Hell, some thousand dollar suits, slick your hair back, start smoking and clients will be asking you, "Soooo, what kinda sports car do you drive?" At which point, you calmly put your cigarette out, reach inside your coat, slide the Glock from the shoulder holster and shoot them in the face...Outstanding!
Michael S Black
· 2 years ago
Yeah, I can't say anything negative about any of this, because I tend to be the same way. I want to do something (like my current 1080p projector project), but I can BEAR the idea of doing it half-way...so instead of building or buying something that is "adequate" (GOD, do I hate that word), I have to make sure I cover my outre requirements. Since we are listing our crass, materialistic sides, here is mine :)
Car: Volkswagen Passat W8 (one of less than 11K in the world made) Swords: several Shinto era Katana, Paul Chen Kami and Orchid Katana's w/ matching Wazikashi Speakers: Vintage Tannoy LSUHF15L pair in custom built cabinets Amplifiers: McIntosh monoblock tube amp Phone: T-Mobile MDA
Now I just need to learn how to stop spending money :)
Ken
· 2 years ago
I do have some opinions of the need for materialistic things. I, like a lot of people, have the desire to seek out very fine things. And in my past have quested and acquired such things. I have learned from some very wealthy people that this was very improper of me.
Notice here I did not say rich people. Rich can be lost in a bad spot, but wealth will be here for ages. Most of the people I know that are wealthy drive nice cars but would never spend the money on the more exotics because it is a waste of resources. I know we have all heard the stories of the supper wealthy that spend tons of money on exotic thing, but I have come to the conclusion that they are in the minority.
All of that being said, I still strive for nice things but with a new attitude. Daniel will remember the time when I was going to buy a BMW, but I realize that I would be wasting valuable resources. Instead I am going to spend less money on a car that is still fun but also meets my needs. This will more then likely be a Nissan product.
I am going to use the money that I save for investing in a very valuable resource. My future. I have a really good friend that happens to be a financial planner and he is going to help me with my investments.
Now you might be saying “Well spending the extra 20k on the car means nothing in the long run!” Keep this in mind. I am not saying this is the correct approach for everyone, but I think this is the better approach for long term wealth for me.
Marisol
· 2 years ago
I have to agree with Ken. Dan, I'm not sure what your future financial plans involve or if you have any. But, in my opinion, what good are those "things" when you still have to work really late in life? I'm more of the mindset that it's best to invest in items that could allow you to retire at an earlier age. Also, I'll decide against a pricey clothing item or jewelry and spend my money on travel. For me, that's a more enjoyable use of my money.
Arik
· 2 years ago
Hi Daniel, all
Yes, I think you are materialistic, Daniel. The question in my mind is - is it bad to be materialistic?
I consider myself materialistic, but you exceed me in at least the symbols. Let's see:
Car: 2001 Toyota Corolla LE Pistol: 0.22mm Baretta Sunglasses: RayBan Polarized Knife: Leatherman Wave Computer: White box I built myself (does the IBM T42 laptop I got from work count?) Watch: none Phone: Blackberry 8700c Backpack: Thinkpad carrying case backpack
Hey, we have the same phone!
When I look at my list of 'things' and go over the decisions made to purchase them, I came to realize that I choose the practical over brand or extravagant every time. But if you want to go for the biggest expenses I've made in the last few years, the biggest one as of late is my flight lessons. My biggest investment over time would be my stock portfolio, 401K and pension plan (hey, Ken, Marisol).
I'm all for the accumulation of wealth. I'm also for spending that wealth. I'm spending it on things I care about and like to do, like you. Is your question about what is good and bad (oh no relativistic moralism again oh no let's get out of this quagmire quickly) or about your feeling that, perhaps some of the things you buy are of lesser value to you because you enjoy them for the social connections you create by having them, and not for their actual use in your life? I mean, a $10 watch will tell time just as well, but it won't get you far in the Rolex owners forum and won't be much of a conversation piece.
I would ask you a counter question: What's value for you? How do you define value? Given an item, where is the value of that item, for you?
And once you answered that, is what you buy consistent with the way you perceive value? If you answer in the positive, then I don't think that this is a problem.
And on a different note:
I've been to India, and I recommend everyone that they should go there. I don't care how much you've studied about the place or how much you've learned about the region's history. When you come back, you will have a different opinion about poverty and about wealth, about what is important in life and what is less so. I would say that I got... calibrated, in a sense.
-- Arik
Tim
· 2 years ago
I feel the need to correlate this post with your earlier post about games.
In the end, you get nothing from owning high-quality stuff or playing a game, but it just feels good to do so.
The point is not to get so wrapped up in something that ultimately doesn't matter that you forget about what does ultimately matter.
