Do people get more materialistic as time goes on?
By saundyl
@saundyl (9783)
Canada
January 23, 2012 11:47am CST
I cant help but notice...people have more and more "Stuff" these days. Is it just me or are people getting to be very materialistic?
Advertising promotes buy more be happy. Honestly though i'm finding that since my dad passed on and we had to clean buildings and such for his estate sale for the farm...that people have too much stuff. That there is so much that people buy, use once or twice and then store. Or Shockingly buy and forget they even have.
I've noticed that people tend to ahve more and more things as time goes on...as a kid most people have things that fill their room. They get a house so they get more, more funiture more knicknacks more dishes more of everything...they get a bigger house and they fill it more...so much so that some people even rent storage for things!
My dad was one that even if it broke we could fix it someday...so it got stored. We got rid of TWO three tonne dumpsters of stuff that was broken and not fixable or we werent capable of fixing it ourselves.
Since we did that I've been noticing...I'm not inclined to go shopping...
At Christmas people would as what i wanted for Christmas and i couldn't think of things...my mom said my list was a weird one this year...batteries a house coat a couple books a mug...
I'm also VERY inclined to go through different rooms in my house and go...i dont need this i havent used it in 5 years why am i keeping this????
4 people like this
14 responses
@dodo19 (47066)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
24 Jan 12
It is true that we are influenced to buy more and more things, more things than we actually need. Some people actually buy into this. Some people do become more materialistic than others. I wouldn't say that we're all materialistic. But some are definitely more materialistic than others.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
I really hate the name stuff. It makes me think of things that one buys, and never uses. The thing is that sometimes the gadgets improve, and the old ones can no longer be fixed. Take for instance, those old TV sets with the tubes. You may have a perfectly good Tv but when the tubes go, it is no good if you cannot go to a tv repair shop and pick out tubes because they no longer have them. Same thing with those wringer washers. My father had the wringer washer past the time when everyone else had washing machines. He had gone through the Depression, so that is his excuse. Now there are cell phones. If you can use the apps you have on it, it is good, but if you just talk on the phone, you do not need all the apps, cameras, etc.
The thing you cannot just buy things nor can not keep from buying what is useful and what you will use just to make you happy. I usually say get what you want or want/need in good quality, if you cannot fix it yourself, get a good warranty plan.
By the wya, when ou get older you need those things, a washer and dryer saves you from taking your clothes to the laundromat. Just do not buy junk.
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
Well having old things have have broken and cant be fixed so you replace them is sensible...but there are people that do buy things they never use...or they use once and dont use again. Theres people that see something on sale and go oh thats a good price buy it and dont consider if they will use it.
I'm refering to the people who buy things to have them...not because they need them.
1 person likes this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
24 Jan 12
People tend to get attached to their posessions. Even after they break or are no longer useful. Every year at the end of the year I discards all kinds of stuff that doesnot bear the need for keeping. Some little momentoes or nicknacks though I find that I have trouble making myself get rid of them sometimes. People are not getting more posessive or more attached to ther worldly possessions, it seems that people find more and more objects to attach sentimental feelings and memories to.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
That makes sense.
I remember watching a show about organization decluttering NOT hoarders this time lol. And the organizer was telling the lady on it to take a picture of the items and then get rid of them so she didnt have so much clutter.
Some things are hard to get rid of. I still have a few "treasures" from as a kid..a blankie a stuffed horse. To anyone else theyre just a ratty old blanket or a ratty old toy but...to give them a hug or rub the silk on the edge is just very..soothing to me.
1 person likes this
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
24 Jan 12
Of course as future goes and commercial are getting more savvy and easier to reach people plus with the advance of technology will cause people to relay on these devices and hence materistic is a form of stabiilty. So goes the race to own more gadgets to have an easy life. BEside that owning own vehicle,house , credit card and such is must to get married nowsdays.
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
I'm not referring to just technology and gadgets. its the knick knacks and extra stocking of something people dont really use.
For example i saw a girl in dollarama...buy 10 pregnancy tests. Honestly dont know how well a 1 dollar pregnancy test would really work but why buy 10 of them???
1 person likes this
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
24 Jan 12
With new technology everyone wants to buy the most latest stuff. Like all my friends and people I know always have ti get the latest technology. My friend has a touch phone already and after about a year she wants a new phone. How many phones do you need? They're not cheap too. I've had my phone for 3 years and I have no intention of replacing it, as long as I can make calls and texts then it's good, no need to buy those fancy thin phones. Some people are buying ipads and apparently there is going to be a laptop that you can fold. Some people are hoarders too and randomly keep things stashed up like mountains in their homes. 
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
I think being a hoarder can end up being a health hazard.
Technology..everyone seems to get the i wants. I get them too but i know i cant afford to upgrade every time a new type comes out. As long as my cell works and my laptop works...i dont needs something different.
1 person likes this
@ladysilver (370)
•
23 Jan 12
They feel more secure when they surround themselves with that stuff.I always ask myself why do I start buying new things when I'm depressed or sad?It's because it makes me feel better.When I was a child, I used to sleep with all of my toys.I thought that my toys could protect me from my fears.The only way to get rid of fears and inner insecurity which sometimes leads to a complete materialism, is to heal our souls.But people care more about sales than souls.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
24 Jan 12
Yes, I do that all the time. I have taken so many things to Goodwill lately... and I don't know where it all comes from! You're right, we tend to accumulate more all the time and the older we are, the more we have accumulated. I think that's true even for almost anyone.
