Over at the US News & World Report Alpha Consumer blog there’s an interview with Tim Kasser, author of The High Price of Materialism, about why and how materialism will not make you happy. In fact, it very well might make you sad.
Here’s why:
We propose four psychological needs. The first is safety/security, which is the need to feel like you’ll survive, like you are not in danger, like you will have enough food and water and shelter to make it another day. The second is competence or efficacy, which is the need to feel like you are skillful and able to do the things that you set out to do: I need to feel like a good psychologist, you might need to feel like a good journalist, etc. The third is connection or relatedness, which concerns having close, intimate relationships with other people. The fourth need is for freedom or autonomy, which is feeling like you do what you do because you choose it and want to do it rather than feeling compelled or forced to do it.
As I lay out in my book, The High Price of Materialism, people who put a strong focus on materialism in their lives tend to have poor satisfaction of each of these four needs. In part this is because of their development, but it also is because materialism creates a lifestyle that does a poor job of satisfying these needs. That is, a materialistic lifestyle tends to perpetuate feelings of insecurity, to lead people to hinge their competence on pretty fleeting, external sources, to damage relationships, and to distract people from the more fun, more meaningful, and freer ways of living life.
Kimberly Palmer, who writes the Alpha Consumer blog, says that Kasser lives “a lifestyle known as “voluntary simplicity,” which essentially means opting for a less materialistic life. Instead of spending the evening in front of a plasma-screen television, a voluntary simplifier might cook a meal with the vegetables he grew in his garden. Instead of splurging on two lattes a day, he might bring his home-brewed beverage of choice to work in a reusable mug.” Personally, we live a modified version of this lifestyle. Ours includes the flat screen tv. Hey, football won’t watch itself.
Actually, Kasser addresses that issue too:
There is a story about a man who approached Gandhi and said that he’d been thinking about living a simpler life, but he didn’t feel like he could give up his collection of books. Gandhi is said to have replied, “As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, you should keep it. If you were to give it up in a mood of self-sacrifice or out of a stern sense of duty, you would continue to want it back, and that unsatisfied want would make trouble for you. Only give up a thing when you want some other condition so much that the thing no longer has any attraction for you.”
My take on this, and on your question, is that simplicity is not an endstate that is achieved but a path that one is walking.
What do you think? Are you happier when you strive for simplicity…?
How to Live the Simple Life [Alpha Consumer]
(Photo: Getty)
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Nope, I love materialism, and it loves me!
I’m never happy, but at least when I strive for simplicity…. I save a shitload of money. You can never have enough money.
You have to BUY his book to learn about the evils of materialism and benefits of simplicity?
What’s that quote about wanting what you have rather than trying to get what you want?
I have been on a gigantic purge campaign for about two years now. If you could have seen my place before, you’d be amazed at where I’ve gotten to, and I still have a ways to go. I find that the biggest hurdle for me was getting over the emotional fear of “not having stuff”, both in a utilitarian sense–I might need that!–and in a relationship sense–How will they know I love them if I don’t cherish all 85 doodads they’ve given me over the years???!!!
The way I’ve cut down is that I really look at how I use something and what I want to gain out of it. For example, I have boxes of photos cluttering up my basement and closets. I realized that I just want one or two albums of carefully selected favorite photos–not a wall of albums containing every single photo I’ve ever printed out. I will be sorting through all of my pictures, and only picking out the very best ones. I will dispose of all the rest. Drastically reducing the number will allow me to do things like back the photos up on a CD, so that they will be protected from loss, and will make it easier for me to share my photos with other people. I will get more use out of the photos I like best, rather than having to take care of a bunch of photos I don’t really want.
Materialism is not a cause or affliction, but a symptom. Figure out what it is a symptom of and you’ll figure out what you need to change (if you want to, of course!).
@Michael Belisle: So…you’ve replaced your “technostimulation” with internet surfing? This doesn’t LOOK like a book…hmmmmm
“Are you happier when you strive for simplicity…?”
a resounding YES.
The problem with more stuff is there is always more stuff, more, more, more, and better stuff. Its a never ending rat race of stuff. Taking joy in experiences, in your family and friends, is so much better. I’ve been of the materialism rat race since 01/01/07 and its wonderful. Do I still buy stuff?? Yes, stuff that I need and once in a while stuff that I really, really want (I delay 99% of purchases to make sure I really want, use the $100 rule). But I no longer enjoy random shopping or going to the mall or browsing and a trip to the mall actually bums me out. The upside of getting out of the materialism rat race, $55,000 in debt paid off, $20,000 emergency fund.
I think I’m going to go out and buy some crap I don’t need with money I don’t have.
That’s how us pack-rats make excuses to keep the crap, too
.
@SadSam: Dave Ramsey much?
I’ve found that by not buying crap I don’t need, I’m able to put the money most people put towards clothes, gadgets, coffee, movies, books (yay library), etc, towards a really awesome vacation every year where I broaden my mind. It’s simply wonderful; I forgo the instant gratification for my ultimate gratification. Last year was Oslo, Stockholm, Finland. This year it’s a week in France.
