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Consumerism

November 3, 2018

I want to talk to you about something called Consumerism. This is something that is more pervasive in the US, but it is catching on in other countries. It has its roots here and I dont think it is stopping any time soon.

So what is it? Wikipedia says Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. Whats wrong with that, right?

I work hard. I want a car. I work harder, I want a bigger, faster car. I make 100k a year. I NEED a 50k car that has a minimum: rear view camera, side mirror camera, 12 speaker sound package, leather(even though it burns like a mother in San Antonio summers), navigation, sun roof, auto driving and lots of other things I cant think of right now.

It does not stop there. Think about homes and home electronics. Cell phones are great, but everyone NEEDS a new one every year or two when the new ones come out. Now people spend over $1,000 for a new iphone (not me). And they have to have the new one, because it would just be embarassing to have last years model.

My wife mentioned last year that we NEED to get new Amazon Alexa. I wanted to say, “What the F*@k is wrong with you”. I am glad I didnt because we would probably still be going through divorce court right now. But after taking a couple of deep breaths I asked her why we needed it.

I have become rational over the years and realize that I am not the all knowing that I thought I once was. This made me sit back and find out if we really needed this. I asked her why we needed this. What does it do? I already knew that it can turn lights on, set appointments, play music, etc. She told me all of those things. What made me almost have a heart attack was that she said that it will make life easier.

Wow, I didnt know that she had a hard life to begin with. I did not realize that I was suffering so much to get up and turn on the light switch. I thought reaching into my pocket for my phone to listen to music was not that big a deal. You never realize that getting up from the sofa, walking a few steps, pushing a few buttons to set the thermostat down a few degrees to 73 in summer is so difficult.

Of course I am being sarcastic. I am sure that the gadget is kinda cool. But do we really need all of these little things that zap $50, $100 or $1000 from our pockets? I know, we are living in the United F-ing States of America and we can buy whatever the hell we want because we work hard and we deserve it.

That attitude that we deserve it is what scares me. I see people on food stamps that have a brand new Coach or Michael Kors purse. I think to myself, why on earth would someone with very limited income spend so much money on a luxury item. I think it all comes down to self worth.

Someone who does not have great self worth thinks that they can show everyone that they are better or more cool because they have one of those fancy luxury items. I have to admit, I was in the “I want to be cool club”. I spent a bunch of money on fancy clothes, had an expensive wallet (with nothing in it) and all the stuff that made me look cool. It didnt get me anything.

Over the years things have changed for me. Maybe I am just getting old (I was born in 1969). But I feel that I am more comfortable with my body, my finances, with everything in my life. I dont need a new(er) car, I dont need $100 blue jeans, my shoes do not have to say Nike or Johnston and Murphy on them. I am more secure in my self worth as well as my net worth.

When I think about buying the expensive shoes I think, are they going to make me happier? No. Are they going to make me feel better inside about myself? No. What are these $200 pair of Nikes going to do for me that the $60 pair of Sketchers can not do? The answer is sooooo simple, nothing. They are both a pair of shoes. Comfort for me is top priority and so is price.

Sketchers will probably win on the comfort side (because they always have my 8EEE that I wear) and I know they win on the price side. Will having those Nikes make me feel more like a man? If they do, I have some serious problems that have nothing to do with shoes.

People these days are looked down on if they dont drive the fancy car. A certain close member of my family told me recently that I drive a girls car. My Honda CR-V was something that a soccer mom should be driving. When was I going to get a more masculine car, one with leather seats. I love my Honda. I love that it is one of the most reliable cars in the world. 32-34 miles to the gallon is music to my ears.

I love my car and I love myself enough that no one is going to make me feel bad about what I drive or who I am. You have to be secure in who you are as a person, as a consumer that does not need more and more just because there is a new model of Iphone out.

A few days ago my wife and I went to the grocery store. I had been working on our house doing some yard work and I was really dirty and quite a mess. She of course always has her hair done and neatly dressed. She looked at me and said, “You are a mess, I am embarrased to be seen with you”. Without even looking at her I laughed so loud that people turned around to look at us. Or course she was kidding, and I knew it.

No matter how dirty, grungy, with paint and mud on my pants would I ever believe that she was embarrased to be seen with me in public. And even if she was, too bad. Sometimes I am dressed in slacks and a polo shirt with my black shoes. Sometimes I am just done with some work at my house or doing some work for a friend. I am secure with myself enough that I can go into a store all dirty and grungy and still hold my head up high.

The story that clothes make the man does not work with me.

So back to the Alexa. When Gloria said that it would make life easier, I had to ask her, “Honey, is your life with me that difficult for you? Do you need something to make life easier for you? Do we NEED that? If we do, I will buy it for you”. She turned to me and said with a funny smirk on her face, “Do you really think that I need a gadget to make my life easier? Why would I have you spend $100+ on something that saves us a few seconds here and there? That is just plain silly. Nobody needs that. Not only that, if I really wanted it that bad, I would buy it myself”.

THATS my wife. She doesnt need no stinking gadget. And if she did, she would buy it herself. lol

We can all get caught up in this silly routine of buying the newer iphone just because there is a new one out. Buy the newer car because I dont have a payment anymore, AND I work hard and deserve a newer one. Buy a Michael Kors purse because my friends will think that I am cool paying $300 for a purse.

And what does it all get you? It keeps you broke and on the hamster wheel of an elevated state of poverty that we create for ourselves. We make more money, but we are still just as broke because we are buying more expensive shit all the time. I actually get really excited when I can get something for free.

Just think if you didnt have to spend so much money on eating out every week, $100 or $200 for every pair of shoes, $54 for a bra at Victoria’s Secret. If you didnt have to spend so much money on all these little things you might be able to live on about half of the money that you now make.

WOW. If you lived on half you could save 50% of your income. OR if you really hate your job, you could quit and get a job that you really like even if it pays way less than your job now. I know, mind blowing.

If you are a serious consumer of needless new gadgets, overpriced shoes, cars and other stuff, I pray that you see the evil ways that have kept you on a treadmill all these years. I sincerely hope that you can get yourself on a spending diet so that you can save 20-50% of your income so that you can start buying income producing assets instead of cars that go from $50k to $20k in the 5 years that it takes for you to pay it off.

If you live lean and FRUGAL I would like to give you a virtual high five and congratulate you on good frugal living. I bet you are healthy and slim because you always walk up 1 or 2 flights of stairs, no elevator. You have at least $500k in net worth in your home and other assets. I would even venture to say that you are happy in your relationships because you have a great self worth and dont need all the little meaningless crap in life to make you happy.

Frugal people who are done with consumerism usually do not drive brand new cars, have the latest gadget, but they are so much happier and healthier. Ask me how I know.

My goal in this blog is to make you healthier, happier and build up your net worth statement to something that you are proud of looking at every month. Please let me know how I am doing.