PARENTS... dont get it, I have asked questions on here befor about?

Question

materialistic things. It seems as if almost all of the answers are always "material things are stupid" or "my house is filled with love we dont need things to be happy"...well actually you do, because dinner is a thing, a house is a thing, even a BMW is a thing, and no one was ever happy being poor were they???
Yeah hunger always made me happy.
If people think spending their lives to get material things is stupid, then why do so many people work their asses off to get the huge asss house or lexus or jordans for their kids???
I think people who say things like that are just poor nutjobs who will never amount to anything because they are happy renting all their lives...dont you agree???

Answer 1

i don't really understand the exact question here, but i do agree that materialistic things matter. It is part of the American lifestyle to bust your *** at your career so that you can provide for your family. I work extra hard to get my son expensive clothing and toys, just because I feel that he is worth having the best. The majority of people who say they are not materialistic are the ones who are broke or so money hungry that they are afraid to spend a penny on something worthy.

Answer 2

I am happy driving a mercedes and own a home that I never imagined I would. The difference is that I don't owe any money on anything. So having things are ok only if you don't have to carry the burden of having to pay it off for the rest of your life, even after the "toys" aren't fun anymore. I like what I have because I can afford it.

To be honest. It wouldn't matter what I had if I didn't have any love. Believe it or not you do get bored of material things after a while or trying to find the next material high. Stuff just becomes a normal way of life. So what next?

I know a lot of people that I live around that work their "asses" off to get things for their kids and live large. Problem is they never see the kids, but they look nice. I guess if family isn't that important to a person bring on the "things".

Answer 3

there is nothing wrong with renting-- some people do not want responsibility for property. i have owned my home for 2 years and i am constantly reminded how nice it was to rent--like when our central air died last year (that was over 7000 to replace )when our main bathroom in our house is getting remodeled (cost to be determined still) when our roof needs replaced and the windows as well. these things all remind me of when i was the poor nutjob that didnt have to come up with all the extra money for these home repairs. i now work 10 hrs a day six days a week just to keep up with the bills from keeping my home in working order--so i dont ruin my credit. my final opinion about the matter is if your home and lexus and money are the things that make you happy and make you feel so much better off than other people maybe your the poor nut job who will never amount to anything- and i really dont think your all that happy with all you wealth, why else would you be critisizing others online? have you ever noticed that when someone is insecure about something they always point out someone elses flaws to make themself feel better or to take the attention away from their own issues? seems to me like thats what your doing.

Answer 4

quote
If people think spending their lives to get material things is stupid, then why do so many people work their asses off to get the huge house or lexus or jordans for their kids???
unquote

What's your definition of 'so many people?'...out of trillions on the planet, you're talking about what? A few millions located in the United States or western Europe? The reason those people strive for those things is because 1) we are not taught to think outside of what we're taught and 2) we're victim of twenty years of commercialization telling us that things are more important to people.

The people who are searching for things are unhappy because they've internalized that only things make them worthwhile. We are happy and grateful for what we have, but we don't spend all of our energy and time trying to get more. Don't really care for a lexus (i'd rather have a hybrid and save), and what's the point of designer jeans? Any other jeans cover our butts the same....

We get what we need, in the order of necessity. You might look at Maslow's heirarchy of needs, or take a basic psychology course.

Answer 5

Actually. I think that spoiled ,egotistical, people who think they're better than everybody, say things just like you said. I for one have the things I need in life, and am in no way poor, and granted I do agree with the not needing materialistic things in life. But look at the other side of the fence. Someone with no food may not be happy being hungry, but in the saying "materialistic things", it is meant as things people don't really need, just things they want. Otherwise the statment would be " I don't need the necessities in life to be happy." I would like to end with, perhaps you don't have the people you enjoy in your life and that is why you are so bitter towards those who are content. Don't knock people because they find ways of making themselves happy with things that don't cost money. That takes a great person if you ask me :-)

Have a nice day :-)

Answer 6

Well you're right that some things ARE necessary.

But your idea of necessary and mine are probably far from each other. As long as basic needs are covered, our actual "needs" are not necessarily based on a fancy house, fancy car, etc.

