View Full Version : Do you buy stuff or experiences?
Circe
04-23-2007, 12:50 PM
Experiences. I find the less I buy, the happier I am. And the more I experience, the more rewarding life is.
But buying things occasionally can be fun. And I think I appreciate it more and go for quality over quantity.
I'm pretty frugal though. I'm big on thrift stores. Oh yeah.
anomar
04-23-2007, 03:25 PM
It depends (how wishy-washy of me!). Every now and then I'll consider one luxury item to buy, but then it sits on my shopping list for at least a month before I'll start really researching it. The Versace sunglasses made the cut. Those designer jeans, I lost interest in them 2 weeks after starting to consider buying them. The sunglasses were, admittedly, the same amount as my rent, but I was fully able to afford them and the pleasure wearing them is pretty damn worth it, especially since Portland has started up its 4 months of the year of glorious sunshine. So I guess I'd say that though it's an object, its luxury status is really enhancing a lot of my experiences.
Right now though I'm starting to save money to take a trip to NYC to see a friend next year. I want to go in style and probably won't buy too many things, so that's only an experience, I suppose.
britt244
04-23-2007, 03:28 PM
i went to the mall today and shopped way too much.. and i thought of this thread :D i almost felt guilty!
Bella21
04-23-2007, 05:45 PM
I'm in the middle, I think. I own nice things, but I also save. I travel moderately but a lot of my money goes to events (and the clothes and drinks that I need for those events). So, I guess I'm mostly experiances... but nothing crazy on either side.
Casual Observer
04-23-2007, 06:59 PM
Experiences. I find the less I buy, the happier I am. And the more I experience, the more rewarding life is.
The more things you own, the more they own you.
teeth_of_the_hydra
04-23-2007, 08:08 PM
I spend on experiences to a fault. For the past few years, I've done this not-exactly-admirable-or-sustainable thing where I work like crazy for a few months and then "drop out" of normal society. I've spent months in the Central American rainforest, months on a Hawaiian commune, months just wandering west across America, visiting friends (read: couchsurfing) etc. I keep very little "stuff" in between these bouts... whenever I head out on another trip I give up wherever I'm living and any extra stuff I can't take with me. Sometimes I put things into storage, but that's only been recently. The only way in which I'm responsible with money is that I am very careful to keep out of debt. What little I own, I own debt-free. I pay for my education in full by check, always have, always will: it comes first, cruel taskmaster that it is.
It's fun, yes. But as I've always traveled alone, I sometimes feel as though I have nothing to show for it. Certainly I have no savings, and not a single pair of fancy shoes! But I've been away from the club for a long time now, and I always feel this way when I'm broke... i.e., if I had spent that $3K on "stuff" instead of 5 months in Hawaii, I'd have some tanglible proof of that money's existence.
Ha... this is a damn good reason to get back to work. Next week I'm done with classes! Then back to work! Money money money so I can go to Alaska in August!
Andygirl
04-23-2007, 10:26 PM
I like nice makeup and hair stuff, and I have nice enough clothes, but I don't spend that much money on things. My money goes to food, bills, etc., and savings, but the most valuable thing on earth to me is TIME. Being a dancer affords me the luxury of having time at home to tend to my house and garden and take care of my child and my husband in a way that doesn't stress me out. I don't always have tons of cash left over, but that's ok because I have everything I need and some money in the bank.
scarlett_vancouver
04-23-2007, 10:32 PM
Experiences. I have the one 'thing' I want (a roof)...the rest of my money goes to intangibles.
Mastridonicus
04-23-2007, 11:17 PM
I have a whole process for this.
I used to own tons, I had a wife that taught me the concept of ownership which is fundamentally flawed.
I prioritize by the tote mentality. If it doesn't fit in one of four totes, it gets left behind in emergencies.
I "own" surprisingly little. But I love memories and I am sentimental, so, take clothing for example. When I am traveling, I'll buy a pair of shoes, and those shoes will always remind me of where I got them. Or a button down.
I also scrapbook receipts and room keys and such. Combined with pictures, makes for great memory lane stuffs at a third of the room.
Lysondra
04-23-2007, 11:20 PM
^ Speaking of room keys, you never returned mine! F*ck, and I let you buy me a drink. :(
I even let you have an experience. :P
miss marina
04-23-2007, 11:24 PM
stuff, i'd like to change that though.
Mastridonicus
04-23-2007, 11:25 PM
^ Speaking of room keys, you never returned mine! F*ck, and I let you buy me a drink. :(
I even let you have an experience. :P
That's a sign that things went bad before you finished the drink ;)
<Mast> so...uhm...I think I left my cat on...
AlexxaHex
04-23-2007, 11:28 PM
In high school, during my first and second jobs, I used to be more of a "stuff" buyer. I had loads of clothes, stuffed animals and lotions. Everything else went into my POS car.
