lifestyle question

[Last Roman]

For a while now, I have been trying to simplify my consumeristic lifestyle. I buy the $40 jeans, the $25 t-shirt. I want the nice things in life. But this is now conflicted into not buying into the average American's consumer lifestyle. How do I balance the two? It's not just material items either, but my life overall. In the words on Thoreau, how do I "simplify, simplify?"

[I Have a Clever Name]

Its dependent on how far you want to go with this! You could always purchase a bow and go subsist in some god forsaken woodland, or retire to a Buddhist monestary.

Also, shouldn't this just be in thema devia?

[Last Roman]

Also, shouldn't this just be in thema devia?

I wasn't sure as it kinda seemed like a ethical question. I'll leave it up to a mod to decide

[David Deas]

Figure out a way not to want the nice things in life.

[the Eternal Cocoon]

you are mateltiaistc and consumeristic. You dont want to be that way because alot of other people are? what kind of a reason is that to change yourself? should I no longer want to make intelegent posts because a lot of other people do? there is no reason to change your lifestyle unless you think that that lifestyle is evil initself. Do you think that materialism is inherently evil?

[Last Roman]

Do you think that materialism is inherently evil?

evil? no. But I don't see it doing much for me other than taking more of my money and time (and looking damn good :tooth: )

[the Eternal Cocoon]

so whats the problem with it? why do you want to change if you dont ahve any problems with materlialism, toher than that "alot of people are materialistic". I would understand if you said you said that alot of people being materialistic proves its validity, but the reverse argument isnt even common sense.

[Gwendylyn]

If you are just looking at necessities, then its possible to survive on a subsistence living, but you won't want to. Grow your own vegestables, shop at farmers markets for food, shop at thrift stores for clothes, use craigslist/ebay/newspaper for furniture and other needs. Get rid of your computer *gasp* and donate your video games to charity organizations *gasp* because they are time and money sinks you cannot afford anymore with your new life goals.

You managed to be very very very vague with what you want out of life that you can only expect a huge variety of answers, including the suggestion to go hunt your own food with a bow. You've made no suggestion for what you'll do with the money you will save, since you don't want to spend any of it. What's the use of money if you don't spend it? Or do you simply plan on saving money for fewer but larger leisure stuff?

[Last Roman]

I think that simplyifing my life would be better for me in the long run. I'm not doing it simply to "be different"

and I don't want to go into extremes

[the Eternal Cocoon]

a simple life dosent nessisarily mean a better life. the reason i thought you were doing to be diffrent is becaue in your openeing post you said " I dont want to buy into the average American's consumer lifestyle", which as I pointed out isnt a very good reason.'

Well if you want to simplyfy your life, although I dont recommend it, ide simply figure out how much food costs you a month, and how much money you make ( I dont know how old you are so im assuming you have a job) and just put all the cash you dont need for monthly food and one outfit into a seperate savings account.

[Last Roman]

a simple life dosent nessisarily mean a better life.

hmm, you bring up a very good point

[Felixion]

Eternal Cocoon, I don't think you're necessarily correct. One does not have to identify an evil consumer in themselves, and fully understand and be aware of what consummerisim is in it's core and stikk want to simplify. It's unfair for you to say he shouldn't be asking these kinds of questions, because we all do. It's called life, youi observe yourself and your circumstances and you wonder if they are really benefiting you or not, and how could you change. But it's not cool to suggest that his asking of these questions is somehow not justified. And even if the case is that he wanted to stop being such a consumer to be different, and break the mold of those around him is that necessarily a bad thing? No.

[the Eternal Cocoon]

thats not what I said. You should question everything around you. Thats teh right way to live. If you live in a soceity that you consider wrong, you should change. You shouldnt change however, if you think you live in teh right society, but everyone else lives like you. If you just change to be diffrent you will be unhappy. You will live a worse life just to be diffrent from people who will now be living a better life than you. Once you realize the stupidity of your dicision it might be too late. But he said its not becuase of that, so whatever. If you really want to change then go ahead and change, what can I stop him? Im just sugesting that if he wants to change that he should recignize what he dosent like about his lifestyle, and then change thsoe elements. Wanting to live simpler just to live simpler wont bring you happiness.

[vizi]

thats not what I said.

I think Henry David Thoreau would disagree with you...

[the_mango55]

Do you want to not be as consumeristic because you think it is bad, or because it costs too much? If you think it is bad I don't know what to tell you, but if you just don't like the cost of it then go to thrift stores more often, sometimes they will have great stuff in there for only a few dollars. And you said you have nice stuff already, you can always just stick with what you have for a while, I buy nice clothes, but I don't buy them that often.

personally, I don't mind having less money, if it means I don't have to work as much. This is one of the reasons I would love to be a college prof, even though sometimes they don't make much money, is the 3 months of summer vacation, and the 3 week Christmas break. I like free time more than I do new stuff.

[Felixion]

Perhaps you misunderstood me, i'm not necessarily saying you or the thread started are wrong, but EC, you were in a way telling him that the question he was posing for discussion was inherently wrong, and a contribution like that is not much of a contribution at all.

[I Have a Clever Name]

Keep buying. Its good for the economy.

[Darth Wong]

The biggest problem with the American consumeristic culture right now is that it's stupid: people want to buy things even if they can't afford them, so they dig themselves deep into debt in order to purchase lifestyles that they can't really afford. If you've got some kind of handle on your finances so that you don't act like a wild-spending fool, I don't think you should feel too bad about occasionally buying nice things for yourself.

[Last Roman]

The biggest problem with the American consumeristic culture right now is that it's stupid: people want to buy things even if they can't afford them, so they dig themselves deep into debt in order to purchase lifestyles that they can't really afford. If you've got some kind of handle on your finances so that you don't act like a wild-spending fool, I don't think you should feel too bad about occasionally buying nice things for yourself.

I do have a bit of a spending problem. Instant gratification is going to be my downfall I fear

[LoZz]

For a while now, I have been trying to simplify my consumeristic lifestyle. I buy the $40 jeans, the $25 t-shirt. I want the nice things in life. But this is now conflicted into not buying into the average American's consumer lifestyle. How do I balance the two? It's not just material items either, but my life overall. In the words on Thoreau, how do I "simplify, simplify?"

how many $40 jeans and $25 dollers shirt are we talking about?

you see i have a few pairs of clothing like that, i like looking trendy etc, however 65% of my cloths are 20 pounds or around about and i wear those when i play football or am around the house who cares how you look then right?

i right now am wearing, 15 quid t shirt, 12 quid cargo trousers, no socks, and i refuse to comment about under the trousers

i will wear this torrmorrow when i go play football. then on tuseday i might be going to the cinema, so i will put on my 30 quid jeans 20 quid tee shirt etc, you get my point? its about balance, having the nice things but limit them.


to be honest its nice sometimes not to wear exspensive stuff, not worring about getting them dirty etc.

the point i am trying to make is have all the nice things you enjoy, just have less of them, dont upgrade the pc all the time, if you upgrade every year, make it every other year, dont nessicery buy the advertised brands when your food shooping go for the local shop brands for example.

dont buy addidas and nike trainners all the time

cut back on your travel costs, where possible walk or go by public transport if you dont allready that is