I have been thinking lately about what my kids will think when they have to clean out this house and that's one reason I've started getting rid of things. If I don't want it and THEY don't want it, why is it here?
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
To the last comment...Because people have a hard time getting rid of "perfectly good things"
My mom says we wont ever be hoarders again. I have to agree...the way we kept things because dad would throw a fit if we got rid of it...six months after we did...it was easier to store it. Finding out just how much stuff we had on the farm in the out buildings was a bit of a shock.
I live in m,y grandma's old house and she liked to keep stuff too..and the minute i notice a room resembles remotely what it looked like then i go on a cleaning getting rid of fit.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
23 Jan 12
You are right, we are prompted to buy more and more. I hoard things a bit, but I also get to a point where I throw things out, if hubby will let me. I think when times are tough people hole on to things longer. Some people cannot bear to throw things away, so they give them to me. Aaarg.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
30 Jan 12
I would say as a society we are getting more and more materialistic. We as a people want things not because we have use for them, but because we want to impress someone or keep up with status quo. That is what accounts for the many things that a person accumulates that they forget they have or just haven't used in forever. I have a few things myself that I keep that I probably should throw away. But for me personally, I like to believe that it isn't many things that I have in that category. I don't buy things simply because someone else or "everyone else" has it. I buy things that are in line with what I personally want and need. If we as a people forget about keeping up with "status quo", this anomaly would be greatly reduced.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
23 Jan 12
Hi Saundyl,
I do think that some people collect way more stuff than they really need. I've also noticed that it seems to be the less financially well-off people that seem to collect the most "stuff" and I'm not sure why that is or even if I'm right in that assesment....just an observation. For myself, I have always gotten annoyed if I have too much stuff and periodically go through and either donate or just get rid of stuff. When I moved recently, the mover's commented that moving my stuff was a "piece of cake" because I really don't have much although to me it seems to be more than enough. I am a lot like you at Christmas. I really can't think of anything i really need or want. We draw names and my niece got my name and felt stumped as to what to get me. Her sister told her that I was so easy to buy for (and cheap). She told her to "Just think". I got Incense and candles...Perfect!!
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
I've noticed that as well. I know some people that theyre always buying new things but they are also always worrying that they arent going to be able to pay some bill.
I have taken to going through things...clothes, projects, decorations. I offer it to others, post it on kijiji and sell it or even on facebook and sell it or give it away. I give all sorts of craft stuff left over from projects to my sister to use for school projects with her grade ones or grade twos depending on the year.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
23 Jan 12
It sure seem like this for at least vast majority of people living today. Many just want to have more and more material things with no end in sight. For example, one family can have several cars, several houses, bigger land, more T.V, boats etc... It seem like these people are determined to live with many materials during different life stages before they can feel contented with their own life. Hedonism and Materialism are going to be a normal way of life for many in today world. 
2 people like this
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
23 Jan 12
Perhaps it depends on where you live and who you meet?
I don't know people who are still buying stuff, have more and more. I only know people without saving money, who buy their stuff (if) at the second hand shop (furniture and clothes) and who think at least twice where to spend their money on.
Yes some are going on vacation just like me but because we love that there is a lot we don't spend money on.
I think that the older people get the less need there is to buy stuff.
BTW none of my (5) children is materialistic. We only have 1 tv set, seldom watch tv, no xbox or what so ever and they are still able to use their imagination if they see some sticks and stones.
The only phone we have is cellphone and we seldom call or text either.
My kids and I have creative days, make great stuff out of trash.
Perhaps it all depends on how you are raised??
ps I can remember a time that people decorated their house every 5 year complete new. But I don't know people anymore who do that. The economic will be partly reason of that or perhaps they are more satisfied now?
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
I've been watching people on facebook. our area has a buy and sell and its a amazing how fast things get sold or bought when its posted on there.
Thats awesome that you guys arent materialistic! Being able to use imagination is a wonderful wonderful thing.
I was raised...pretty poor we made do with what we had and we kept it...very rarely actually got rid of something without trying to fix it first.
Wow people used to redecorate every 5 years? I sooo couldnt afford that!
@ShinDarkfox (152)
• United States
24 Jan 12
Oh boy... I have a lot of stuff that I just don't want anymore and am better off selling rather than hoarding. I don't understand people's needs to have more stuff because all it does is build up and take up space. Many of my family members do this and it just gets ridiculous when you can't walk without bumping into unnecessary items piled up.
Materialism is just another term for hoarding which... is another word for clutter to me. Same with electronics and various equipment. This is why I love multitaskers, less clutter for more function (and usually less $$$).
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 Jan 12
Less clutter is good! Last night i gave my sister a bag of odds and ends of yard and ribbon for her students to use for crafts. I cant use them for full projects anymore theyre left over bits but...the kdis can use them for gluing and such!
That is true it can be another term for hoarding - have you watched hoarders??? It shocks me how much stuff one can pile into a single house!