Here's my list, if anyone cares:
House: 1,200 ft^2, built in the 50's, well kept, 1/3 acre of land Car: 2001 Honda Civic Lx (4-door sedan), Pioneer CD player Computer: Home-grown about 4 years ago... now it's upgraded about as much as it can be. Phone: Verizon Razr v3c Watch: 2 Fossils, one of which I wear on occasion, one of which doesn't work... and an old Casio digital watch my dad gave me. Knife: Leatherman Micro Guns (currently): .270 Belgian-made Browning automatic (w/ cheap scope) 12 gauge Belgian-made Browning automatic .243 Remington (w/ cheap scope) 10 gauge British Arms break-action single shot .22 LR Remington bolt-action single shot .22 LR/.22 magnum Black Widow 5-shot revolver (changeable cylinder)
All Comments
Car: Volkswagen Passat W8 (one of less than 11K in the world made)
Swords: several Shinto era Katana, Paul Chen Kami and Orchid Katana's w/ matching Wazikashi
Speakers: Vintage Tannoy LSUHF15L pair in custom built cabinets
Amplifiers: McIntosh monoblock tube amp
Phone: T-Mobile MDA
Now I just need to learn how to stop spending money :)
Notice here I did not say rich people. Rich can be lost in a bad spot, but wealth will be here for ages. Most of the people I know that are wealthy drive nice cars but would never spend the money on the more exotics because it is a waste of resources. I know we have all heard the stories of the supper wealthy that spend tons of money on exotic thing, but I have come to the conclusion that they are in the minority.
All of that being said, I still strive for nice things but with a new attitude. Daniel will remember the time when I was going to buy a BMW, but I realize that I would be wasting valuable resources. Instead I am going to spend less money on a car that is still fun but also meets my needs. This will more then likely be a Nissan product.
I am going to use the money that I save for investing in a very valuable resource. My future. I have a really good friend that happens to be a financial planner and he is going to help me with my investments.
Now you might be saying “Well spending the extra 20k on the car means nothing in the long run!” Keep this in mind. I am not saying this is the correct approach for everyone, but I think this is the better approach for long term wealth for me.
Yes, I think you are materialistic, Daniel. The question in my mind is - is it bad to be materialistic?
I consider myself materialistic, but you exceed me in at least the symbols. Let's see:
Car: 2001 Toyota Corolla LE
Pistol: 0.22mm Baretta
Sunglasses: RayBan Polarized
Knife: Leatherman Wave
Computer: White box I built myself (does the IBM T42 laptop I got from work count?)
Watch: none
Phone: Blackberry 8700c
Backpack: Thinkpad carrying case backpack
Hey, we have the same phone!
When I look at my list of 'things' and go over the decisions made to purchase them, I came to realize that I choose the practical over brand or extravagant every time. But if you want to go for the biggest expenses I've made in the last few years, the biggest one as of late is my flight lessons. My biggest investment over time would be my stock portfolio, 401K and pension plan (hey, Ken, Marisol).
I'm all for the accumulation of wealth. I'm also for spending that wealth. I'm spending it on things I care about and like to do, like you. Is your question about what is good and bad (oh no relativistic moralism again oh no let's get out of this quagmire quickly) or about your feeling that, perhaps some of the things you buy are of lesser value to you because you enjoy them for the social connections you create by having them, and not for their actual use in your life? I mean, a $10 watch will tell time just as well, but it won't get you far in the Rolex owners forum and won't be much of a conversation piece.
I would ask you a counter question: What's value for you? How do you define value? Given an item, where is the value of that item, for you?
And once you answered that, is what you buy consistent with the way you perceive value? If you answer in the positive, then I don't think that this is a problem.
And on a different note:
I've been to India, and I recommend everyone that they should go there. I don't care how much you've studied about the place or how much you've learned about the region's history. When you come back, you will have a different opinion about poverty and about wealth, about what is important in life and what is less so. I would say that I got... calibrated, in a sense.
-- Arik
In the end, you get nothing from owning high-quality stuff or playing a game, but it just feels good to do so.
The point is not to get so wrapped up in something that ultimately doesn't matter that you forget about what does ultimately matter.
Here's my list, if anyone cares:
House: 1,200 ft^2, built in the 50's, well kept, 1/3 acre of land
Car: 2001 Honda Civic Lx (4-door sedan), Pioneer CD player
Computer: Home-grown about 4 years ago... now it's upgraded about as much as it can be.
Phone: Verizon Razr v3c
Watch: 2 Fossils, one of which I wear on occasion, one of which doesn't work... and an old Casio digital watch my dad gave me.
Knife: Leatherman Micro
Guns (currently):
.270 Belgian-made Browning automatic (w/ cheap scope)
12 gauge Belgian-made Browning automatic
.243 Remington (w/ cheap scope)
10 gauge British Arms break-action single shot
.22 LR Remington bolt-action single shot
.22 LR/.22 magnum Black Widow 5-shot revolver (changeable cylinder)
Truck: Silverado Z71 Crew Cab
Pistol: Kahr MK9 Elite 2000
Rifle: Tricked out DPMS AR-15
Sunglasses: Oakley Half Wire
Knife: Boker Bud Nealy Escort
Computer: 20" iMac
Watch: Citizen Hyper Aqualand
Phone: 8703e
Bookbag: LLBean
Damn, I have a lot of stuff. Maybe I should leave something for the kids...
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
G'night