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 love stuff, when I was growing up my parents would only buy second hand for us kids and my mum often used to say ‘it’s not worth spending money on stuff for kids’ and that stuck with me so my self worth is tied up with having nice stuff and making sure other people know I can afford nice things.

I really don't like stuff at all but I love love holidays and days out. I'll happily spend £500 on Merlin passes but balk at £20 for a new jumper!

I used to be fully into the consumerist lifestyle, buying tat off aliexpress constantly to have the thrill of something coming in the post. Then I started reading more about how harmful consuming like that is and something changed in me completely. I can have mad moments but otherwise I'm mostly just disgusted by the need to buy, buy, buy especially when it's just plastic trash.

I hate clutter if i dont use it it gets binned.
I am beyond a minimalist my home is very minimal looks empty.
The only thing on show in my kitchen is a kettle fridge freezer washing machine & bin.
Living room 3 chairs a small coffee table 1small shelf about 8 books on it no tv.
Bedroom large bed single canvas wardrobe.
All my walls are bare all one color white wood floor.
Mop/ bucket /sweeping brush dust pan & brush.
Bedding one on one off 4 of cups plates bowls etc 3 pot 1 wok.
Bathroom corner basket with what i use only in it 5 towels.
Draws are empty only 1 being used and 3 kitchen cupboards used.
A tower fan 3 chargers.
Yeah i dont have much when it's typed out.

OH spends his money on shoes. I spend mine on the garden. Frankly I spend a heck of a lot less than he does. And not surprisingly the only expensive thing in the garden is a hot tub that he wanted. The price of that will pay for the few plants, bulbs, seeds I buy and the amount paid to the gardeners for at least 3 years.

We recently replaced the kitchen - he decided everything about it except the sink - I insisted that it be stainless steel. That was about 1% of the cost.

Love interiors.
Love clothes.
Love make up.
Love shower gels/beauty products/hair stuff
Don't care about tech at all.
Don't care about cars (mine is 15 years old!)
Am 'meh' about holidays/travel. Enjoy it if we go now and again but it's definitely not yearly.

At work a colleague related how the cleaner had damaged the furniture with carelessness. She cried. My colleague died a few years ago after several years of illness. Makes you think that worrying about stuff is over rated.

I don’t care about cars or phones, but I don’t buy cheap clothes (like from Primark) and I prefer to have better quality furniture that lasts. I buy most of my clothes in charity shops.

Very little stuff, but also not cheap and nasty either. (So if I do want basic clothes, it would be John Lewis and never Primark).
9 year old car, hardly any tech, hardly any kitchen gadgets. Small house and not constantly redecorating.
All my money goes on books, and "experiences", eg theatre tickets, train tickets to London to go to the theatre, and good holidays.

Not into "stuff" at all, in fact I don't even care about what type of property I live in and would live in a studio if I didn't have a child to consider. I value experiences. Travel, days out, drinks with friends, etc and that's what I spend on.

Not into it at all. Sometimes I worry that I'm being left behind. The main reason is I'm so flippin bad at science and so hopeless with all forms of technology (it's a miracle I'm able to type on this forum). I only have a vague idea what an App is, for example, and not a clue about things like TikTok. Banks, phones, computers, in fact anything to do with numbers or technology intimidate me.

I'm ascetic by temperament. I have no interest in cars or furniture. I absolutely hate crowds and noise and stress, so would rather go without than face a car dealership or a DIY store at the weekend. The only things I truly love are books. My house is bursting with them – many unread, and likely to remain unread. I also have a mild interest in clothes and fashion, but not passionate. Other than that I'd make a pretty good hippy.

Me, not really. DH, very. It has caused friction, though he's the higher earner by a long way so I guess it's up to him.

I'm just looking around my living room and nothing is less than 6 years old. Unless I need to buy stuff (to replace anything broken or worn out), I just don't have it as I'm not at all bothered about the fact that I don't own
A smart TV
A smart speaker
The latest fashions
A car that's newer than 10 years
A dishwasher/tumble dryer
More than 2 handbags
More than 1 pair of trainers

We do go to gigs quite a lot and if we are going away for a weekend (we don't really "do" holidays as such), then we will usually travel 1st class and stay in a 4* hotel....although if it's just an overnight trip then a Premier Inn or Travelodge will do just as well.

