consumption (not the coughing variety)

[keryx]

A welcome counter-point to my post earlier this week about my depressingly overfilled closet: the spiritual cost of consumption. And background from Juliet Schor on the subject. We think we need a lot more than we actually need, basically.

We aren't particularly conscious in curbing our consumption chez nous, though we do live somewhat unconventionally, spending less on objects and more on experiences than some folks in our "income bracket". So I like the reminders.

Thanks to The Common Wheel Collective, which you should be reading if you're not, for the links.

[Edited to add a side note that may not be clear to readers - I do not, in case you're wondering, endorse the whole God thing implied in the sermon linked to. But I do think purchases can have deeper implications (personally and politically) beyond their cost and function, and we don't think about those so much.]

Comments

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I bookmarked that. I am also fascinated by the article about cars.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Me, too, given my whole planning-to-replace-my-car thing. I can't believe more people aren't pissed off by how much cars cost.

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

As a side note have you seen texture? Not sure if that is your thang, but it makes me feel peaceful.

[ivyblogs.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. I need to go back and read the article again because I couldn't take it in after reading that opening "As a person who spends $7000 a year.." $7000! My family's health insurance costs $6000.00 a year!

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah, the Common Wealth Collective folk live on a lot less than I do, too. But I know others who manage to do okay with similar money (though none of them have kids, or live in places with bad public transit). The message I take away is not so much that I need to find a way to live on $7K, but that thinking about what you consume and what you truly need is useful.

[ivyblogs.livejournal.com]

Oh- I know. I was mostly kidding. I liked what they had to say. I've come to term with the fact that my family will never be a simple as the true simple livers. We are not principled enough. And also, I think where you live limits what you can do- somewhat. For example- we've lived without a car a few times, and it just doesn't work in Richmond. Especially once the job market got worse and Bee had to go wherever he could find work. He actually had a boss who gave him shit for riding his bike to work! It was a long ride, and he got to work sweaty. Publoc transportation sucks here. Before we homeschooled I took my son to school on the city bus, and it didn't run very regularily.

But living without a car sure saves you money. No insurance, upkeep, gas or car payments. And it also kept us from going out and getting stuff whenever we thought about it. I mean, if I had to make plans to get to the store, I really had to want something. On the other hand-long trips are almost impossible, and you also get some attitude if your 40 and don't have a way to get around. Whenever I think if moving someplace less conservative, cities with great public transportation are at the top of my list.

[momsmilkrules.livejournal.com]

Great link, thanks for sharing.

[firecat]

Thanks for those links. I posted a thought about them in my journal.

[susanstinson.livejournal.com]

I just added you -- hope that's okay. I ran across references to you in firecat's journal and again just now when I googled Shelley Bovey, so I figured twice in one day means I should pay attention!