To ask how into 'stuff' are you?

[Missmarple87]

Seems like a weird question and I'm asking from an impartial position because I find it so intriguing! I suppose I'm also asking because how much we should spend Vs save is a point of discussion in my marriage 😉 .

At a party at the weekend of people all in professional jobs and with decent amounts of disposable income (I know you can't know about people's finances, really, but it's clear most have some cash left over at the end of the month). From conversation it was clear that some really liked 'stuff', ranging from the latest tech to fashion to interiors stuff to cars etc. and that acquisition was important to them. Others clearly weren't into at all - completely genuinely just not bothered (old phones, old cars, old clothes). Others weren't into it as a point of pride e.g. my old car, despite being able to afford a new one, is a status symbol in itself.

Where do you stand on this?

[MiddleAgedDread]

I'm in the genuinely not bothered camp!

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

Don’t care

[TokyoSushi]

I do quite like 'stuff' - new things make me happy. I also like nice holidays too and prefer to have less, but nicer things.

Some people that I know have quantity over quality, so loads of stuff but maybe not what I would necessarily choose and I know others as extreme as 'I'm not buying any new clothes in 2024.'

[SlowlyLurking]

I love interiors. I'd say that's where my money goes - decorating, making the house to my taste, lovely candles and textiles etc.

Not interested in the latest tech, fashion etc. Would much rather buy a lovely casserole dish in Homesense or TK Maxx than buy a new jumper.

[TunaCrunchy]

I’m really not into stuff, my house is quite minimalist.
I spend my money on eating out, holidays, see friends and other experiences.

[Catza]

As little stuff as possible. I change my phones every 6 years or so. My car is 14 years old, most of my tech is 8+ years old and I think my mac is approaching teenage years.
I just refuse spending money on stuff, I'd rather pay for a nice day our or for an interesting course. Oh, and books.

[neverknowinglyunreasonable]

I like some stuff but other stuff I couldn't care less about. Hope this helps.

[Geebray]

I like "stuff", if I can afford it. Interiors, clothes, makeup, books, cooking gadgets, etc.

[TwirlyWhirlie]

I’d prefer a fantastic holiday than new things. My birthday last year was fab because we went on two holidays and DH planned some amazing activities which I’d wanted to do for ages. He keeps nagging me about what I want for this birthday and I honestly can’t think of anything 🤷‍♀️

[easylikeasundaymorn]

Not at all bothered.

I'm a good saver but had a really good reminder to not feel smug about this when reading a thread on here a year ago - basically it was someone describing the thrill she gets out of shopping and buying stuff, how she literally gets endorphins and a mood lift from the full experience, from browsing to bringing it home, trying it on (if an outfit), thinking about what it will go with, etc. And how its really hard to resist stuff she wants, or even just the urge to spend if she has money available.

It made me realise that if I don't have that impetus to buy stuff and spend money then I don't really deserve congratulations for "resisting" an urge I don't have! It would be akin to feeling proud I heroically resisted running a marathon over the weekend (i.e. something I had absolutely no desire to do!)

[TipsyKoala]

No, not into 'stuff' at all. I hate ornaments and things that have no purpose. Most tech in our house is old, not many clothes. I prefer to spend money on doing things/holidays. I'm also quite untidy and hate cleaning so keeping clutter to a minimum is essential.

[PauliesWalnuts]

Not into stuff - I think just because my mum and dad were skint for years - they got married, bought a do-er upper as it was all they could afford, had two kids in 18 months and my mum became a stay at home mum for about a decade. I just wasn't brought up that way so I've never had that mentality. I can appreciate nice things, but I always thought, well, I could go on a really nice holiday for the price of that flat screen tv or whatever it was. As I've got older I've become more conscious of wastage and over consumption, so I don't buy something unless something's run out, worn out, or is broken beyond repair.

