How I Curbed My Own Consumerism

[Valmore]

It would appear that getting older and getting married has helped me curb my consumerism. When I was younger and single, I used to buy things for the sheer sake of buying. For instance, I'd buy DVDs just for the sake of having them, not if they were any good. (Hence why I have a copy of Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation in my collection... feel free to make fun of me for that, since I freely make fun of myself for it. Or my Street Fighter II - V DVDs, though they're kinda okay.)

A year ago, I finally broke down and bought a personal mp3 player, but I only bought the 5 Gig version from Dell, thinking, "Eh, I'll never need any more space than that." Of course, now I need more space. In my younger days, I would have bought a new one in a heartbeat. These past few months, I've found myself perusing eBay (Dell no longer makes the mega-spaced DJ anymore) but passing every single time.

I even don't buy nearly as many comics as I used to.

Hence, getting older and my wife's frugalism has rubbed off on me. She's very frugal.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I'm only 23, but about a year ago I realized I was spending ridiculous amounts of money on comics, music, and a few DVDs here and there. I decided to stop buying single issues all together and stick to TPBs that I truly want. I stopped buying CDs unless it's something I truly, truly wanted. I only buy discounted stuff too. Haven't been to the movies in several months. Stay local when I want to hang out. Etc.

Result? I've had enough to go on mini vacations lately and my savings has grown. Plus, I've learned to buy comics that I truly like. When I used to go (bi)weekly to get them, I used to spend extra money on stuff I wasn't completely interested in, 'just because'.

[Forefinger]

I'm only 23, but about a year ago I realized I was spending ridiculous amounts of money on comics, music, and a few DVDs here and there. I decided to stop buying single issues all together and stick to TPBs that I truly want. I stopped buying CDs unless it's something I truly, truly wanted. I only buy discounted stuff too. Haven't been to the movies in several months. Stay local when I want to hang out. Etc.

Result? I've had enough to go on mini vacations lately and my savings has grown. Plus, I've learned to buy comics that I truly like. When I used to go (bi)weekly to get them, I used to spend extra money on stuff I wasn't completely interested in, 'just because'.
I've done the same sort of thing. I'm making the transition from single issues to TPBs, and I usually buy those used (CDs too) off of Amazon.com.

My only splurge buying lately has been a bigger George Forman grill (God, I've become so domesticated....) and I'm buying one of Howyadoin's works.

[Valmore]

Yeah, there's another thing that has slowly ebbed out of me as well - when I would go into a local comic shop, I'd feel bad if I walked out without having bought anything. A strange feeling, for sure, but I had it. The result would be I would buy something I wasn't really all that interested in, just to avoid that feeling. I only tend to get it in very small shops - I can walk into Best Buy and not buy anything and not feel like that. But not a small comic shop.

So now, it helps that I only go in when I know I have a couple of books waiting for me, so I know I'm buying something I want and don't get that strange "not buying" feeling.

[Winslow]

My wife and I are frugal, and we made a comittment to live debt free when we married, which curbed alot of needless spending.

Comics can be very impulsive buys.

I noticed I buy less, and less often, now that I've moved to trades.

. . .and I'm buying one of Howyadoin's works.

I've done that too.

I was really happy with mine - it's hanging in my office.

[Guapo Méndez]

Let's just put it this way: it's a good thing there's no mexican branch of Amazon.com. My house would look like the NY library.

[Davideaux]

Going to grad school and living on a fixed income curbed my spending enormously.

[Ed Cunard]

Building a house is going to force me to curb my consumerism, too. I think the MoCCA Art Festival will be my last big comics spending splurge for a long while, and I'll likely drop all the monthly comics I buy now (and I'll probably quit smoking, too).

As it is, though, comics and books are the only real splurges I make. I don't buy many CDs or movies, but I plan on cutting back on those too. I don't buy many magazines that I don't subscribe to, but I'll stop impulse-buying magazines as well. I really want to focus any discretionary spending on house-related things.

[west3man]

I'm only 23,
*double-take*

I didn't know that.

[i_mmmchocolate]

*double-take*

I didn't know that.

Uh oh-- how old did you think I was?

...answer the question, I won't hate you.

[Forefinger]

Yeah, there's another thing that has slowly ebbed out of me as well - when I would go into a local comic shop, I'd feel bad if I walked out without having bought anything. A strange feeling, for sure, but I had it. The result would be I would buy something I wasn't really all that interested in, just to avoid that feeling. I only tend to get it in very small shops - I can walk into Best Buy and not buy anything and not feel like that. But not a small comic shop.

