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[crushilepsy]

This is not something to boast about, but I haven't made any "me" purchases (i.e. fun purchases like clothing, make-up, junk) all summer. While this didn't start by choice, it feels surprisingly...OK aside from some general feelings of alienation. I still look cute. I'm trying to separate my self-worth from material goods. This sounds pretty

Comments

[contrary]

i hope that someday i can come to this realization. i mean, i know it in my *head,* but i don't feel it. i seriously want to quit buying things, for many reasons. . . at least new things. it's hard, though!

[crushilepsy]

hahaha. I feel like the burlap sack lady right about now so I am also like "r u serious?" when people talk about shopping. I know when I was in a rut I made myself feel better by feeling like I could spend *my* paycheck on things for *me* but I think now that my mind is stimulated and I have direction I am like "I just want to pay the bills, buy my friends a drink, and maybe splurge on organic foods someday."

[crushilepsy]

This is definitely rooted in being broke. I can't even pay all my bills now, but I really just WANT to.

I have 2 copies of Capital! What a coincidence. One has your name on it if you don't mind my dumb notes.

[crushilepsy]

It's all yours! I will bring it to your house as a housewarming gift. Haha.

[passionsoretro]

Yeah, this was a major part of the first half of the year/paying off my credit card debt. That, and having people over for dinner a lot in lieu of going out. Ultimately, you feel so awesome for opting out of that shit that it doesn't matter that you're wearing a dress from 4 years ago because nobody who matters really gives a fuck what you look like anyway, you know? And you're building more of a sense of community and togetherness out of doing things yourself (and together with others) than you would by consumer culture anyway.

I've grown more punk with age, apparently.

[crushilepsy]

I'm trying to pay off my credit card debt. I will have educational debt, but I really don't want credit card debt. I just watched "Maxed Out" and it infuriated me.

Part of me feels really naive about it, but regular ole working folk live like this all the time. I don't need fancy things and I'm a little upset that I ever made myself feel that way.

I'm definitely getting more punk with age, too. High five!

[passionsoretro]

It was so upsetting that I was paying for a life that I wasn't even getting to enjoy! Then I immediately had to start paying for wedding things and a new bike, so I blew it. But it was nice while it lasted. I'm convinced that I'll always have educational debt.

It's really hard to escape that attitude that we do need these little tsochkes to bring us joy in life, when it can be fulfilled in a more satisfying way by creating our own things, growing gardens, baking cookies, whatever. But that takes work and time and like you said, our generation has a sense of entitlement about these things that has really stymied our own creativity and sense of community. I still want to just drop out of life and work on a farm though.

[crushilepsy]

I think I will always have educational debt, but it doesn't seem AS bad to me, I guess.

I need to work on a farm!

[ex_cenotaph]

I'm trying to do this too. It's unbelievably difficult.