No Buy Pledge

[Somafunk]

The happiest person I know so far, really nice family, nice house with lots of property around it, etc.

Obviously with money comes no concern over whether to spend the last few ££ heating/eating/paying rent/paying council tax/local tax/paying for transportation to work etc.

 

[JeffS7444]

Uncertain times can offer great opportunities for bargain-hunters with cash:

Internet service provider advised me to upgrade my cable modem to one supporting the DOCIS 3.1 standard. I wasn't keen on the prices I was seeing for new ones, but I discovered that secondhand ones routinely sell for a fraction of the price, so for about $60, I upgraded.

And I had been wanting a more modern 3D printer, and found a refurbished, current-model unit selling for a $160: No way I could retrofit an older printer with all of the improvements so economically. Donated my older printer to a thrift store.

Although tempted to buy new computers, my 7th- and 8th-gen Intel PCs run Windows 11 just fine, so I upgraded their SSDs from 256 GB to 1 TB, which should extend their useful life for ~$60 per computer. I won't lose sleep over newer hardware features like neural cores until they actually do something I want.

Currently have my Amazon Prime membership on hold, and in some cases, can match or beat Prime pricing simply by choosing a different vendor or a slower shipping option. Sometimes I can get my $14.99/mo worth of value from a combination of Prime Video, discounted shipping, and better Whole Foods prices, but I figure that most months, I simply don't buy/consume enough to break even.

 

[Sokel]

Obviously with money comes no concern over whether to spend the last few ££ heating/eating/paying rent/paying council tax/local tax/paying for transportation to work etc.

It depends. Lots of people have lots of money but they are not as happy.
And I have seen people getting good money and evaporate then in a couple of years ending up worst than they was.

What you need beyond work and smart decisions is luck. And you have to praise it, every single day, and push it too. Moaning and passively suffering insults luck.

 

[respice finem]

If in good condition, that car is easily more valuable that Maybach...

This, and, contrary to the somewhat ostentative Maybach, an SL is an understatement. For everyone not knowing its virtues, it's "yet another old Merc". I like it this way. A car for "old money" people.

 

[respice finem]

It depends. Lots of people have lots of money but they are not as happy.
And I have seen people getting good money and evaporate then in a couple of years ending up worst than they was.

What you need beyond work and smart decisions is luck. And you have to praise it, every single day, and push it too. Moaning and passively suffering insults luck.

The Art is, to own property without letting this property own you too much (be it money, real estate, or whatever).
It's difficult and cannot really be taught any other way, but by personal example. Staying aware of the shortness of one's own life helps a lot.

 

[Sokel]

Staying aware of the shortness of one's own life helps a lot.

Recent history proves your point 100%, aside from our own normal mortality.

Short of some fishermen at Bangladesh (Pakistan back then) who took power against all odds, we would all be probably dust now, no matter where we live on the planet.
We can never now.

 

[respice finem]

The normal mortality is important, and so is unstoppable aging. Provided nothing catastrophic happens: I'm 58 now, so in 30 years I'm 88 if I'm lucky enough to live that long (or unlucky, depending on health).

 

[amper42]

The 'No Buy' trend is catching on — and leading to big savings

The "No Buy 2025" movement is about cutting spending, boosting savings, and embracing mindful consumption. Learn how it works and why it’s gaining popularity.

finance.yahoo.com

The year of cutting back on consumerism!

 

[mhardy6647]

I bought four bags of gravel and a new stud detector (y'all get your minds out of the gutters...) last week -- and it felt good.

 

[Multicore]

Entertaining and provocative remarks on compensatory consumerism from David Graeber...

Compensatory consumerism as we service The Man

Graeber makes yet another good point

thefsb.substack.com

Interesting that this pledge meme is about rejecting that compensation.

 

[respice finem]

It's always been this way, just with other symptoms in different parts of the world. Like in the years short before the fall of the USSR and its satellites: If you drove in there with a Mercedes, you could be sure the star will be stolen in minutes. Some later carried them like an amulet (no joke). Some collected Coke tins and such.
Homo sapiens is a peculiar species.

 

[xanalog]

What do you guys think of the "No Buy" Pledge catching on?

Sounds like an epic case of work-life life-work balance... especially, for those who are needing an excuse for being on either the medicaid or the unemployment programs.

I enjoy spending money on "stuff". It helps create jobs for people to earn money to spend on other "stuff".

+1

 

[Somafunk]

Sounds like an epic case of work-life life-work balance... especially, for those who are needing an excuse for being on either the medicaid or the unemployment programs.

+1

If I lived in the U.S. that’d be me, although I figure I’d be dead long ago

 

[Bleib]

This pic from the humor topic also fits in here

 

[xanalog]

If I lived in the U.S. that’d be me, although I figure I’d be dead long ago

I hope not!
[I was being sarcastic ]
I did not think of you as someone that would not want to work but be willing to milk the system.

 

[antcollinet]

Democracy clearly has draw-backs for the minority

It's called "The tyranny of the majority"

What you need is a household constitution. Or separation of powers. Or something.

 

[xanalog]

It's called "The tyranny of the majority"
...

But "4 out of 5 dentists" recommend the Dunbar's number.