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?

I'm a shopaholic - clothes, shoes, makeup, skincare etc but can't afford high end clothing so its more 'high street in the sales'

I like buying new stuff.

I also buy a lot of books
Not arsed about tech !

I have hoarding tendencies (my dad is terrible, his garage is stuffed to the gills with crap) so I try really hard not to care as much about 'stuff' as I have in the past. Sometimes though it's hard to fight what feels like a compulsion to add more to a partial collection of something, or to buy something I never used to be able to afford but that I used to tell myself I'd have when I was less poor (doesn't have to be massively expensive, it's all relative, but it's still 'stuff').

If I ever won the lottery I'd be terrified of turning into a Viv Whats-it type, who was notorious back in the day for burning through a Pools win and ending up bankrupt.

I recognise in myself that I use ‘stuff’ to fill a gap in my life. I’m generally fairly content and secure but when I get down about anything or if there are stresses, I always resort to buying more than I need to.

Im pretty good at spotting it now so can curb it but the impulse is definitely there. It’s that short sharp hit of something nice.

DH and I are trying really hard to use our spare money for doing rather than buying. So lots of cinema, trying different foods at new restaurants, concerts etc.

I'm not bothered about stuff like electronics, clothes, handbags, shoes, home accessories, cars etc. I do like having a clean and minimal home with updated decor - that's where my money goes!! We're currently updating a 60's flat and my money is being spent on paint, door knobs, panelling, tiles, etc 😆

We like a good holiday as well, but not the luxurious type where you lounge around sipping cocktails. We like to backpack, do activities, and watch the sunset on a beanbag sipping beers!

I like stuff like books (new or secondhand), Lego sets, craft sets, seasonal decorations (ie I have just put away the Easter/Spring stuff), cosy fleece blankets, cute cushions etc.
I prefer to spend my money on things like those than meals out or holidays.

I'm not really into stuff. My clothes are a long way from new, shiny and high fashion, my car is eight years old (although it's a nice car and I do like cars!), I do have quite a nice phone, but that's only because DH got it for me. I'm much more into experiences and would always rather spend disposable income on travel or doing something with family/friends. Having said that, I do love books and I have a lot of them

I guess it's also a question of brainspace - how much time is devoted to wanting, searching and buying the right stuff. I can definitely get sucked into an internet rabbit hole. My DH is totally immune to any of it which means he probably has more space to think about actually important stuff (albeit wearing 10 year old clothing...!)

I don't have any inclination towards posh clothes, cars, phones, entertainment tech, furniture but I'm like Imelda fucking Marcos and shoes when it comes to kitchen gadgets and stationery.

I prefer to spend my money on experiences over 'stuff'.

I have a foot in every camp! I love my holidays in the sun, but would rather have 4 a year by using cheap flights and self catering, then 1 AI in a fancy hotel….I spend a lot on my home, but it’s considered purchases which might cost a lot per item rather than buying loads of “stuff”. Tech wise, as long as I have an iPhone and iPad (for compatibility ) I’m not bothered if it’s latest model…I drive a 8 year old car with a million miles on it, but there’s no finance on it-I only do 4-5000 miles a year so can’t justify replacing it just now

It’s just stuff. It’s not important at all. I find it weird that people replace stuff for new when what they have isn’t broken/obsolete/beyond repair. I have a coat (amongst other things) older than young adult DCs. The thought of rushing out to buy something new each season fills me with horror. I just don’t get it at all tbh.My iphone is pretty old but works fine, I don’t feel the need to spend ££££ on the latest model or fashions that last 5 mins.

Having to clear out DGM & DF houses who both loved ‘stuff’ was distressing, exhausting and maddening.

I don't care about stuff such as the latest tech or cars or the best 'house' stuff furnishings. But I spend and have hell of a lot of high end beauty products, mainly for hair because I love it, I won't buy cheap jeans and we go on holiday a lot!

It depends on the stuff. The things that link to my hobbies bring me joy because they let me do things I enjoy. I'll also prioritise quality over quantity and that means that some of my things aren't fashionable but they do what I want them to do.

I couldn't care less about having the latest tech or best car or keeping up with the Jones.

My friend is really into stuff, I think she gets the shopping buzz. She never goes to the cinema, hardly ever eats out or goes away, she loves to shop. She didn’t buy expensive things but lots of cheap things. She also returns a lot of items.

