What is your spending style?

Let us pretend that this recession forced us to choose only 100 of our belongings to live with on a daily basis.  All the rest of your stuff you would have to give up to good will.  You could spend as you like, but the catch is, when you purchase an item then another item must go.   Seems pretty straightforward and doable, correct?  Now walk into your bathroom and look around and really start to imagine yourself in this scenario.  Well  these 100  items have to include your mascara,  shampoos, hair products, all other beauty products, as well as, clothes, furniture, electronics, and other household items.  Let us say that you were able to narrow it down and you have started the challenge, would you change your spending habits?

When I first heard about this challenge in the New York Times article, “But Will It Make You Happy“, I thought nothing of choosing 100 items.  But as I started thinking about all my clothes and favorite beauty products it started to get a lot harder.  My favorite moisturizer would be a must, as well as eye liner and mascara.  I never leave the house without those on.  Next, I looked at hair products.  Honestly, I have a plethora of shampoos and conditioners.  I could have a beauty supply store in my bathroom.   Following the bathroom I moved to my closet.  Oh boy,  how do I choose what to take and what to through?  I decided to take a break and sit on the couch.

Picking 100 items is a lot harder than it first seems.  But should it be?  I have always been a huge believer in quality.  Two pairs of high quality jeans, to me, is much better then having ten pairs of jeans that will not last a wash let alone a season.  In an earlier post, “Is it okay not to always look for the bargain?”, I discussed my thought of purchasing quality not quantity.   Having those key pieces in your wardrobe that would be sheik for years to come.  Over time quality can become quantity.  I like to think of it as high-end quantity but we all know the truth.  I have accumulated a lot of stuff which seems to be a theme among americans.

But what drove the american people to become such large consumers.  As americans we typically enjoy large, flashy, multiple, and latest version of what it is that we want.  Now, if we look at Holland, for example, it is normal for two to three kids to share a bedroom and for their houses to have only one bedroom.  Moving on to Japan, their houses are simplistic, with minimal furniture and accessories.

There is no right or wrong, but we are in a recession and I, personally, still want to go shopping when I know I should be saving, saving, saving.  My husband and I started rating our purchases.  When we want to buy something we take a step back and think what will the return be on our purchase?  Not a financial return but a quality of life return.  Vacations and time with the family have become a priority over everyday possessions or having the nicest car.  When I am staring at a beautiful pair of Channel sunglasses, that seem to be saying, “buy me, buy me”,  I now walk away and think about my purchase before I decide to make it. (So hard but I am getting much better)  This recession has affected us indirectly but has changed us in a good way that I am hoping will be a new way forward.  Quality and time, not quantity and impulse.

Now I have shared my spending style with you, What is yours?