Consumerism
Nov. 12th, 2002 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiIt was very hard for me, but I spent some money today.
I don't like to buy unnecessary things that cost more than $20 (and even those <$20 items don't happen often). Growing up in a family that struggled financially for most of my life (except for a brief period where I was too young to know that they had lots of money, anyway) I learned to make due with what I had, and to assess what true needs versus unnecessary wants really were. B gets so upset with me because I keep and use things way past their prime (like the LL Bean Rag Socks that he made me throw away last year because the whole heel was ripped and my entire foot would slip out if I wasn't careful).
Hence, I don't have an extensive wardrobe for work. I have this issue periodically when I drop food on something staining it causing it to be unacceptable for the office. Or I cheap out and buy pants at Target which I wear once before they shrink making me look like I'm waiting for a flood. My family doesn't really spend money on *nice* things that often, so I can't fathom how people bring themselves to spend so much money on designer clothes . . .
So I went out today and spent money, more than I usually do on clothing for myself. I bought 2 new pairs of shoes, 2 new belts to match, lots of socks, tights and stockings, a blazer, 2 suits and some shirts to throw on under said blazer/suits or sweaters that I have. MAN did I feel really uncomfortable at first, I took my normal routine of going in 'the cheap store' and seeing things that would be acceptable though I didn't really *like* them. From there I almost left and headed to The Garment District, accepting the fate of having unstylish and frumpy clothing for work for the rest of my life.
But I gave it a chance. I told myself I'd walk through the whole mall and just go in places that may look interesting, no matter what the price. I poked in Illuminations at their lovely glittery candles (must get some for my winter decorations for the house) and in a couple of smaller stores before making it to http://www.jonesnewyork.com/ . I've always had good luck finding things that fit there (I have an issue finding pants that fit right, having long legs and large hips that aren't proportional to a smaller waist) and things seem to keep well. And I did it. I spent around $140 in there but I walked out with a lot of stuff.
From there I went to Target and bought said shirts (just plain ole cotton), socks, tights and pantyhose and a new pair of black work shoes and then to Payless to get a pair of brown work shoes.
I feel SO decadent. But I needed at least 2 suits for work, I really did need more work clothes (a lot of what I have won't be acceptable at the meetings with doctors). But I have a job now, I just got a raise, and I'll be banking around $7K of money from remaining severance and unused vacation time. So I shouldn't feel guilty (repeating to myself "don't feel guilty, don't feel guilty"). Its just very difficult to get me to spend money.
****
After heading home to do some homework, spend time with all 4 buns and the cat (of course) and lounge in front of the TV, I ate a quick dinner and made one last purchase. I needed to pick up something at Walgreens anyway, so from there I headed out to get the new Fellowship of the Ring DVD and of course, Star Wars Episode II. Those mainly were for my honey, I like to give him neat things that make him smile (I don't feel so guilty about those purchases) :)
****
OK, so can you tell that I need to talk to someone? This being at home or running errands all day is getting to me. MUST HAVE COMMUNICATION! Hee hee, sorry for rambling :)
I don't like to buy unnecessary things that cost more than $20 (and even those <$20 items don't happen often). Growing up in a family that struggled financially for most of my life (except for a brief period where I was too young to know that they had lots of money, anyway) I learned to make due with what I had, and to assess what true needs versus unnecessary wants really were. B gets so upset with me because I keep and use things way past their prime (like the LL Bean Rag Socks that he made me throw away last year because the whole heel was ripped and my entire foot would slip out if I wasn't careful).
Hence, I don't have an extensive wardrobe for work. I have this issue periodically when I drop food on something staining it causing it to be unacceptable for the office. Or I cheap out and buy pants at Target which I wear once before they shrink making me look like I'm waiting for a flood. My family doesn't really spend money on *nice* things that often, so I can't fathom how people bring themselves to spend so much money on designer clothes . . .
