Current Events > Does buying things make you happy

(+) Yeah! (+)

Buying things i dont need makes me happy

Is this a coping mechanism?
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Even though for some reason a lot of society doesn't really wanna take it all that seriously, shopping addiction is a real thing. You get a short-lived high from purchasing non-essential stuff.
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yes
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Yes and yes it is a coping mechanism
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I heard from an old coworker that there's a sort of psychological thing to buying stuff. Like, it's a small, temporary "high", or something like that. I don't remember what it was exactly... But it's sort of like an adrenaline rush, or something like that...
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what if you get buyers high but also buyers remorse
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Then you're a proper American.
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Retail therapy never works for me. Sometimes buying for someone else helps a little bit, if they are super happy for the thing I got them.
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@clearaflagrantj how do you survive never spending any money on nonessentials
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Two_Dee posted...

@clearaflagrantj how do you survive never spending any money on nonessentials

I haven't nixed discretional spending completely, I just realized that I had been incredibly wasteful with frivolous purchases. There was a period in my life where I'd regularly drop $100-$400 a week on clothes and had no reservations with buying tech shit. Moving out and spending 30% of my salary on necessary expenditures (rent/insurance/utilities/groceries) and another 30% dedicated to retirement really put things into perspective. I may make $1150 a week gross but after taxes and deducting the above 60% my discretionary spending came out to only $200/week. Suddenly dropping $300 on a fucking blazer became a whole lot less appealing.

And another big motivator for saving was the fact that if I save up more money that means retirement comes sooner. Budgeting is exactly like a diet. When I'm losing weight I tell myself that hunger means I'm doing good and I should relish the pain. Abstaining from frivolous spending is the exaxt same pleasure.

Not wasting money on shit you don't really need allows you to spend money on things you truly want guilt free. I still buy shit I don't really need, I'm traveling this weekend, I plan on buying an overpriced computer monitor, but these are things I have considered are worth it. Wasting money at the mall will not fill that gaping void of depression in your chest, only alcohol and sex will.

yup
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It doesn't make me happy but it's a dopamine hit
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clearaflagrantj posted...

Two_Dee posted...

@clearaflagrantj how do you survive never spending any money on nonessentials

I haven't nixed discretional spending completely, I just realized that I had been incredibly wasteful with frivolous purchases. There was a period in my life where I'd regularly drop $100-$400 a week on clothes and had no reservations with buying tech shit. Moving out and spending 30% of my salary on necessary expenditures (rent/insurance/utilities/groceries) and another 30% dedicated to retirement really put things into perspective. I may make $1150 a week gross but after taxes and deducting the above 60% my discretionary spending came out to only $200/week. Suddenly dropping $300 on a fucking blazer became a whole lot less appealing.

And another big motivator for saving was the fact that if I save up more money that means retirement comes sooner. Budgeting is exactly like a diet. When I'm losing weight I tell myself that hunger means I'm doing good and I should relish the pain. Abstaining from frivolous spending is the exaxt same pleasure.

Not wasting money on shit you don't really need allows you to spend money on things you truly want guilt free. I still buy shit I don't really need, I'm traveling this weekend, I plan on buying an overpriced computer monitor, but these are things I have considered are worth it. Wasting money at the mall will not fill that gaping void of depression in your chest, only alcohol and sex will.

how does it feel to have become an ascetic and have transcended to a higher plane of existence?
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there's some degree of pleasure in it for a bit, I am a cheapass though so I won't go too crazy with buying something totally unnecessary because my better judgement kicks in

for some reason useful things like lye beads make me really happy because I guess I like to open clogged drains
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Romulox28 posted...

how does it feel to have become an ascetic and have transcended to a higher plane of existence?

It feels euphoric

Thank you clear for that informative post

Since i am not working yet the value of a dollar hasn't really hit me in a meaningful way yet
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Two_Dee posted...

Thank you clear for that informative post

Since i am not working yet the value of a dollar hasn't really hit me in a meaningful way yet

It's good to have the proper mindset before you even start working (I wish I did, I was always frugal enough to save but I should have saved much more).

1. Money is a function of time wasted at a job, all purchases should be considered in terms of how many hours does it take to generate the discretionary income required to buy it (i.e. it takes five hours to buy one video game)

2. Early retirement is attainable if you save up your money and put it into tax advantaged mutual fund accounts like a traditional IRA or 401k. Don't listen to suckers that pretend like it's impossible, it's a very realistic goal to retire early even with modest savings, as long as you are dedicated to it.

The subreddit r/FinancialIndependence hasa shitload of invaluable information.

clearaflagrantj posted...

Two_Dee posted...

Thank you clear for that informative post

Since i am not working yet the value of a dollar hasn't really hit me in a meaningful way yet

It's good to have the proper mindset before you even start working (I wish I did, I was always frugal enough to save but I should have saved much more).

1. Money is a function of time wasted at a job, all purchases should be considered in terms of how many hours does it take to generate the discretionary income required to buy it (i.e. it takes five hours to buy one video game)

2. Early retirement is attainable if you save up your money and put it into tax advantaged mutual fund accounts like a traditional IRA or 401k. Don't listen to suckers that pretend like it's impossible, it's a very realistic goal to retire early even with modest savings, as long as you are dedicated to it.

The subreddit r/FinancialIndependence hasa shitload of invaluable information.

hmm how much do you have saved up now
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