missing element/an element that should be missing

[Progster]

When I buy things, I buy them because I need them, I like the colour/taste/texture/sound, etc, inother words they give me some sort of stimulation or pleasure, I don't buy them because it is the latest model and I have to have it, or because everyone else has got one and I need to follow the herd of sheeple, or because I'm concerned about my social status or image or what others think of me. I don't need to have objects to define who I am. I'm not superior to other people, I just have a different way of thinking and different priorities - people have evolved over the millenia to be social and as species they are very successful, so I can't say it's wrong - actually society works best when comprised of individuals with diverse ways of thinking.

 

[Mary Terry]

I'm all for buying what I really need (or want in some situations) BUT...

It has to provide me value. It has to fit the uses I need it for.
I don't not like having things around that take up space for no reason.
I don't collect things as much as some seem to (and thats fine that they do)...

I like a modern minimalist approach to my life. Simple, clean, high quality but not a mass of things.

Some examples: I no longer buy any DVD or CD's. I can pick and choose what I want as far as music goes from iTunes, and rent what I want on Yahoo or something like that, but watch very little nearly zero movies, or TV. I just don't care much for television, never have.

I don't buy any type of knick knacks or anything like that.
I invest in stuff that is simple but useable. I don't need lots of gadgets and weird cooking things, house wares, or special coffee pots... I just like simple but stuff that will last and in my freakish OCD world, it has to match (somewhat)... Odd pieces just kind of mess me up... Kind of like the eggs not being even in the carton thing from a while back...

My clothes (I don't have lots of clothes and they are mostly boring).
It goes by how soft they are, tag-less preferred, that fit me loose, but don't fall off of me.

I'm not "tight" or "cheap"... I will spend money on what I specifically want, but not on just random stuff that will make do for now, and then throw it away soon after that, because it was cheap and of no quality.

I am in no way an "impulse buyer," and if someone is pressuring me, (like a car salesman)... No deal because I'm no longer interested. I usually kind of hint that upfront because it annoys me that bad, and it ruins the whole experience

I will save my money to buy a higher quality item, but I will not buy an item just for a "brand name." Some "brand name" stuff doesn't seem to be any better, or as good as something that might be from an independent, or small business.

So I do think I shop and think different about what I buy, compared to many people, but maybe not who knows... : )

I view consumerism the same way. If I need a product or item, I comparison shop for the best quality and price. I no longer buy music or movies either as I can always find something interesting on I-tunes, satellite radio, TV or Netflix. I don't buy any kitchen gadgets or tools unless they are multi-taskers that I know I'll use a lot. Since I'm now professionally retired, my wardrobe mainly consists of baggy warm-up pants with drawstring waists, shorts and T-shirts. I do drive a luxury car because it is high quality, safer and more dependable than cheaper cars. My home is modest but has been paid for for decades which gave us lots of disposable income for savings, travel, and big ticket items like a new refrigerator when needed. I saw so many of my contemporaries buy million dollar homes when the US economy was riding high, only to find themselves unable to pay their mortgages or to sell their over-priced houses when the economy crashed in 2008. The older I get, the less I need or want.

 

[WereBear]

Some of it may be because the Florida lifestyle is more casual, but, overall where ever I am, it seems to me the social stuffed shirts are less in the general population than they used to be.

Comfort has ascended over formality in daily dress, and I couldn't be happier about that.

 

[Ambi]

What is "required" to advance and do well in the NT world by impressing it, vs having a total aversion to it and preferring my own...preferences Self-expression/need vs. social climbing/attention-seeking - some find the former more fulfilling while others find the latter more fulfilling. I think I have found a happy medium, as both have their pros and cons, since we do live in an NT world and not isolated. Sometimes it's hard to tell which side I want vs. need.