As I get older (now 64) I like stuff less & less - I have steadily been clearing out a great deal and we have recently had a renovation on the ground floor which has left lovely clean uncluttered lines.... DH wants to fill the space up with Things but I just love it the way it is!

Couldn't care less about tech, don't need the latest phone, never been fussed about new gadgets. I have a nice car, but it's not what I'd call flashy.

I love my house and I'm proud of it so I'm happy to spend money on it. I suppose that means I'm into house 'stuff', but I don't think I buy house 'stuff' constantly or needlessly. Also happy to spend on holidays and experiences, probably value these more than stuff.

I collect vinyl records and get a lot of pleasure out of researching and buying them as well as listening to them. I have all my Dad's old vinyl and when I die my collection as well as his will pass onto the DC. Technically 'stuff' but has sentimental value and more of a hobby so not sure that counts?

In between - not that bothered, not proud of that fact though, and sometimes I do want some stuff, but then I get annoyed by the amount of stuff at home and want rid of it all!

I’m not into stuff either.

I think MNers mostly are very into ‘stuff’ and keeping up with all the new things/fads.

My home is minimalist but I do keep hold of sentimental things.
Most of my things are second hand.
I also don’t like to follow the crowd and try and have unique things.

I would rather have experiences and do things, rather than stuff.

Define "stuff".

Some stuff I treasure and covet: books (far too many), cooking paraphernalia, plants, nice clothes (not particularly into fast fashion).

Couldn't give a tinker's cuss about new technology as long as I have a working computer and phone. Don't own any jewellery. Have never owned a car in my life and never will. I like nice things for the home up to a point but can live without them and don't miss them if I can't afford them. Would never bother about colour coordinating a room or worrying about stuff matching.

I'm definitely not into conspicuous consumption and I don't like the idea of buying that goes into landfill but I also find puritanical types who lecture others about acquiring stuff and make a big show of being eco-friendly and parsimonious a bit tedious and self-important.

I buy a new iPhone every 4 years, not bothered about cars as long as they go, I like house stuff but don't spend such a lot on it. I spend a lot on TV streaming as we have Sky and all the streamers and have ad free but that doesn't really count as it's not physical stuff but still frivolous.

i'm not into 'stuff'. fashion, tech, fancy decor, fine wines... couldn't give a crap.

I am fortunate to be one of those people with cash at the end of the month and I use it on things that makes my day-to-day better and easier e.g. i have a cleaner and I'll hire a handyman or a taxi at the drop of a hat rather than deal with inconvenience.

I loop around on this. I like looking at big fancy houses but the thought of trying to maintain one gives me the genuine horrors. I hate cleaning. I don't know how people have perfect houses. Ditto my car. I love my small car because driving a big one similarly gives me the fear. But I am terrible with spare money, it nags at me so much to just have it sitting there. Always been the same. I buy things but they never satisfy me. And so it goes. Forever. I also struggle to throw things away. I'm not at full hoarder level but it exhausts me ... Wish I could not care about stuff. People who just sit on their money and forget it astound me.

Not at all into stuff. I honestly think we spend more on food, wine and entertainment (football season ticket, going to shows, going out to dinner, nights in the pub, holidays) than anything else.

I almost never buy anything new. Not even clothes particularly. I have 3 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of linen trousers, a denim skirt, 2 summer dresses, 2 winter dresses and various tops, t shirts and cardigans, 6 bras, and at most 10 pairs of shoes.

I like certain stuff, generally less mainstream tech like mirrorless cameras and lenses, but I'm quite behind with general tech like phones and tablets. I don't care for clothes, bags or shoes, though I do like good quality functional clothes and bags (like waterproofs, but they don't get replaced often).

I get more pleasure out hoarding finances, checking my investment gains, clearing debt and keeping an eye on my house price than spending money on things. We spend a lot on experiences like theatre trips and days out though.

We have a saying in our home 'experiences not stuff'. Our spare income is spent on travel, day's out & nice meals out. Birthday/Christmas presents are usually an outing or trip somewhere.

Hate new stuff cos it's destroying nature and forests etc - and cos that new stuff then reminds me of the state of the planet