I heart Tyler Durden
"The stuff you own ends up owning you". So true, Tyler!
I have been feeling this way for a few months (possibly years) now, but been too lazy to do anything about it. Or maybe too scared. Looking at your own conspicuous consumption is way harder than judging Jessica Simpson's $1200 sheet set.
Getting ready for this garage sale has started me thinking (doesn't everything?) about stuff and new stuff and used stuff, etc. Why is second hand stuff considered bad in some areas but good in others? A really old chest of drawers called "antique"= good. A really old chest of drawers at a Thrift store = poor? What's up with that? Why are we so obsessed with everything being new? Used cars = good investment, used jeans = gross. Ridiculous!! Don't get me wrong, some psople pride themselves on 'thriftin'", but the majority of our culture does not.
We are ridiculously spoiled. Truly. So much stuff goes to the landfills, yet we keep buying the same things that are going there. It just doesn't rationally compute. We keep making and keep wasting. For what? Is there really a big difference in a pair of pants that has never been worn and a pair that fits but has been worn? Especially, especially (!) since we are now spending upwards of $100 for clothes that already look broken in. Ripped, hole-y jeans, unfinished edged T shirts. we are nuts.
I don't have a solution to this. Well, I have a solution for me and possibly for you (buy secondhand) but for the greater "Us". How can we change? What will it take? Is is possible?
I guess I won't know, but I can stop if for myself and my children (don't have any yet, but someday...and I am not going to buy my kids clothes from specialty clothes shops that put their initials on everything and charge $30 for a scrap of cloth called a shirt...sorry soapbox).
Also: just got engaged! anyone up for Cheap Women: wedding edition?! The wedding will not be until Cheap women is over, but it is still going to be on a budget, so stay tuned to hear about that. I am sure I will also have many, many rants about the 'wedding market'. Also wondering if I can count bridal magazines as a necessity (I didn't think so).
GARAGE SALE: Saturday 7-12! Check out Carrie's post about it for details. See you there.
I have been feeling this way for a few months (possibly years) now, but been too lazy to do anything about it. Or maybe too scared. Looking at your own conspicuous consumption is way harder than judging Jessica Simpson's $1200 sheet set.
Getting ready for this garage sale has started me thinking (doesn't everything?) about stuff and new stuff and used stuff, etc. Why is second hand stuff considered bad in some areas but good in others? A really old chest of drawers called "antique"= good. A really old chest of drawers at a Thrift store = poor? What's up with that? Why are we so obsessed with everything being new? Used cars = good investment, used jeans = gross. Ridiculous!! Don't get me wrong, some psople pride themselves on 'thriftin'", but the majority of our culture does not.
We are ridiculously spoiled. Truly. So much stuff goes to the landfills, yet we keep buying the same things that are going there. It just doesn't rationally compute. We keep making and keep wasting. For what? Is there really a big difference in a pair of pants that has never been worn and a pair that fits but has been worn? Especially, especially (!) since we are now spending upwards of $100 for clothes that already look broken in. Ripped, hole-y jeans, unfinished edged T shirts. we are nuts.
I don't have a solution to this. Well, I have a solution for me and possibly for you (buy secondhand) but for the greater "Us". How can we change? What will it take? Is is possible?
I guess I won't know, but I can stop if for myself and my children (don't have any yet, but someday...and I am not going to buy my kids clothes from specialty clothes shops that put their initials on everything and charge $30 for a scrap of cloth called a shirt...sorry soapbox).
Also: just got engaged! anyone up for Cheap Women: wedding edition?! The wedding will not be until Cheap women is over, but it is still going to be on a budget, so stay tuned to hear about that. I am sure I will also have many, many rants about the 'wedding market'. Also wondering if I can count bridal magazines as a necessity (I didn't think so).
GARAGE SALE: Saturday 7-12! Check out Carrie's post about it for details. See you there.
2 Comments:
engaged!? congratulations! (consider pawning your ring ... it's the thought that counts anyway and think of the cash.) (yes, i'm kidding. except about the congrats.)
engagement!! huzzah! i will join you on the ranting about the wedding industry. for example: flowers = not expensive. wedding flowers = very expensive.
i ranted on my blog at some point during my wedding-planning process...let's see. yes! here! http://lyndsayewalker.blogspot.com/2006/01/to-rant-and-to-rave.html
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