This post was prompted by a lady I saw putting shit on layaway. Not a little bit. Not one expensive item. Two fucking buggies worth. Lots of cheap Chinese made shit. Stuff that will not last till next year and that she obviously cannot afford. That insane drive to buy shit is what I’ll talk about today.
- Electric Carts
Seeing this lady with her two carts full of shit ridding in a sit down cart too lazy to walk filled me with loathing. This all consuming desire to have more, to fill the hole in our souls with plastic junk. I’m always filled with disgust at seeing this.
Less is more
I’ve always been cheap and because of moving around tended to not own too much stuff. Also and probably because that I trend to be a pack rat. Being in my apartment for almost five years now I started to collect clutter. Realizing this I’ve begun to assess what I really need in life. Now I go through my stuff and get rid of things I have either never used or will not be using again. I know having more things I don’t need will not make me happy.
Newer and fancier
This mentality that you must have the newest shiniest fastest needs to die. I think it will in the coming decades. The ability to continue to spend an ever increasing amount of money on the newest toy is very unsustainable. Planned obsolescence, building a life span into a product, will itself become obsolete. In the past products were built to last as long as possible and reputations were built on this. I feel this will make a return in the future. Companies who do not adapt with the trend to make products last longer will fall by the wayside. I have been fighting a desire to upgrade my phone to the new Samsung Galaxy S III. The upgrade will cost me $150 bucks and increase my phone bill for the next two years. Do I need it? No my current phone works just fine. So I cannot justify it at this time. If my phone becomes damaged beyond use, which is doubtful, I will then and only then upgrade.
Fix what you have first
About four yeas ago I bought a pair of cheap $10 sunglasses. I had to do some work on top of a roof in the summer and it was painted white reflecting all the light into my eyes. Since then I’ve kept them in my car for driving. Recently one of the arms broke off. I continued to wear them the rest of the week with only one arm. They worked well enough that way. I’m sure I looked like an idiot but I could care less. Yesterday I super glued the arm back on. It will no longer fold but fits good again. After four years I could certainly justify the cost of a new $10 pair but I will continue to wear them. I see no need to waste money on getting a “cooler” pair.
So just think a little before spending you hard earned money. I’m getting to the point where I will factor in life span when buying a product. I am infinitely more willing to spend money on an item whose lifespan is measured in generations not months. Also I’m looking more at items from the second hand market that are cheaper, tax free and some have already lasted generations. I have been on a real hunt for a Griswold cast iron skillet. I keep hitting the yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. No luck yet.
Whats your favorite items that has lasted a long time? Whats your best second hand item you’ve bought? Let me know in the comments.
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I found a Griswold skillet in my basement and I use it all the time. That thing will last longer than I will. Here’s a test – pick up any household item that is quite a few years old from kitchen items to tools or whatever. Guaranteed it will be noticeably heavier than a newer one because IT WAS MADE TO LAST. I’d rather buy stuff from a thrift store or yard sale for that reason. As a matter of fact, when we had no power last week I got out my little sterno stove that I got for probably 50 cents with an original can of sterno and made coffee. I think it’s about 40 years old. That’s why old stuff looks beat up – it was meant to be bought once not every year.
Jen I’m so jealous of your Griswold find! I’ve been looking for one (locally) for almost two years.
I agree on many of those points. My current pair of sunglasses ($1) has lasted me over a year, and aside from needing to superglue a lens back in place, they work just fine.
I am also trying to shrink the clutter baggage that followed me on my recent move. It sits there in a corner, constantly reminding me of how much I don’t need them any more.
And finally, I’ve been thinking about getting some cast iron cookware. I have no experience with them and I’m thinking about trying a Lodge 10″ before going out and searching for one of the older pans. Yes, it isn’t quite the same quality, but still nowhere near aluminum or whatever these modern pans are made of.
Once we manage to knock some sense into ourselves about plastic shiny junk, it becomes easier and easier to continue down the path away from them. That first hurdle seems to be the most difficult, though.
@Brian Wood I would go on Ebay and Buy a Griswold instead of the Lodge. You can get them about the same price and the Griswold would be a better purchase. Check out Pauls article on it here http://www.richsoil.com/cast-iron.jsp
Just to play Devils advocate, not everyone who uses Lay-a-way can’t afford the items, It just makes a very convenient ‘hide’ spot for things that should be kept outta sight until the big day. Otherwise the post is spot on…
Hand tools are another example – I have friends who constantly buy the cheap Chinese wrenches, sockets, etc. time and time again, I have to let them borrow my ‘good’ tools, craftsman, snap-on, etc…
Brain I agree that sometimes Layaway can be good. I for example have a Gold coin in layaway right now. My buddy works there and made me a great deal on it and offered it to me before putting it out. I used layaway as a placeholder. I didn’t have the money to blow right then but It was too good a deal to let pass. So I can’t fault someone for using layaway for a long term investment, weather it be metal or quality made tools that will last a lifetime.
A long time ago i bought a cheap $10 2 person mess kit. I’ve used and abused this thing for years, and after a while started thinking that mayhaps I’d try some of these newer special cooksets… tried quite a few, ended up selling/giving to friends… still can’t find anything that balances weight and needs as well as the old cheap mess kit.
Jeffrey one of my favorite pots is one I made from a can of Fosters beer. It cost less than $2 and I got to drink the beer from it. I’ve had it 3 or 4 years and if If breaks I get to drink another beer.
The concept that people have become too fat to even walk to purchase more food makes me feel like I’m in some sort of desperate and pathetic episode of the Twilight Zone.
Justin I think a really good paw novel would be for a future where the apocalypse was people have become too fat and lazy.
Best second hand item? That’s a tough one as we get a lot of things second hand. I would have to say most of the toys and clothes for my 1 year old son have been the best. “Baby” stuff is way over priced in the first place. Kids outgrow stuff fast and this fact acts as a catalyst to the consume and throw away mentality. He doesn’t need brand new designer clothing that he is gonna outgrow in a month. We find good quality clothing second hand for a buck or two instead of the $15 it was new. We get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment of finding quality toys or clothing for him cheaply second hand. This way we can save our hard earned cash for more important things like quality fresh food instead of the preprocessed crap that is shoved in our faces every day through advertising.
I have my grandmothers cast iron skillet. Used it this morning not to mention her cast iron dutch oven. Have not used it in a while though. I need to cook some stew outside.
I can go both ways on this. I agree that we all have too much crap and need to lighten the load. We need to stop consuming just to have something to do. But I cannot agree with you on the sunglasses.
You must think two thoughts before you buy something: 1. Do I need it? and 2. How much am I going to use it (and for what)?
The answer to #1 will eliminate 95% of all stuff purchases. The answer to #2 should determine the quality needed for the remaining 5%.
I wear my sunglasses literally 6-7 hours a day. I am out in the sun and driving for work all the time. I will gladly pay for a high-quality pair of glasses that will protect my eyes and last. $100 for a good pair of shades is worth it, and my last pair lasted almost 4 years.
Remember that the man who pays for quality only cries once. Don’t confuse frugality with cheapness.
ScaryDad in your case good shades are an investment. You need them. I wear mine only for driving so I can’t justify spending anymore.
Many of my kitchen implements and home furnishings are vintage/antiques that I’ve purchased over time. I like to buy older items because they’re often less expensive and much better made than modern versions. For instance I have a hand chopper and cutting board from the late 1800s, several old cast iron pans owned, and a set of stoneware mixing bowls that are used on a daily basis. They work a lot better than new kitchen items, and they lend a nice “look” to my home.