---
title: Simple stuff
categories:
- culture
content-tags:
- consumption
---

While talking to the mystic brother who is taking up a lifestyle that includes (among other [inconceivable sacrifices][1]) a commitment to the adage of living simply, I took note of my new [wastebasket][2].  I admitted to a friend that it costs as much as feeding a family of four on a budget for weeks.  Perhaps I should feel guilty about this.

   [1]: http://www.aegis.com/news/ct/2000/CT000202.html
   [2]: http://www.simplehuman.com/products/wastecans/IamSteel_butterfly.html

Of course, I've decided not to.  First off, I have been hoping to get one for a year now, and only a [40% off coupon][3] prompted the purchase.  More importantly, as I explained to Kurt, I am fairly frugal with how much I spend on material goods, even if the items I do buy tend to be premium.  It's all in line with the minimalist zen-like layout of my physical life after the great purge of 2002.

   [3]: http://www.organizedliving.com/

The padre-in-training has a habit of distilling his policies to four- or five-step decision processes.  He's got enough "five steps for making moral decisions" and "four steps to living healthy" to start his own self-help franchise.  Naturally, he asked me to present my process for buying stuff as such, so here's a stab at what I've been asking myself:

  * Will I use this regularly (weekly)?
  * How durable will it be?  If I replace it, will it continue being useful to someone else, or end up as landfill?
  * Is the design thoughtful enough that I'm going to be pleased every time I use it?
  * How much space does it consume?
  * Is the price inflated because of some elite brand status that I won't benefit from?

By the time I'm done answering all that, I usually find I don't need whatever I was considering.  It's not a grudging self discipline, either after **thinking** about purchases, I just rarely have any enthusiasm left for buying.  If I still actually want something, then I'll get it, even if it takes a year.

This has had the effect that I feel more wealthy while spending less, as my life is full of simple, quality things (and charitable donations) rather than truckloads of crap.  For example, getting a [chai latte][4] daily is a luxury that I can indulge in because I talked myself out of a [new
car][5].  The [old car][6] is still reliable and fun to drive, so while the Miata and a loaded [Starbucks
card][4] is a lot cheaper than a BMW, I feel more pampered.

   [4]: http://www.tazo.com/popups/tazo_chai.html
   [5]: http://www.z3roadster.com/r32.html
   [6]: http://www.miata.net/images/starlight.gif

Besides, it's a really nice trash can.
