First Day Musings

Daddy: "You need a new car."

Me: "Why? The one I have is fine."

Daddy: "It is old. It has too many miles (I can't argue there -- it has 330,000 original miles). It is undependable."

Me: "It is not that old. When I bought it in 2001 I made myself a promise to drive it ten years or 500,000 miles. It is a Subaru. That is reasonable. It has only made me walk once due to mechanical failure. It is dependable."

Daddy: "I don't understand why you won't buy a new car."

Me: "I am not going into debt."

Daddy: "Everyone goes into debt."

Me: "I love you, Daddy. The car stays."

As Don and I have gone through the Financial Peace University program one of the things we have noticed is how often things are bought "Just Because." And, as we have worked on clearing out the house and buildings, we are finding things that we Just Don't Know Why We Bought It. For example, why did I think that the Winnie-the-Pooh thimbles were "to die for" ? What were we thinking when we bought a push mower when we have two acres to mow?

One of the most powerful things I have come away from the class with is learning why I make the shopping choices I do. And, this has caused me to question what I value and why. What I have learned is that stuff holds me prisoner. I am forever worrying about taking care of it, storing it, keeping it safe. I know this is a recurring theme here, but I am just astounded that as a society we have, in two short generations, gone from use it up, make it work, or do without to copious consumption. This is an epiphany for me and I am wondering if I am alone in this.

What do you think? Is our society bound by the "gotta have its" or is it shifting back to a less complicated and less materialistic value system? Do you find yourself shopping less and making do more?