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?

Ah, okay! I was thinking of ‘stuff’ as things - I guess one person’s spend on jewellery/expensive clothes is another’s on art supplies/books etc - just different things!

I like stuff for the house, it’s a bit of an obsession. I like finding beautiful things and making the rooms look lovely. From decorating to the stuff in it. I also do the same for the garden, nice furniture, cushions, plants, trees.

for myself I’m less bothered, I like good quality stuff,and buy what I need. But as I work from home 90 percent of the time, I don’t need that much. Holidays are when we wish, but not a main focus, and we prob get a takeaway once or twice a month, maybe go out to dinner the same.

but doing the house up is my focus, it makes me happy , brings out my creative side, and as I work from here, I need to look at it.

tech I get from my work, so it’s not a focus.

Me too!

I like stuff that is either beautiful or is going to streamline my life in some way. I’m not at all bothered about stuff for status purposes.

I do try to curb my acquisitiveness by keeping a running wish list on my phone and putting the latest object of desire on the list rather than buying it immediately. A lot of the time I then forget all about it.

I like 'stuff' not all stuff but definitely some stuff!

I have a nice home, new car, eat out often, and travel several times a year.

Fashion - I'm into some 'designer' brands and love to treat myself now and again but equally love scrolling through Vinted for a bargain.

Tech - just replaced a 15 year old TV, 12 year old laptop is on its last legs and I have an old iPhone!

I'm not into stuff.

My phone is years old on a sim only contract. I buy clothes only when I need them (and now from vinted more often than new)

We do spend a lot on holidays though. We go away at least one weekend a month in the UK as well as a few longer holidays here and abroad. You can't put a price on travel and I'd rather spend money going to nice places than on a new handbag.

I like buying clothes, bags and footwear. But I also like getting rid of stuff too eg charity, vinted etc

Not into 'stuff'. Definitely not into technology or new things, particularly for the sake of it.

Like quirky and vintage things, bought second hand if they are useful or appeal to me in some way. I don't buy much stuff at all.

If we’re counting holidays, I do like those and would be very unwilling to sacrifice them. And good weather and comfort are essential components of a good holiday for me, I have no desire whatsoever to find a way to make the best of rain, or go without a hot shower and a proper bed every night. I’ve also been lucky enough to get used to staying very close to amazing beaches with plenty of space, so fifty rows of sunbeds crammed in 2m away from an A road with a massive set of inflatables blocking the view doesn’t cut it. But I’m not too spoiled for Jet2 flights or normal transfer coaches.

I like “stuff” if it’s something that will enhance my life and be useable - like a new saddle / set of golf clubs / swords / cars to get to fun events etc - but I’m only interested in what I’m interested in.

I don’t buy fancy tech or the latest phones / gadgets. I don’t buy lots of new or expensive clothes beyond what I need to remain safe from public indecency charges, I’m not into jewellery or holidays or regular social events outside of hobbies.

It’s a huge spectrum of consumerism really and we’re all just minions of a capitalist system, whether you’re spending money on stuff or hobbies or holidays.

I fucking love stuff! Not expensive things or tech or branded stuff exactly but small unique beautiful things and pictures and books and clothes and jewellery.
Would rather have lovely gorgeous sumptuous stuff all around me every day than holidays or experiences!

I’m somewhere in between. Happy to have second hand for a lot of things but will spend more on things like tiles and sofas that we’ll live with for years. Not bothered about tech. Use it until it dies then replace. House is rather cluttered but it’s either inherited bits or holiday purchases such as prints and serving dishes. We love our holidays and times away which aren’t luxury but we have a great time exploring and doing cultural stuff and theme parks. I spend a lot on socialising and music events.

My parents (well dad) was the opposite. New cars, stereos, clothes but no holidays. It was all for perceived status. We were military so I never got to keep my stuff for long due to frequent moves. My entire adult life seems to be a reaction to my upbringing.

Other than really appreciating the existence of a Kindle for travelling, I'm unbothered about tech, I don't drive, and I own more or less the same few (admittedly originally expensive) garments for years. I live in a battered Victorian house which has been mid-renovation for years, and has years to go.

Things I do love acquiring are books and art, and the odd thing from an auction for a house that's only half-furnished.

I like stuff from garden centres and Tk Maxx😁

Experience/holiday/food very happy to spend money, stuff- no. I don't want it in the house cluttering it up. I do like a nice, safe, sleek car though....

I love stuff! I love owning it, planning it, buying it, talking to other people about it. I love to be surrounded by all of the stuff that I love.

I flit between thinking I should save more and that I should indulge while I’m young enough to enjoy it.