Not at all. I don't have a car. Very few clothes. Don't believe in skin care. Six or seven pairs of shoes, maybe?All my money goes on the theatre, travel and other experiences. But because this is MN and someone will come along to say I am superior, let me say that I don't judge or care what other people do.

I like stuff, especially tech stuff.

But a lot of that stuff-liking means things like spending a couple of years occasionally reading reviews and watching videos on emulation handhelds before deciding on a particular niche model, then researching how best to set it up and make the most of it, then spending some time after that looking for best prices from reputable vendors, then spending more time getting it set up exactly how I want. Or working out how to make the most of my existing handhelds/consoles/PMPs/phones by jailbreaking, rooting, or hacking them to gain extra functionality, or fixing an old laptop and upgrading parts before installing a lightweight Linux distro to get a few more years' use out of it, or spending several years keeping an eye on the VR headset scene so I know all the features and downsides of various past, current and upcoming models, but deciding that I won't buy in at the moment because the technology seems immature and overpriced and I don't have a use case for it yet.

I always buy my phones outright, not expensive models, and keep them several years — same principle with almost all tech I buy. It's never the sparkly overpriced high end stuff, and I enjoy researching it and thinking about how to get the best out of it to the point where I probably have less of the stuff, and older stuff, than other people who aren't so into "stuff" but have more money and less time.

I like stuff, but I don’t like spending money. Love a good charity shop find. Dh is much more stuff oriented and sometimes needs reining in a wee bit, but he is in an industry where you’re judged on the show. He also encourages me to spend when I’m being a bit too tight so it’s a good match overall.

I'd rather do stuff than have stuff any day

Last changed my phone 8 years ago had to get new one as it had stopped working

Hate, hate labels and brands as status symbols think anyone who has flashy stuff to look rich is a massive tool especially handbags that cost £1000 's as they are ( bad value , nasty chavvy. Etc ) but also invitations to get mugged

Talking about your stuff and posting pic of it in Facebook is totally cringe

My sons friend ( 9 ) has a D and G coat worth £300+ I think it's obscene and extremely chavvy and pus him in danger

Will spend money on m and s food and home renovations

I love stuff.
Clothes, accessories, home stuff, perfumes... I'm always looking for something to buy. I am trying to change this however and become a saver.
DH is the opposite, he saves, replaces something when it needs and very rarely splurges on something 'just because'

I'm into stuff, a bit too much. I think I use it to fill a void. It's vicious though, I hate my job so I buy "stuff" to give me that endorphin hit, but what it really means is that I have less money and am more tied to the job!

I'm trying to be more conscious about my purchases though and resist that urge to spend.

We drive an old car that's honestly rather embarrassing to look at (needs new paint), I don't care about clothes as long as I feel I look decent (tend to buy a multipack of plain cotton tee-shirts that I wear almost every day, as I wfh; don't bother buying new things until the old ones wear out), and keep furnishings until they are damaged, uncomfortable, or visibly need replacing. Don't care about having the latest tech as soon as it comes out, as long as what I have isn't too old to keep up with current demands. But I do like to collect "stuff" for my arts and crafts hobbies, so I don't mind spending money on things like a nicer quality sewing machine, a stash of fabric and yarn, decent paint, brushes, paper, and so on.

I'm genuinely not bothered. I could afford nicer things but I just don't care. My phone has a cracked screen and a crappy broken case and I couldn't even tell you what phone it is. I will have DH's old one when he upgrades but I'm not arsed enough to go out of my way to buy one. I'm also the only one in my family that doesn't have a tablet. Again, never been bothered about having one.
We have a nice car but only because we inherited it. Otherwise we'd probably have just got something older and smaller.
The only things I'm really bothered about are nice days out and a decent looking home and garden.

I love clothes, shoes and bags. I like a new car (not flash) and a new phone.

I don’t spend much on the house eg I make furniture last and don’t decorate until I have to. I don’t go on holidays at all. I’ve started to get quite tight about eating out as it is hardly ever worth it these days as prices have gone up so much.

I theoretically like stuff, but when it's expensive I'm usually happy to admire it from afar rather than actually buy it. There are lots of lovely things which it would be nice to own, but on which it simply wouldn't occur to me to spend such a lot of money (even if I could technically afford to).