[Verv]

I'm part into stuff and part really dont care.
I collect watches, love my car, and do like bags and footwear.
But other than that, im not interested in new tech or gadgets, my fashion has always been jeans/hoodie/tshirt or shirt so I dont regularly update my wardrobe, and im not interested in objects for the sake of objects (dont like or enjoy clutter)

[MumMumMumMumMumMumMum]

Not really into stuff. I do have a brand new car but it's a company car, I do love it lol. I'm pretty minimalist in most aspects of life. I don't have or need stuff

[belfastjun]

I love all that "stuff" but priorities have shifted and money is low so I'm in the not bothered camp. If I had lots of disposable income I'd probably treat myself to things like that though!

[ItsVeryHyacinthBucket]

In my 20s and early 30s I was, much more so than I am now (40s). It’s a cliche but now I’d rather spend on experiences and memories than the latest thing.

[Missmarple87]

Interesting! I like some 'stuff' - interiors, clothes etc. I do get some of the thrill of buying things. No interest in tech or cars, really. DH is more the 'point of pride' type and loves saving. Trying to decide whether to tell him we should loosen up a bit with the savings!

[OneRingToRuleThemAll]

I'm somewhere in the middle. I like new things, but don't replace things unless they need to be replaced. I love a good clearout. And I like to buy less stuff but better quality.

[JennyForeigner]

I like nice things but it's all about the joy of the chase. The lovely big ginger jar I found in a charity shop at the weekend and will use to store laundry and dishwasher tabs brings me joy - I had coveted one for years. I wouldn't have bought one from a shop though. Same with books and clothes.

We have three young kids and all of our money goes on childcare, so I take pride in the things that make our house look put together but are bought on a shoestring.

[stayathomer]

I find I’m not into it until I reach a kind of critical level eg clothes not fitting, cosmetics and skincare running out, things in kitchen breaking, etc, that, put with the fact that this usually happens when we can’t afford to replenish anything, makes so it’s all I can think about!!!!

[Bignanna]

Not bothered about keeping up with the Jones, only replace stuff when it’s broken or worn out. Don’t care about the latest TV etcI don’t stress about having the latest colour coordinated things. I think it’s because I’m older, and I value others things, like my health,more.

[MaybeImbad]

@Catza

As little stuff as possible. I change my phones every 6 years or so. My car is 14 years old, most of my tech is 8+ years old and I think my mac is approaching teenage years.
I just refuse spending money on stuff, I'd rather pay for a nice day our or for an interesting course. Oh, and books.

Are you not counting books as ‘stuff’??

I am! I have huge bookcases full all over the house and it’s madness but I love them and love reading.

I like stuff OP - for me it’s books and gear for running/walking. My other big spending is on really good food - but at least that is (literally) consumable.

[Muddywalks34]

I am in the camp of plenty of disposable income and I’m not bothered by stuff. My phone is one of my husbands old ones, I will keep it until it breaks or someone
in the family gets an upgrade. I buy most of my clothes 2nd hand, I have a reasonably nice car. I just would rather not spend money on stuff I really don’t need. What I will spend on though is experiences and memories, no issue with paying a decent amount for a nice holiday for instance. I do have horses and dogs and they do get the best of everything though 😬

[Echobelly]

We're not very 'stuff' - just as well, as I've just been made redundant and DH has been working on creating and launching a product for the last 18 months!

We paid off the mortgage last year luckily, and with that and a higher wage at my last job, I was spending some of the extra money on theatre and opera tickets because I could finally afford them more than once or twice a year (we live in London and they are pricey)

I buy fewer clothes these days, but spend more on them - when I have an income. I'm unbothered about not buying anything new until I get a job, but it is hurting a bit to have to cut back on the event tickets.

DH is in tech, but no interest in latest gadgets and neither of us care what car we drive - we are driving our 15 year old tinny Nissan into the ground (won't last much longer) then probably get another second hand car

[SkyBloo]

Im into useful stuff, rather than sort of "for show".

So we have a few kitchen appliances that are not strictly necessary (breadmaker, kitchen aid thingy, instant pot) but we use them a lot.

I like the house to look neat/not knackered, but that doesn't mean up to the minute decor, just sofas and carpets in decent nick etc.

Not into fancy cars at all.

We will spend on tech if its sort of necessary environmental stuff. So we shelled out for solar panels. But not spending on phones/tablets etc.