Later, because of being very badly self-disciplined when it comes to money, I started purchasing a lot of debt. Most of that was in experiences (school and travel). I leased a car for a few years. And I did a lot of Ketamine. :P
I have never been one to buy things that are in style. Most of what I like are vintage clothes and stuff that is mixed and matched from various places. I also believe in trading clothes with friends. The cost of the clothing (or brand name) isn't important either way. I have Dior sunglasses, but I always wear a sweater I found for $3 at the Goodwill. I happen to appreciate both equally.
When it comes to expensive stuff, my slaves and custies usually buy them for me. I didn't buy my computer or a lot of my clothes. Someone else paid for my cross country move to Cali. Otherwise, things like that might not ever be purchased. lol
When I was making the most money dancing, I spent a lot of money on expensive food and spa treatments.
Now I want to get back into buying more QUALITY stuff, mostly a house and setting up a savings for my daughter's future. Like Aussie with her son, my baby comes first. So even though the house and car payments aren't fun purchases, they are stable and reasonable places to put my money. And when she's old enough, I might take off and see the rest of the world too. Or hell, I don't see why she can't come along.
Mastridonicus
04-23-2007, 11:30 PM
Later, because of being very badly self-disciplined when it comes to money, I started purchasing a lot of debt. Most of that was in experiences (school and travel). I leased a car for a few years. And I did a lot of Ketamine. :P
Not that it EVER works but, it's so much more personally rewarding to pay interest on an amazing trip to the cayman islands or something than that cheese burger I've been paying on since 98
Lysondra
04-23-2007, 11:32 PM
^ It was $30 for that room key. That has increased to $362 because of interest. Pay up.
Mastridonicus
04-23-2007, 11:33 PM
you mean $3.00/hr. I sleep in 10 hour spurts.
HAHAHAHA I said spurt.
AlexxaHex
04-23-2007, 11:46 PM
Not that it EVER works but, it's so much more personally rewarding to pay interest on an amazing trip to the cayman islands or something than that cheese burger I've been paying on since 98
I fail to see how paying interest on any purchase would be personally rewarding.;)
Most of my debt is with school, and then credit cards from traveling, and now a good chunk for the IRS. There might be some cheeseburger debt though. But I'm not losing sleep over it and I'm not paying it since I'm almost at the statute of limitations.
Go me!! :dance:
And when she's old enough, I might take off and see the rest of the world too. Or hell, I don't see why she can't come along.
That made me think of these people... http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/ ...the woman had an organic homestead in the summers and then took off in an RV with her daughter during the winters. Her daughter homeschooled and grew up and rode her bicycle across the country and stuff.
AlexxaHex
04-24-2007, 12:28 AM
That's awesome, Lena!! We are thinking of homeschooling our daughter too.
sunnie
04-24-2007, 01:12 AM
I save A LOT of my earnings - between 70 and 80%
Holy crap! :O You are my role model! ;D
I do experiences...I am going to Costa Rica on Friday...yay!
I also do a cost benefit analysis when I make purchases. If I buy this, how will it improve my life. Japanese hair relaxer was like that, it saved me tons of time and I love my hair. Moving into a bigger pad in a quieter neighborhood away from the bars/restaurants costs me >$200 in rent per month more, but I saved a shitload because i spend a lot more time at home and I don't waste money on so much take out and restaurant food. It is just not convenient like it was. And I love my house.
My big thing is I want to go East Africa so bad, i have dreams about it. It'll take another year or so for me to be able to go for several months...and it is one experience I have to have soon.
Lysondra
04-24-2007, 01:55 AM
^ Ahahahhaa... I do that.
I also base price on compliments. If I receive 80 compliments on a $60 shirt and only 20 compliments on a $40 shirt, the first one was more valuable. :P Of course, that's just me being silly... but...
Every time I cook I divide the spices and see how much it saves me to cook rather than eat out. I started growing my own spices lately. I think it's gone to around .01 I pay for spices on my food now per meal.
Miss Jessica
04-24-2007, 02:20 AM
When I first started dancing it was both... since I could afford both. Now, it's stuff. But I almost feel as though I have enough stuff to keep me happy for awhile, so it will be back to travel for me soon! :)
The_Oceans
04-27-2007, 06:48 PM
These days I'd say I spend more on experiences, mainly little vacations or weekend breaks every couple of months. I've been spending my 30s catching up on the travelling I missed out on in my 20s, cuz I spent the money I made in my 20s on stuff to "keep up with the Joneses". Besides, living solo at the moment, I don't want to have too much tangible stuff.
FrustratedBunny
04-28-2007, 11:43 PM
I'd say I tend to buy things, but I like experiences too. I'd be much more willing to spend $2k on a handbag than a vacation, unless the vacation included a bunch of shopping.