materialistic people

[Persimmonn]

AIBU to think most people in the world these days are materialistic? I feel like everything is a competition and comparison to the next person. There aren’t many genuine people left in the world.

I don’t at all look down on people who like to have new things. It’s the people who talk about their new things or what they have. Something really trivial, but I met a “friend” the other day, we were talking about the weather and she decided to tell me she’s put all her coats away for the winter and only has “this French connection one” out now. She had to name drop.

I really dislike people flaunting what they have, and notice this is what a lot of people do on fb, which is why I deactivated it.

It is interesting. I love my house, have spent a lot of money on it, it brings me great pleasure. Am I materialistic?

I think people who are into designer labels and look down of others for not are materialistic.
Also people with massive houses who look down on my tiny rental are .

But i would love the cash for a big house.

Some people have always been materialistic. I don't think it's a new thing

I find myself getting less materialistic as I get older, I've never really had the money to be that fussed. Now I have more I find I don't spend it on the things I thought I would do. I'd rather spend it on experiences, holidays etc nowadays.

We bought a house 2 years ago, currently doing bits to it, very slowly as it's not bad. Plus it costs loads! Others who move in seem to renovate it all and move in. I'm not that fussed this is our home for long term so loads of time. I want to enjoy life too and not get into debt for the latest kitchen.

I would say I’m probably materialistic if I’m honest.

We don’t have much money so we are very careful with our possessions.
We don’t have a car but we do really like the things we have. We save up to buy and enjoy the things we have.

If I had lots of money I would buy nice handbags and have a big house so I don’t begrudge the people who do. I think it’s totally possible to be a genuine person and also wear designer labels.

It's the little things that annoy me. The designer clothes and bags and the people who dress their children in designer and send them to school like they are advertising a lifestyle.

...the people who dress their children in designer and send them to school like they are advertising a lifestyle.

This is what annoys me too. And it passes on to the children. There’s a girl who is in dd’s class who started making fun out of people who bought things from Poundland or a supermarket in year 2. Apparently everything was bad quality from these shops.

I’ve also had the “oh I’ve never shopped in Tesco before, it’s so cheap compared to Waitrose” conversation with the person I’ve mentioned above.

Have had an Aunt tell me that she can understand me working, but why was my sil still working because my brother has a massive salary. Obviously implying my dh has a shit job/salary.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the weird one for not wanting to discuss house, money, jobs, possessions. But this is always the main topic of conversation everywhere.

Some people are I guess. It’s the world we live in. But buying stuff you need or want doesn’t make you materialistic imo. If you have the money to pay for it why not?

Yes people are materialistic, but it's certainly not a new thing. John Lennon made note of it whilst processing barrel loads of stuff himself

My ex-husband is an FD on £105k+ pa. My fiance earns £24k pa making me the main earner by a little bit.

When I was married I lived in a huge five bed house with four bathrooms and a weekly cleaner.

Now there are four of us (I have two sons and a fiance) in a small rented two-bed. Financially it's not at all easy. We don't own "luxuries" like a dishwasher (no space to fit it even if we could afford it), and was only recently gifted a tumble dryer after five years living here. We don't really go on many holidays and they are very "budget" when we do.

I can categorically state that for me, money cannot buy happiness! I have freedom far more than I ever did when I was married. We live very near to my awesome mum and dad. My fiance loves spending time with us as a family. There are many special things cash can't buy that are of so much more value 😊

I like some new and nice things and I'm not going to apologise for that. I've served my time in life being relatively poor and I'm aware I could be again in the future. So for now I will enjoy buying something new.

I have lots of old things that I really can't be bothered to replace. But I've just bought an instapot, I could continue to use my pots and pans etc but I thought it looked great, so I bought it. I feel no guilt.

If you live on social media then people definitely are. Most people I know are normal and we don’t discuss what we have or don’t. Maybe it’s just the circles you move in?