I've just took early retirement and "adjusting". My aim is to spend on experiences rather than things,though I do like clothes and jewellery, I don't have extravagant tastes. Happy to run my car and appliances until they stop! In terms of my house, I have always bought things that I love, which makes it difficult to keep buying, because I'm attached to things!

Very into certain stuff (skincare, makeup, shoes, coats) and not at all on lots of other stuff! I don’t really buy clothes unless I’m replacing something that has worn out, all my things have homes and unless you opened my wardrobe/drawers you wouldn’t notice any of it was there.
We do have new cars because dh likes them, (when I say new I mean we replace them every 3 or so years, not yearly!) and we have new phones regularly because of whatever contract we entered into about 20 years ago 😂
But in terms of house stuff, not interested at all.
Our furniture is lovely and gets replaced when worn out but we don’t have things out on display like decorative things - I don’t like anything looking cluttered/busy.
Prefer to spend on good food, nice holidays and doing things.

Not bothered here.

I replace things as and when I need to. I certainly don't feel the need to have the latest model of anything and believe most expensive fashion/beauty items are a complete waste of money.

Me too. I like my home and garden to be really nicely done. No interest really in fashion or cars or tech

Not really into buying for the sake of buying. I would, however, prefer to buy quality rather than 'buying cheap buying twice', eg, I bought a set of brabantia pans when I was 21 - fun times - and I'm 44 now and haven't needed to replace them. My car is ten years old. I've had clothes longer than I've had my 12 year old child, and they're still going strong. In all honesty, my spare money goes in a savings fund, extra mortgage payments, and a nice week a way once a year.

I’m mainly in the ‘not bothered’ camp. I have zero interest in fashion or beauty treatments or jewellery or handbags or interior decor. I hate shopping for anything other than food, and on the rare occasion that I do buy something to wear or something for the house it tends to be from M&S, a supermarket or IKEA. As for tech, I only replace stuff when it dies or become obsolete. Our only TV is around 7 years old, so is my laptop, my phone is an iPhone 11 and the iPad on which I’m typing this is 6 years old. No plans to replace any of them.

I do drive a very nice, very powerful BMW convertible and we have several holidays a year, however, so that balances things out.

I took a gap year when I was 35 and travelled with everything I needed in a backpack. I didn't miss any of my possessions, or feel like I needed anything else. When I returned home, I felt quite horrified at how much stuff I had. Clothes that weren't worn much, kitchenalia, ornamental stuff. I sold a lot of things because I felt I didn't need them, and I was looking to downsize anyway.

Now, I realise that I got sucked back in to 'posessions' and my stuff has grown / filled the house again. Some of it is valued and worthwhile; it brings me joy. Some of what I own is just unnecessary though.

I also lost everything in a flood six years ago. A lot of sentimental stuff. Again, things have grown and filled all the cupboards and wardrobe space. Some of that is down to having a child, and their needs, some of it, again, is probably unnecessary.

I'm currently battling to have a clear out, as having too much stuff stresses me out.

Regarding cars, I keep mine until they break. My best friend, however, buys a new car and is then immediately fancying a new one. Less than a year later she will trade in. She knows she loses lots of money doing this, and accepts that her savings is depleted as a result. She even says she could probably have paid her mortgage off if she didn't keep changing cars.

A lot of it is possibly down to boredom. Some people, I think feel the need to have the latest of everything, and it can become a viscous circle of greed and debt. Shopping addiction is definitely a thing among some people I know. Trying to find something to make them happy and get the constant dopamine hits. ADHD is an example of this type of behaviour.

For transparency, I have Autism and ADHD. The Autistic person in me wants calm, order and tidiness. The ADHD side quite often wants the shiny new things and the excitement of parcels being delivered.

I love certain 'stuff'
Not bothered about cars or interiors particularly.
I do like a decent phone and currently have the newest one which I don't mind admitting is nice to have but I'll keep it till it stops working.
Cheap holidays/going without is also fine but god I love fashion, clothes and makeup. That's where I have to fight the urge to spend money the hardest.

A lot of it is possibly down to boredom. Some people, I think feel the need to have the latest of everything, and it can become a viscous circle of greed and debt. Shopping addiction is definitely a thing among some people I know. Trying to find something to make them happy and get the constant dopamine hits. ADHD is an example of this type of behaviour.

As I said, I don't like stuff and don't shop. but I am constantly going for plays, gigs, and exhibitions, especially now my DC are grown. I guess that is a kind of addiction too, and definitely dopamine seeking. I worry if I move out of London, I will be very bored.