Does buying stuff enhance your life?

We’re not big consumers of stuff, still have a crt tv, i’ve never owned a cd player, most of our friends seem to lurch from one gadget purchase to another, my mate is on his third flat screen in 18mths, he’s now up to 60inches. It seems some people need to treat themselves on a regular basis as a crutch for their unfulfilling lives.
I’m not a ludite i do own a smartphone and no i havn’t got faith.

it seems to bother you enough for you to start a thread about it, perhaps you should treat yourself and see if you feel better?

It seems some people need to treat themselves on a regular basis as a crutch for their unfulfilling lives.

Or perhaps they just like watching movies on big tellies?

People spend their cash on whatever makes them happy. I’m sure they think you’re bonkers for spending money on a push bike.

People buy things like massive TV’s to fill a void in their life.

Just trollin 😉

People buy things like massive TV’s to fill a void space in their life living room.

coolhandluke – Member
People buy things like massive TV’s to fill a void in their life.

Hey, I have a massive tv and there’s no void in my life !

oh

guess it leads to an experience. Buy train pass – go travelling – buy a kite – get some fresh air and learn something new etc etc. Suppose it depends if you buy experiences / facilities (eg a train ticket and rock concert ticket)or a material object or – one that leads to another.

Even though i’ve got a crt tv i didn’t say it was small.

OP- Are you poor?

😉

Hell yes. Especially if it’s got an electronic display.

Depends what you mean by poor, define poor and i’ll tell you.

I like a big fookoff telly especially with one that integrates with my gadgets.

I bet your mate is amazed at how much you’ve spent on bikes when you could’ve got a perfectly good one from Tesco for seventy quid 😆

The bike i’ve got was given to me.

EDIT:

poor

adjective
1.
lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

Jus’ trollin’

Each to their own.
It’s nice to have nice things though, rare I make a big purchase. Just a few bike related bits and bobs.

Just trollin 😉

4 minutes !

Worst. Troll. Ever.

I definitely get a rush from buying new stuff like bikes/gadgets/etc.

Edit: retail crack, innit.

😳

I don’t think a trollin is for me…

No we’re not poor, in fact will be retiring in three years time at the age of 53 with all that money i saved not buying tat.

I buy nice stuff and buy it once to last a good many years while enjoying it every time I use it, rather than being annoyed that its cheap crap that will break within a year or two.

Stuff is great.

Flip side of that is devils advocate, life saw that you never made 53 and all that scrimping was in vain ? Not saying splurge it all but big events change your perspective, my dad had a heart attack at 33. Started paying people to do menial tasks after that an enjoyed his free time for him self. Goes on holiday to see the world regularly, if he wants wants to change his motorbike he does …..although his last used honda cost him nothing to own for 2 years such is the demand for tourers just now.

Does buying stuff enhance your life?

He’ll yes, but purchases only effect less important areas. I’m happily Married, have two great kids, fantastic friends and a great job, these are the important things in life and there’s not much you can buy that will directly effect them.

However last September I bought a brand new car and it has definitely enhanced my commute. I recently bought my son a new bike and it’s enhanced both his life and mine, I could go on… Frivolous spending is what’s bad. Buying cool stuff that gets used is fun.

People buy things like massive TV’s to fill a void in their life.

Some people have lots of money and a TV doesn’t exactly cost much these days. I think most people would class those who spend their spare time talking to strangers on-line as having the biggest void in their life. Except me of course, I’m exempt 😳

Nothing wrong with buying nice things if you can afford them and they give years of pleasure.
I’m more pointing the finger at keeping up with the Jones’s type purchases, like my mate who tells me he’s bought a new tele for £2500 then in the next breath is moaning about buying shoes for his kids.

Unless you have a specific TV/movie room that’s not your normal sitting room a 60″ TV is bloody ridiculous, IMO. Completely dominates the room (unless the room is vast I suppose).

I think in the developed world we are taught to feel a nagging sense of dissatisfaction with our lives that can only be salved by buying crap we don’t need – it’s good to try not to get into it. I’ve gone through periods of looking for shit to buy which gives you a short term buzz which wears off pretty quick.

Some purchases do improve your life though.

I’m pretty sure everyone thinks they’re not big consumers of stuff and only ever buy important things that enhance their lives.

🙂

I’ve gone through phases of being absolutely ridiculous (generally coinciding with clinical depression) – actively looking for shit I really don’t to buy rather than seeing things I want and buying them. I’m not so bad at the moment – though I can easily convince myself I need toys relating to my business that can be offset against tax. 🙂

It is all relative though. Bet the OP is still ridiculously extravagant compared to an ascetic yogi or whatever.

I never, ever ‘go shopping’ to a town centre though. There just doesn’t seem to be anything that I would want.

No we’re not poor, in fact will be retiring in three years time at the age of 53 with all that money i saved not buying tat.

Go you,sounds like you are old before your time and quite possibly very dull.

Apologies if I am wrong*

* not really

Need/want thing isn’t it, what they should be really worrying about is how said purchase ‘defines’ them 😉

I haven’t even got a telly. I do think if you use something or do something it’s worth shelling out on e.g. stereo, bikes, travel. Consumerism per se does not deliver and there’s loads of research to support this (check Tim Kasser’s ‘The High Price of Materialism’).

I have got some sympathy for the OP’s point, I’m not particularly bothered what people do with their money but sometimes it does seem very alien to me.

One of my work colleagues has replaced his sofa twice and his tv twice in the 8 months I’ve been there. I can’t help but feel other things might have been more rewarding in the long term but hey ho.

Just got a 47″ Panasonic and a sonos sound bar.

There brilliant .

If you are already happy and satisfied with your life, then buying some new nice stuff is hardly a crime and keeps people in jobs. Your money has to do something?

However buying stuff to make you happy is not going to work, but in either case I wouldn’t stand in the way. Too much emphasis these days on trying to correct human behaviour that is by design.

I would encourage people to buy into the quality side of the market though. Too much cheap crap around.

Haven’t got a TV (so stop sending me **** TV license letters Grrr), my cars cost me 2k each and I can’t remember the last time I bought any clothes that wern’t sports related

But I love buying stuff me….We live in a nice house, the children don’t want for anything (except a tele obviously! tough) and I’ve got furniture and art worth more than my cars

Buy what makes you happy but if you can’t buy it and can’t get the money to buy it don’t worry

A book, a walk, even a bike costs peanuts and relationships just cost time

i’ve never owned a cd player,

CD’s came in mainstream +25 y/o, what do you play music on – radio, I guess, it’s free.

And presumably when the kids want a drink you tell them to have a glass of Council Pop?

People buy things like massive TV’s to fill a void in their life.

Nah, we need a massive TV for our massive lounge 🙂

Everyone likes nice shiny new things. In the same way we like fulfilling relationships. It’s when the former massively takes priority over the latter you’ve got a problem.

I have a family member who’s obsessed with his crass displays of conspicuous weath. To get to the position of being in possession of all this ‘stuff’ he’s pulled some right stunts over the years. As a result of this, even his own family will tell you what a **** he is! This doesn’t seem to bother him at all, as he woffles on, obliviously, about his new 3D telly, or the spec on his Range Rover.

Is he happy? Who knows? Who cares. He’s definitely a **** though !

This doesn’t seem to bother him at all, as he woffles on, obliviously, about his new 3D telly, or the spec on his Range Rover

I never realized you and Lee were related! 😯

…..Carbon this, carbon that…..New handlebars…..flash git 😉

b r is your lounge this big?

b r is your lounge this big?

Nah, but its a good 20′ from the settee to the telly.