What is it about material things that make us so greedy? Why do I spend my extra money on clothes and handbags when people are starving around the world? Does this make me selfish, or am I just enjoying the opportunities and luxuries I've created for myself? (Your input is quite welcome and appreciated)
I ask myself these questions every day. I have managed to shake the desire for a big house, big car, and luxe goods. I no longer work just for the mere purpose of someday owning an extravagant house, and I have found the true meaning in my work as a result. It wasn’t an overnight change, but it felt like I just woke up one day and suddenly didn’t care about a big house anymore. The same thing happened with cars- one day I realized that I would be perfectly happy driving my hoopty the rest of my life. I suddenly had no desire to upgrade, and found myself hoping that my good ‘ole Prizm (Prizaaaam, as I like to call it) would last for another 20 years.
Now that I have quit placing so much emphasis on the big stuff, the one thing I can’t seem to shake is my love for clothing and accessories. I’ve tried to reason with myself, but have made no progress. I try to tell myself that I will be just as happy with my day to day life if I wore my favorite sweats and a tee every day, but I do not completely think this is true. I have at least decided that I AM just as happy wearing Payless pumps as I would be in Jimmy Choos, but I just seem to feel happier if my clothes reflect my personality and style. I have also moved past the idea of only wearing up to the minute fashions, but I still buy an “it” item from time to time. I don’t see my career as a means of obtaining an impressive wardrobe, but the majority of my spending money still goes into my closet. It seems that all of those clothes and handbags make me feel better about myself, give me an added boost of confidence, and brighten up my day.
My struggle is whether this love for fashion is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, I see fashion as a hobby. I have fun shopping and wearing clothes from thrift stores, Wal Mart, Target, and other inexpensive places. It’s a challenge to me to be able to find cute stuff at a low price, and pull it all off as a well-polished look. I do not feel inadequate or timid if I am not well-dressed. Everything fits in one closet, so it’s not like I’m hoarding things. I don’t seem to obsess about it and I’m not endangering my financial situation, so maybe it is healthy. On the other hand, I think about all the kids out there that would be willing to sacrifice many things in order to have a new pair of shoes while I have many pairs that still have the tags attached. It almost seems greedy of me to spend so much on myself when others go hungry every night. Buying clothes and accessories also seems like a dumb financial move. I could probably put the money I’m spending on clothing towards student loans or other debt, but I have other funds set aside for that. I then think about how I would never wear out all of my clothes if I never bought another clothing item again. I also think about the environmental impact, but then counteract it with the thought that I probably will keep those shoes forever. Besides, I would give them to a donation center or needy friend if I did choose to pass them on. My mental argument then moves on to “well, perhaps those resources would be better spent on some tennis shoes than an impractical stiletto”, and the mind argument goes on and on. Neither side of me ever wins, and I end up becoming just a little more confused.
Anyways, this is my fashion struggle, and I welcome your comments or ideas that could help me make some sense of it all. Feel free to rate me while you’re at it, good or bad. I appreciate your input, and thanks for reading my blog.
Cheers,
LQ
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