So now, it helps that I only go in when I know I have a couple of books waiting for me, so I know I'm buying something I want and don't get that strange "not buying" feeling.
I get that feeling as well.

[i_mmmchocolate]

A few days ago I splurged on something, came home, looked at it, and said, "I can't believe I spent $64.82 on this." I wanted to keep it, but the amount that I paid for it just didn't agree with me at all. I returned it the next day and felt much better. Spending that much made me feel kind of guilty.

[Forefinger]

I've done that too.

I was really happy with mine - it's hanging in my office.
I'm going to hang mine in my 'office' at my house. I don't keep anything personal at work.

[Forefinger]

Uh oh-- how old did you think I was?

...answer the question, I won't hate you.
I didn't know for sure, but I was guessing early 20's.

[west3man]

Uh oh-- how old did you think I was?

...answer the question, I won't hate you.
I never guessed one way or the other, but I guess some part of my brain thought you were around my age... give or take.
(I'm 32, btw.)

[i_mmmchocolate]

I never guessed one way or the other, but I guess some part of my brain thought you were around my age... give or take.
(I'm 32, btw.)

It's because we've never met.

[Ed Cunard]

It's because we've never met.

[Attempt at Seinfeldesque observational humor] Isn't it funny that when someone on the internet thinks you're older than you really are, it's perceived as a compliment, but when someone in real life thinks the same thing, you feel insulted? [/attempt failed]

[i_mmmchocolate]

[Attempt at Seinfeldesque observational humor] Isn't it funny that when someone on the internet thinks you're older than you really are, it's perceived as a compliment, but when someone in real life thinks the same thing, you feel insulted? [/attempt failed]

It's so true!

I'm thinking, "Wow, I really come off as a mature adult online, Woo hoo, suckers!!!"

[Ed Cunard]

Well, it's not like you're some crazy bon vivant in public, either. At least, not in my experience. You're a joy to be around, though.

Whereas I'm convinced I'm somewhat friendly and enjoyable online, but horribly obnoxious in person.

[Shellhead]

I curbed my consumerism because I had no choice. It's been almost a year since I cut up my credit cards and got into a debt management plan. Now I pay cash for everything, and have cut back on everything. Early on, I had to borrow $90 from a co-worker to afford a crucial car repair, but since then I've paid him back and handled everything myself.

I don't rent movies anymore unless at least one friend is going to watch it with me and chip in on the rental cost. I don't buy PC games anymore, I just keep playing the three challenging ones that I already have. I am buying fewer comics these days, OYL was a great opportunity for me to drop a couple of DC titles, and Marvel is so bad these days that I'm only buying two of their comics on a regular basis. I don't buy new clothes or CDs anymore, everything is used. I have cleaned out my closets somewhat by selling off clothes that don't fit and books and comics that I don't like anymore. For the second year in a row, I'm not going out of town on vacation, just using vacation days to relax at home or with friends.

[nascarbob43]

I actually buy more books now, than when I worked in a comic store years ago. Partly because of there being more QUALITY books to choose from, I have been selling off some of my older comics to pay for the new ones. I especially like to get the collected versions (TPB, HC) to keep on my book case. Eventually what is left of my single issues will go to my kids. Secondly, and most important is the fact that I am disabled and homebound, so comics have really helped me keep my mind off of all the crap that I have been going through these past few years. Also, with not a lot of things to look forward to these days, getting my comic box in the mail every 2 weeks always lifts my spirits with all the goodies inside. It not the same as going every wednesday to peruse the new comics, but that's life. :)

[i_mmmchocolate]

Whereas I'm convinced I'm somewhat friendly and enjoyable online, but horribly obnoxious in person.

Oh please. You're one of my favoritest CBRians to meet up with.

[tricksterpup]

It would appear that getting older and getting married has helped me curb my consumerism. When I was younger and single, I used to buy things for the sheer sake of buying. For instance, I'd buy DVDs just for the sake of having them, not if they were any good. (Hence why I have a copy of Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation in my collection... feel free to make fun of me for that, since I freely make fun of myself for it. Or my Street Fighter II - V DVDs, though they're kinda okay.)

Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation is the Porno of Kung fu films, there is a fight scene, some talk, fight, some talk and more fight and no plot. Characters appear who have no meaning to the story to fight and then never appear again, just like a porn movie.
Don't you feel dirty for owning that movie now.

[Forefinger]

Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation is the Porno of Kung fu films, there is a fight scene, some talk, fight, some talk and more fight and no plot. Characters appear who have no meaning to the story to fight and then never appear again, just like a porn movie.
Don't you feel dirty for owning that movie now.
I feel dirty for haveing watched it now. Once was pleanty though; it fucking sucked.

[Noir_Dark]

This is something I’m struggling with right now. But not for financial reasons.


I’m in the process of building a house and have become painfully aware at the amount of waste that one dwelling can generate. It’s A LOT! A WHOLE FRIGGIN LOT!!

I’ve done everything from harvest and milling the wood, to the finer details of the electrical work, to the landscaping. I’ve figured that this house has taken approximately 90 cedar trees with an average age of 30 years and about 40-50 other various species of about the same age to finish about 800 sq meters and build a fence and 2 decks. That’s about 40-50 acres of forested land. And 40 percent of the tree is considered waste.
About 14 cubic meters of rock had to be quarried, 100s of meters of copper wiring the bags and bags of fiberglass insulation… the list goes on.

I’ve started looking at my impact on the planet differently. And its disgusting.
I own 100s (maybe more than a thousand) cds and have thousands of comic books. I cant imagine what those coast environmentally.

So now I’m putting a lot more thought into what I buy.
I’m doing my best to avoid hard copies of music and books. But BUYING digital comic books online is almost nonexistent- actually I don’t subscribe to any online comics (any suggestions?).
I think I’m going to write to a couple of publishers and give them shit.

[SteelTownr]

Well, it's not like you're some crazy bon vivant in public, either. At least, not in my experience. You're a joy to be around, though.

Whereas I'm convinced I'm somewhat friendly and enjoyable online, but horribly obnoxious in person.

You aren't obnoxious at all in person.

Mark B.

[Spackling Compound]

I've curbed my enthusiasm but still have yet to curb my consumerism.
http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/article/583/583576/curb-your-enthusiasm-the-complete-third-season-20050128031500872.jpg

[Forefinger]

I've curbed my enthusiasm but still have yet to curb my consumerism.
http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/article/583/583576/curb-your-enthusiasm-the-complete-third-season-20050128031500872.jpg
I really like Curb Your Enthusiasm. By the time I watch several episodes (we rent them on DVD) I just wonder why Larry bothers going anywhere and doing anything.

[hulahulk]

I have only a couple of spending "vices": DVD's and dining out.

For dining out, I will on average get a lunch once or twice a week, while dinners average once per week (keep in mind that I work at night in a restaurant, so many of my dinnertime meals are only $1.50 at work; so I really do not spend an awful lot on food per week otherwise). I count going out for beers part of dining out.

[Forefinger]

I have only a couple of spending "vices": DVD's and dining out.

For dining out, I will on average get a lunch once or twice a week, while dinners average once per week (keep in mind that I work at night in a restaurant, so many of my dinnertime meals are only $1.50 at work; so I really do not spend an awful lot on food per week otherwise). I count going out for beers part of dining out.
My wife and I usually go out to a decent resturant once a week, and get sandwiches or something else that's kind of fast food a couple of times a week. We could stand to cut back a little in that regard. By the time you get drinks, appitizers, the main meals, and a few more drinks I'm shelling out $ 50 or 60 (or more) for one meal!

[Spackling Compound]

I think peer pressure when you're young "makes" one go out and buy more. I don't think I've bought a cd (do people even listen to those anymore?) in a year and I bought one this week just because I got a gift certificate and had to use before it expired.

My vices that are costly are premium cigars. Other than that, pretty frugal.

I attribute maturity but the gas prices are also a BIIIIIIIIIG factor. I spend more on gas than anything.

[hulahulk]

My wife and I usually go out to a decent resturant once a week, and get sandwiches or something else that's kind of fast food a couple of times a week. We could stand to cut back a little in that regard. By the time you get drinks, appitizers, the main meals, and a few more drinks I'm shelling out $ 50 or 60 (or more) for one meal!


Yeah, buying subs a couple of times a week is a convenience thing for me (time = money).
Going to a decent restaurant can certainly be pricey, especially with drinks.