How does one reconcile the keenly honed inquisitional instinct with the sour stench of the recession/depression? There have been many articles of late detailing the slaking of the consumerist habit…and perhaps that is the case with the unfortunate masses who have completely lost their jobs. Graciously, I haven’t lost my job and I still want stuff, with a passion.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve lost an enormous amount of buying power…my salary as been cut, my pension system is in peril and the value of my home has been slashed by half. But, as I mentioned in a previous post, I still want a new computer. I still want to learn how to use new, expensive software. I still lust after Paul Green loafers and I still don’t want to buy the cheap olive oil (gourmet extra virgin olive oil only thank you).
Yes, I have cut back on some things…going out to eat almost every night being the principle sacrificial lamb. The cable bill has been restructured and downsized, my clothes shopping has been greatly curtailed and my Amazon addiction has been curbed considerably. I’ve stopped taking expensive classes and going out to movies. I get by on cheaper wine, eschewing expensive jaunts to the wine country; I actually steer clear of most travel beyond that necessary to connect with family. My paid off cars, both of which are older will not be replaced with new versions but will last as long as I can make them continue to run. I’ve stopped thinking about moving up and out of my very affordable but transitional neighborhood to more affluent digs. I’ve also set aside my desire for upgraded furniture and various and sundry optional decorations from the likes of Pottery Barn and Z Gallery.
But I’m still purchasing many things I really want. Books (albeit second hand) and personal services (a house cleaner and a gardener) still populate my debit column. I’ve also upgraded my phone to a blackberry this year. And my home office, which has been a shambles since I first moved to this house over a decade ago will get a frugal but stylish makeover so that I can create an additional revenue stream in form follows functional fashion.
It’s a case of wanting what you have. Of having what you want, just not all at the same time or in the case of moving, sometimes never. I’m working through this new economic reality by simply making some things mutually exclusive, cherry picking and choosing which things will make me still feel like I have some economic choices and which things now deserve the moniker “superfluous”.
The pessimist in me wonders how far I can make this ride last.
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