When/How did you first realize that material goods arent the key to happiness?

[acemcmac]

This girl (who is older than me) who I have been dating way too long still thinks that money and material goods will make her happy in life and that what other people think of her is important. If she doesent have brand X type Y SUV or Z number of vacations a year, she thinks she'll be miserable.

I always knew that I needed to be happy with myself if I wanted to be happy, but I didn't start to realize how stupid it was to be emotional about material posessions until messed up my first car and had to live without it for a month

Anyone else want to share?

You don't have to act it all the time. Everyone makes impulse buys and crap like that, but I want to know when you stopped saying I will be miserable if I don't have this

 

[mercanucaribe]

I like material stuff, but that's not the same thing as status. I really want a 20" Samsung LCD, and it won't get me laid better than a $400 pair of jeans.

 

[BillGates]

invalid idea

 

[edro]

When my niece was born.

 

[rocadelpunk]

probably around 6

I never cared for my neighbor's t.m.n.t action figures (he had them all), I liked to play with them, but my blanky was wayyy more important.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I like material stuff, but that's not the same thing as status. I really want a 20" Samsung LCD, and it won't get me laid better than a $400 pair of jeans.

You'd spend 400$ on a pair of jeans???

 

[Lonyo]

When I was 19 (ie: now, not this second, but recently).

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I like material stuff, but that's not the same thing as status. I really want a 20" Samsung LCD, and it won't get me laid better than a $400 pair of jeans.

You'd spend 400$ on a pair of jeans???

No. I'm saying that there are jeans that cost the same as a 20" LCD that people buy purely for status vs usefulness.

 

[kranky]

For me it was when I got to college. We were relatively poor and in a small school district which means everyone I knew was at a similar economic level.

In college was the first time I was exposed to people who were materialistic. Many were from wealthy families. And ironically, most of them were pretty unhappy people. They were used to having their butts kissed all their lives and that wasn't happening any more. They complained about everything.

 

[Kelemvor]

I like my material stuff. But not to show off by having some fancy brand of something. I just like my toys and such to play with for my own enjoyment.

But it's not the most important stuff for me. Just look at my 4 year old computer, 5 year old stereo, etc.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

i like material stuff too, but i know i can do with out it, if i can afford something i want, ill weigh up the pros and cons then decide. if i cant afford it i dont look at it.

 

[MisterJackson]

still waiting to learn that one......


*Strokes his credit card....

 

[Whitecloak]

retail therapy still works for me!

 

[Need4Speed]

i think i wrote a thread about it here in OT some time ago...I'm over it now and buy as much ****** as I can when I can...and I love every second of it.

 

[Jasiek]

I think I stopped somewhat on the spending, but things like dvd's surely offer great entertainment when you have to entertain some guests.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

WTF?

Sorry, but money DOES in fact buy happiness!

Who lied to you?

 

[SpunkyJones]

When my daughter was born.

 

[moshquerade]

i grew up in a family of 7 that was far from well off and had a wonderful childhood.
i've never thought material goods were the key to happiness.

 

[Need4Speed]

"if money cant buy happiness...then ill have to rent it"

 

[radioouman]

It happened this year. I realized that I don't remember what gifts I've gotten for birthdays/christmas etc, but the memories of travelling and vacations with my wife I remember vividly. So we decided not to do material posessions, and to do activities together instead.
And the side benefit is that it has improved my marriage and satisfaction with life dramatically.

 

[meltdown75]

when my house burned to the ground.

 

[phisrow]

I can't identify a specific time; but I gradually came at the realization from two sides. On the one hand, I was reading papers from social psychologists and behavioral economists about the surprisingly lousy happiness yield of material goods. On the other, I was seeing, repeatedly, that things I bought only made me happy insofar as I could integrate them into myself and not merely "own" or "consume" them. I still indulge shamelessly in certain things(particularly books), and I do try to keep myself looking decent; but I'm careful to make sure that for large objects, I'm buying a tool that I can use to expand myself, not a widget to augment a "lifestyle".

 

[speg]

In the fall I reached material good saturation. I still feel the same and have nothing to work for! Doh.

 

[dullard]

Material goods aren't the key to happiness.

However, lack of material goods is often the key to unhappiness.

I personally have purchased just enough material goods to meet my needs. Anything else I have beyond that was a gift from someone. Thus I avoid the key to unhappiness since I don't lack material goods. Then I can strive to become happy through other means.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

I haven't.

Actually, i don't believe that material goods are the key to happiness... but I would say the esteem, envy, and fame wrought by the material things that i'd like to purchase would bring much joy.