a hammock and enjoy it. Do you really need that Lexus? What am I missing?
Wesley, my values are similar to yours, but there’s little point in judging others based on our beliefs and priorities. Some people want expensive possessions like big houses and luxury cars–and not always just because they’re status symbols. It’s really a personal difference. We can pontificate about how other people “should” or “shouldn’t” live, but it’s not going to change anything. Some people are materialistic, it’s just the way it is.
I’m not sure Wesley was trying to tell others how they should live, so much as point out that some very intelligent people seem to be totally unaware of the fact that they are being unconsciously seduced into parting with their hard earned cash.
It is a truism that there people out there who are willing to deceive in order to get rich. That’s why we have advertising & marketing.
If it wasn’t possible for advertisers to trap people into erroneously associating intense/pleasant feelings to their products & therefore get them to feel favourably about them (& therefore possibly more likely to buy them) then they wouldn’t pay millions of pounds/dollars doing so.
Also; Why do so many people buy bottled water? why do so many people drink coffee at starbucks? Why are so many people investing in property? Why are people moving in droves to the brand new show homes?
Sure some of them have made definate conscious & rational desicions based on their circumstances…but the fact remains the same….no matter how rational & free-thinking we like to think we are, due to the way the subconscious mind works we can not always be conscious of what part the effects of advertising & peer pressure have played in our decision making process.
This is a big issue. I agree with Brad that it is a person’s choice (up to a point) to purchase “unnecessary” luxury items. Even so, I think those who do really need to ask themselves why. Today’s marketing machine is very effective at convincing us that we “need” the items they sell. They play on our insecurities and our desire for status.
Happiness scholars define three types of happiness; pleasure, engagement, and meaning. Research strongly shows that happiness associated with engagement and meaning is stronger and lasts longer. Yet, so many endlessly seek pleasure through high levels of spending on things and empty experiences. If we, as a society, could transition the bulk of our discretionary spending into the engagement (family, friends, romance) and meaning (giving)categories, we would all be so much happier.
This is why I truly enjoy this site…the articles are great, and the comments are thorough and well thought out. It’s always a lively discussion balancing both sides of a topic. Not only do you get the quantitative topics and book reviews, you get the qualitative, philosophical discussions as well…good stuff, and thanks for the replies/discussion. Definitely something I will ponder.