I love showing of my new purchases to friends, e.g. If I have a new dress and my friend has come over I'll whip it out the wardrobe to show her. I wonder if that makes me materialistic or just excited by a purchase as I don't buy so much anymore?

I know some materialisic people but my close people tend to be of the same mindset as me. I like some new nice things but am a bargain hunter and will accept any second hand/third hand items if we need or like them. Im not into fancy technology but will spend more than most people i know on certain items like school shoes and winter coats. I think it comes down to values and motivation. A family member is very materialistic will throw away things just because they fancy a new one (like dinner sets, sofas, furniture) I look after things and keep them for years. I shop at aldi but go to m and s for some things. Its not clear cut but i dont waste things or money just to have what others deem the latest trend.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/nyregion/at-yale-class-on-happiness-draws-huge-crowd-laurie-santos.amp.html

I did this course and it's a really surprising that the things that we want or covet don't make us happy and the things that we take for granted do. I didn't quite follow it right though and I didn't get much happier .

But, it is interesting that spending your money on experiences rather than things does actually make you happier. Likewise, spending money on others makes you happier than spending it on yourself.

However, you can know this and it doesn't stop you from wanting things, and getting jealous of other people's things. It's very interesting.

I've never got the whole "keeping up with the Jones's " attitude.

I know people that have it and if it makes them happy, great but I couldn't.

We're now doing up our house. The vast majority of items bought are second/third hand. When I was really excited about moving in, I told them we'd found an amazing sofa from the British Heart Foundation. They were sceptical as they would never buy second hand.
It was an M and S leather sofa which we bought for £150. They were really shocked when they saw it.
Our house probably looks like we've spent a lot more on it than we have as we're always finding bargains plus we recycle as much as we can (copper piping, old cupboards).

Neither of us wear designer labels. It's just the way we are.

Depends what social group you're in. Easier to be 'free' if you live in a rough area as you are always 'richer' than someone else.
If you live in a broker belt, then you have to keep up with the Jones'es.
My idea of hell!

It’s the stuff that was once coveted soon becomes trash; those people who queued overnight 5 years ago for an iPhone six and paid the £600 or whatever.... they won’t value that phone now or give thoughts to where the cobalt to make it comes from or how the people mining it were treated.
Easy come, easy go for the human race right now. It’s not sustainable.

He still drops by occasionally and says”you still haven’t replaced that car”.

@Seniorschoolmum Please say your riposte was "But I have replaced YOU"

I live in a really lovely house in London, there is nothing more materialistic than that. It's taken me 25 years of constantly doing up, constantly moving to get it.

I did without most things to do it (old cars, old furniture, no holidays for 15 years)

But I do not think it makes me less materialistic than anyone else - it was a huge thing to aspire to considering I could be living a council house 500 miles away.

I read a thread recently on engagement rings. Then I backtracked, Googled and read a lot more threads on engagement rings; posts to the tune of 'how do I tell my fiancee my ring is too small?'

Some of those people need to read a good book and fill their heads with something more meaningful. Glad to see there are lots of those threads on Mumsnet too, and they always make for a great read! (Especially the ones on Enid Blyton) ...

I do live in an affluent area where many people are desperate to buy 2/3 houses to rent out. Loads do extra cash in hand jobs to build up house deposits, and I feel like I should be doing more, be in the rat race to gather more money, as that’s what I see everyone else doing. But I have a house to live in, perfect part time job and my children are fed, do activities and are happy. Dh and I have a good work life balance and we plan plenty of days out with the kids. I feel like I’m looked down at and classed as lazy for not striving to work full time and do extra things to make money.

I hate the inverse snobbery on these threads.

Judging someone because of the books they read or don’t is just as bad as judging someone for anything else.

Also when people say designer clothes what do they mean?
Some people think marks and Spencer’s is designer, some people it’s Gucci.

I live in an ex council house and keep all my possessions until they fall apart, but what other people do isn’t any of my business.