Our family lives simply. We have our needs, and some of our wants (like this computer I am typing on) but we choose to donate our time and money rather than buying more and more. I could care less if my neighbors have "nicer" cars, "nicer" clothes and/or "nicer" furniture than mine.

I have often wondered why people have the drive to buy the huge house, lexus, or jordans. It seems as silly to me as much as I probably seem to you.

And since when did "amounting to anything" mean what expensive things you manage to amass in this life??? That's not my reality.

Yes, some people you deem to be "poor" are indeed happy, as long as what they REALLY need is covered. The tabloids are full of unhappy "rich" people. It depends on the person.

Edited to add I read your other question. I think it's normal to be envious sometimes- but I think you should consider doing some volunteer work with your kids. Getting more involved in making your community a better place may shift your focus as well as your children's focus on "things". You are not a failure by any means.

Answer 7

Excuse me but we are a single income family and I am a stay at home mom of three children. I would be just fine without "things" as long as we have our basic needs met. We don't have cable TV and the only reason we even have a television is that we had an old one given to us by some friends who were moving.
I don't want a big house- I am building a small one on my mother in law's property so we can care for her as she ages. I have a Ford Taurus and am quite happy with it as it's a functional family car. We have debt but we are comfortable. So I'm not quite sure what you're getting at but just because people are happy where they are in life and YOU aren't doesn't mean you have to be rude about it. If you asked the question before and it was answered before then drop it. Are the answers changing any? People will be happy with what they have and perhaps you should be too.

Answer 8

I define 'materialistic' things as wants vs needs. Food is a need for survival, as is shelter (that house) a BMW is a want where as a form of transportation is a need in todays world (be it a bus, cab, train or a 1983 chevy)

Most would consider me 'poor' by society's standards. My husband works, I stay home with our two kids. We don't have a lot of extra money but we make do. Our kids have food, clothing and toys (not name brand things unless they are bought 2nd hand, which lots of things are)

I think so many people work for 'name brand' things because they are so worried about what every one else thinks (I used to be the same way, then I grew up!) they want to impress others or it's a competative thing--as in I have this--you don't.

I rent. I'd like to own a home, but I'm glad I have a roof over my head. I'm not losing sleep over not owning a home.

I have a truck, I'd like a nicer one, but it gets me where I need and want to go.

You know, I learned something when my Prada bag was stolen. I was more upset at losing the pictures of my son and my grandmothers hairbrush than I was about losing that $1000 purse. It didn't matter.

I went to walmart and bought a $10 purse to replase it. It was just as good. I liked it just as much. I bought a $1 eyeshadow brush to replace the $30 one that was stole. I bought a $10 wallet to replace the $300 one that was stole. But to this day I think about the picture that was in that wallet taken of me and DH on our honeymoon--it was the only copy--I thinkof the 4 pix of my son in there that were the only copy I had,and I think about how that hairbrush was one of 2 things I have of my grandmothers. And it breaks my heart to know that those things were probably toss out with the trash without so much as a second thought, how those things ment nothing to that theif, butthose things really ment something to me even if they weren't worth any money . . .even if I do rent!

Answer 9

Not at all.
I don't need things to be happy.
When people say that they don't mean things like food. They mean things like big screen tvs, fancy cars, brand name clothes and all the newest electronics.
I dont need those. I don't need STUFF to be happy. Just friends and family. I'm not a poor nutjob who will never amount to anything because I am happy renting all my life. That's a very judgmental and ignorant way of thinking.

Answer 10

I can tell you haven;t lived on your own yet, ROFL. You know what during the days when My hubby and I didnt have the big mortgage payment and the debt we have, we werent poor but we werent rich things were simpler, what are you whining about? you can't have a bmw, either can I, big whoop. Those people who work for material things are idiots and probably have ungrateful brats ( cough )
80 percent of this country is 1 paycheck away from being homeless including yours

I shop dollar store to save money to put away for retirement and college

Answer 11

I have been poor, and I truthfully was alot happier then, the more money people have the more it changes them, the more bills they have, so the more stressed they are.

And sorry I'm not a nutjob who will never amount to anything, what does renting have to do with being happy? I'm sure alot of people with $ rent, and I know alot of poor people that own, that's why they're poor, they pay their bills!