So I went out today and spent money, more than I usually do on clothing for myself. I bought 2 new pairs of shoes, 2 new belts to match, lots of socks, tights and stockings, a blazer, 2 suits and some shirts to throw on under said blazer/suits or sweaters that I have. MAN did I feel really uncomfortable at first, I took my normal routine of going in 'the cheap store' and seeing things that would be acceptable though I didn't really *like* them. From there I almost left and headed to The Garment District, accepting the fate of having unstylish and frumpy clothing for work for the rest of my life.
But I gave it a chance. I told myself I'd walk through the whole mall and just go in places that may look interesting, no matter what the price. I poked in Illuminations at their lovely glittery candles (must get some for my winter decorations for the house) and in a couple of smaller stores before making it to http://www.jonesnewyork.com/ . I've always had good luck finding things that fit there (I have an issue finding pants that fit right, having long legs and large hips that aren't proportional to a smaller waist) and things seem to keep well. And I did it. I spent around $140 in there but I walked out with a lot of stuff.
From there I went to Target and bought said shirts (just plain ole cotton), socks, tights and pantyhose and a new pair of black work shoes and then to Payless to get a pair of brown work shoes.
I feel SO decadent. But I needed at least 2 suits for work, I really did need more work clothes (a lot of what I have won't be acceptable at the meetings with doctors). But I have a job now, I just got a raise, and I'll be banking around $7K of money from remaining severance and unused vacation time. So I shouldn't feel guilty (repeating to myself "don't feel guilty, don't feel guilty"). Its just very difficult to get me to spend money.
****
After heading home to do some homework, spend time with all 4 buns and the cat (of course) and lounge in front of the TV, I ate a quick dinner and made one last purchase. I needed to pick up something at Walgreens anyway, so from there I headed out to get the new Fellowship of the Ring DVD and of course, Star Wars Episode II. Those mainly were for my honey, I like to give him neat things that make him smile (I don't feel so guilty about those purchases) :)
****
OK, so can you tell that I need to talk to someone? This being at home or running errands all day is getting to me. MUST HAVE COMMUNICATION! Hee hee, sorry for rambling :)
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Money stuff
Date: 2002-11-13 05:34 am (UTC)I guess its a matter of opinion (in general, in terms of what's uncomfortable). Some would argue that the fact that I had to share a room with my sister was uncomfortable or that we only had 1 car, or that we didn't go to DisneyWorld. We had a house, food and clothes and a loving family so I never really felt uncomfortable (when I was old enough to feel it, I was old enough to earn my own money to remedy it - when I started babysitting).
"one of the things i've delighted in as a grown-up with an independent income is the freedom to figure out what small indulgences will really improve my quality of life (like my cup-top tea strainer."
Yes, those are the things that make me really happy. When I graduated from college, got my first real job and was able to pay bills and STILL have money left over for "fun things" I felt like I had really made it. At the time I was making only $26K but thought that I was livin' large :)
"and some things that i would have been raised to think are indulgences are really preventitive maintenance, like making sure that i don't wear shoes with soles worn down enough that my back aches all the time"
See this just doesn't make sense to me - if you don't spend money up front on preventive measures you're going to need to spend WAY MORE later on on serious problems. The thing I'm happy for is that my parents found a way to make sure we had proper clothes, footwear, food and dental and medical care (in addition to keeping us active and doing things). I'm really amazed and don't know quite how they did it at the time given their limited resources.
Ah, scoliosis. My aunt had triple scoliosis (along with a whole host of other illnesses/conditions) so my Mom was always paranoid about it and had us checked each year at the pediatrician to make sure we were OK. And we had good shoes yes, but DAMN were they ugly and so uncool :)
Re: Money stuff
Date: 2002-11-13 11:56 am (UTC)i think the maddest i ever got at them was when i was eleven and had just been told that i had to be in a body brace indefinitely for the scoliosis. the only pair of pants i had that fit over the brace was a pair of hideous pink sweatpants. I asked my parents if I could please have some new pants, and their response was that I could wear the pink sweatpants until i saw if anyone gave me any clothes for Christmas. Christmas was still about three months off, if I remember aright.
I don't think that they thought that they were being mean to me; they were just being practical.