This post was prompted by a lady I saw putting shit on layaway. Not a little bit. Not one expensive item. Two fucking buggies worth. Lots of cheap Chinese made shit. Stuff that will not last till next year and that she obviously cannot afford. That insane drive to buy shit is what I’ll talk about today.
- Electric Carts
Seeing this lady with her two carts full of shit ridding in a sit down cart too lazy to walk filled me with loathing. This all consuming desire to have more, to fill the hole in our souls with plastic junk. I’m always filled with disgust at seeing this.
Less is more
I’ve always been cheap and because of moving around tended to not own too much stuff. Also and probably because that I trend to be a pack rat. Being in my apartment for almost five years now I started to collect clutter. Realizing this I’ve begun to assess what I really need in life. Now I go through my stuff and get rid of things I have either never used or will not be using again. I know having more things I don’t need will not make me happy.
Newer and fancier
This mentality that you must have the newest shiniest fastest needs to die. I think it will in the coming decades. The ability to continue to spend an ever increasing amount of money on the newest toy is very unsustainable. Planned obsolescence, building a life span into a product, will itself become obsolete. In the past products were built to last as long as possible and reputations were built on this. I feel this will make a return in the future. Companies who do not adapt with the trend to make products last longer will fall by the wayside. I have been fighting a desire to upgrade my phone to the new Samsung Galaxy S III. The upgrade will cost me $150 bucks and increase my phone bill for the next two years. Do I need it? No my current phone works just fine. So I cannot justify it at this time. If my phone becomes damaged beyond use, which is doubtful, I will then and only then upgrade.
Fix what you have first
About four yeas ago I bought a pair of cheap $10 sunglasses. I had to do some work on top of a roof in the summer and it was painted white reflecting all the light into my eyes. Since then I’ve kept them in my car for driving. Recently one of the arms broke off. I continued to wear them the rest of the week with only one arm. They worked well enough that way. I’m sure I looked like an idiot but I could care less. Yesterday I super glued the arm back on. It will no longer fold but fits good again. After four years I could certainly justify the cost of a new $10 pair but I will continue to wear them. I see no need to waste money on getting a “cooler” pair.
So just think a little before spending you hard earned money. I’m getting to the point where I will factor in life span when buying a product. I am infinitely more willing to spend money on an item whose lifespan is measured in generations not months. Also I’m looking more at items from the second hand market that are cheaper, tax free and some have already lasted generations. I have been on a real hunt for a Griswold cast iron skillet. I keep hitting the yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. No luck yet.
Whats your favorite items that has lasted a long time? Whats your best second hand item you’ve bought? Let me know in the comments.
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