Thursday Thirteen
It must be a week for firsts! A few days ago it was my first meme. Today it is my first Thursday Thirteen. After reading Crimson Wife's post about Teens & Tweens Demanding Luxury Items for Back to School, and her follow-up Thursday Thirteen of 13 Luxury Items I Don't Own or Want, I just had to participate.
And I will piggyback off of Crimson's choice as well by posting my own list of 13 Luxury Items I Don't Own or Want....
1. A Video-Game console. I just don't get video games. I think kids today (and adults) would do so much better if they got outside and played rather than sitting behind a screen with a joystick. Seriously, why do you need Madden football if you've got a ball and a friend?
2. Top-of-the-line appliances. The last 4 (or more) appliances I have purchased have been basic Kenmores. No stainless steel. No fancy gadgets. Does a refrigerator really keep things any cooler if it costs more?
3. A "luxury car". I guess to some people, my Honda Odyssey would be considered a luxury car, and I am very fortunate to have it. But even it is the base-model. I don't need a Mercedes or a BMW or a Bentley. I need to get from here to there safely. I don't need to impress anyone.
4. Perfectly manicured nails and toes. I play with two active boys all day. They'd just get ruined anyway. I'd rather keep them short and simple. (I do paint my toes at home though, and it stays on until it all chips off!)
5. Fancy jewelry for every outfit. I have some nice jewelery, thanks to my wonderful husband. But generally I wear my rings, a simple pair of stud earrings, and the plain gold hoops my sister gave me for Christmas in 1991. I pretty much never remove them. sometimes I'll wear a necklace when I'm dressing up, but that is too much of a grabbing-temptation for little ones.
6. Expensive designer clothes. I think the most expensive brand I've purchased is Liz Claiborne. And that was always on-sale or at an outlet store.
7. Expensive designer shoes. I couldn't even walk in most of the designer shoes if I wanted to! Just give me a pair of Crocs, unless I'm going somewhere special, and I'll be fine.
8. Designer strollers. Crimson Wife mentioned the Bugaboo. But I'm not even interested in the Peg-Pergos or Maclaren. My Graco and Baby Trends have gotten the boys around just fine!
9. All the "must-have" baby items. My kids have never felt the effects of wipe-warmers or bottle-warmers. No video-monitors. No fancy diaper bags (we use a basic backpack!). And certainly no 800 thread-count linens for the crib!
10. Toys galore. I am not trying to open a Toys R Us in our playroom. We have more than enough primary-colored-plastic to last a lifetime. In fact we generally request gifts to charity for our boy's birthdays instead of presents.
11. The latest-greatest new technology. Okay, Greg and I butt heads on this a little bit. But my standard cell-phone is all that I need. (I only use it for emergencies anyway!) I don't need an ipod or an iphone. Just because there is a new fancy television on the market doesn't mean that my old one doesn't work just fine. And a blackberry? It's bad enough that someone can reach me by phone anywhere, anytime. But by email too? No thanks.
12. Elaborate houses. Again, to a lot of people in this country, our house would be considered elaborate. Compared to a lot I've seen, ours is simple and plain. That's just fine. I've never employed an interior designer (or a maid!), and I don't feel the need. As a friend recently quoted, "If you're here to see me, you are welcome. If you're here to see my house, make an appointment."
13. A maid. Do you really want someone else cleaning your house? Okay, I take this one back! I'll take the maid! Once a month would be fine!
When it really comes down to it, I'd rather not spend money on all this junk. I find it much more important to save for retirement, save for my children's college education, and teach my children that frugality is a virtue.
And I will piggyback off of Crimson's choice as well by posting my own list of 13 Luxury Items I Don't Own or Want....
1. A Video-Game console. I just don't get video games. I think kids today (and adults) would do so much better if they got outside and played rather than sitting behind a screen with a joystick. Seriously, why do you need Madden football if you've got a ball and a friend?
2. Top-of-the-line appliances. The last 4 (or more) appliances I have purchased have been basic Kenmores. No stainless steel. No fancy gadgets. Does a refrigerator really keep things any cooler if it costs more?
3. A "luxury car". I guess to some people, my Honda Odyssey would be considered a luxury car, and I am very fortunate to have it. But even it is the base-model. I don't need a Mercedes or a BMW or a Bentley. I need to get from here to there safely. I don't need to impress anyone.
4. Perfectly manicured nails and toes. I play with two active boys all day. They'd just get ruined anyway. I'd rather keep them short and simple. (I do paint my toes at home though, and it stays on until it all chips off!)
5. Fancy jewelry for every outfit. I have some nice jewelery, thanks to my wonderful husband. But generally I wear my rings, a simple pair of stud earrings, and the plain gold hoops my sister gave me for Christmas in 1991. I pretty much never remove them. sometimes I'll wear a necklace when I'm dressing up, but that is too much of a grabbing-temptation for little ones.
6. Expensive designer clothes. I think the most expensive brand I've purchased is Liz Claiborne. And that was always on-sale or at an outlet store.
7. Expensive designer shoes. I couldn't even walk in most of the designer shoes if I wanted to! Just give me a pair of Crocs, unless I'm going somewhere special, and I'll be fine.
8. Designer strollers. Crimson Wife mentioned the Bugaboo. But I'm not even interested in the Peg-Pergos or Maclaren. My Graco and Baby Trends have gotten the boys around just fine!
9. All the "must-have" baby items. My kids have never felt the effects of wipe-warmers or bottle-warmers. No video-monitors. No fancy diaper bags (we use a basic backpack!). And certainly no 800 thread-count linens for the crib!
10. Toys galore. I am not trying to open a Toys R Us in our playroom. We have more than enough primary-colored-plastic to last a lifetime. In fact we generally request gifts to charity for our boy's birthdays instead of presents.
11. The latest-greatest new technology. Okay, Greg and I butt heads on this a little bit. But my standard cell-phone is all that I need. (I only use it for emergencies anyway!) I don't need an ipod or an iphone. Just because there is a new fancy television on the market doesn't mean that my old one doesn't work just fine. And a blackberry? It's bad enough that someone can reach me by phone anywhere, anytime. But by email too? No thanks.
12. Elaborate houses. Again, to a lot of people in this country, our house would be considered elaborate. Compared to a lot I've seen, ours is simple and plain. That's just fine. I've never employed an interior designer (or a maid!), and I don't feel the need. As a friend recently quoted, "If you're here to see me, you are welcome. If you're here to see my house, make an appointment."
13. A maid. Do you really want someone else cleaning your house? Okay, I take this one back! I'll take the maid! Once a month would be fine!
When it really comes down to it, I'd rather not spend money on all this junk. I find it much more important to save for retirement, save for my children's college education, and teach my children that frugality is a virtue.
posted by Susan | 2:47 PM
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