At the same time, I’ve been able to pay off $12,000 on my car since January making about $50,000 a year. I still have a ways to go with my student loans, but at least I can say that I’m better than I deserve.
I don’t quite agree with this topic all the way. I actually feel more happy having better things than I ever did when I didn’t. I grew up not having much so when I finally graduated from college and got my full-time job I’ve filled this long-time void, bought a bunch of stuff, and I don’t feel so down anymore. I am happy to have better things, especially the things that appeal to my interests. At least I don’t buy random crap.
There’s good wisdom here, but owning a flat-screen doesn’t make you a TERRIBLE PERSON. I like my flat screen. I like my XBox360. But I also like garden, I cook my own meals every night, I brew my own coffee and I roast my own beans. I only buy used books. I make sure to learn new skills (Pottery is AWESOME!), but I appreciate the chance to veg in front of 42 inches of hi-def glory.
I think it’s about following what makes you feel good, not what you THINK will make you feel good.
Why do people confuse “live simply” with “live like a pauper”? No is suggesting that we give up the material things that bring us real happiness. Rather, they are suggesting that stop buying and/or get rid of, or otherwise stop chasing after those things that DON’T make us happy.
I own over 1,000 books that I hardly ever look at. I enjoy reading books, but having them has lost it’s luster. I use the library now and haven’t bought a new book in years. Likewise with DVDs. I would buy new releases, watch them once and put them on the shelf. Now I just buy one or two a year and use Netflix. I rarely buy music, but when I do buy, I get it used off of Amazon. I haven’t given up books, movies or music, I just gave up acquiring them. I keep other things like clothes, shoes, etc. to a minimum and I drive a basic Corolla because clothes, shoes and cars don’t make me happy.
I enjoy cooking, so I buy good food, and I hate house cleaning and yard work, so we have someone clean the house every two weeks and someone else who cuts the grass (paying to avoid things that make you unhappy works, too). I also enjoy movies and video games and have a really nice home theater setup with a projector. I put it all together myself (saving a bundle) and painted/decorated the room. Using the system makes me happy not only because I enjoy the entertainment, but because the room itself is an accomplishment I’m still proud of four years later.
Keep the stuff that makes you happy, get rid of the stuff that doesn’t. Spend money and time on experiences. Create something for you and your family to enjoy – even if it’s just dinner.
Buy this book. Buy this book. Buy this book. NO. I don’t need your book. I am happier without your book. Buy my book! That’s all I got out of this.
(we will all have that moment when we realize, we can’t take it with us)
I bought a couch in May, and it made me very happy, but that’s because it’s very comfortable to nap on.
I don’t, however, get the flat TV craze, because I have a regular TV that someone gave me, and it works just fine. I haven’t ever seen anyone actually save space with a flat TV either- everyone just buys the same old tv stands anyway. Very strange.
I buy things when it’s a need, or it is something I know I will get long term use out of. Otherwise it’ll just fill up space.
“I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
I have to agree with everyone who said keep what you love and get rid of anything that is weighing you down. This has been hard for me, but I’m getting better at it.
The TV I used to have was not big enough to play my widescreen movies so that I could see them (nearsighted), so I splurged on a larger, digital one. I don’t regret it and never will, nor do I regret buying movies that I love and collecting enough so that I have a choice for every mood. Same with books. I have a tiny house, but I make room for that stuff.
What does bring me down sometimes is the random crap I pick up browsing, and all the stuff I’ve been dragging around for years. I’m working on getting rid of that, either by pitching it or donating it. And I’m trying to persuade my family to quit giving me useless knicknacks or kitchen stuff I don’t need. I don’t have the room. It’s about making my house more comfortable and liveable for me.
Ok, I happen to know him. And he is not all about “buy this book”
Go to the library and check it out…
I get what the author is saying, but in the end, it still takes money (and increasingly, a lot more of it) to satisfy even the basics. Even minimum shelter/heat/food all cost a lot; doing what I want (and feeling wanted for it) all cost a lot in college degrees; being loved is free, but cultivating a relationship and family actual requires spending at least a little bit of money actually going on dates and doing things; and at least in my life, I have found that the choices (=’freedom’) which one is presented is largely dependent upon your financial means.
When I was a dirt-poor grad student, my ‘freedoms’ consisted of having all the time in the world to… do anything that was cheap or free– nap, study, read, drink cheap beer. Now that I have at least a little bit of dough, things like travel, collect interesting things, afford the equipment to actually make interesting things, drink expensive micro-brews… my options are greater.
Just my two pence about it.
What a bunch of crap. Anybody who seriously tells you that you don’t need money to be happy DOESN’T FUCKING HAVE ANY.
My qualifications for buying objects/experiences are:
Will this help to make me physically and mentally healthier?
Will this create a wonderful memory?
Will this make me smarter and/or more interesting?
Will this help to make me wealthier monetarily?
If something doesn’t pass at least one of the above, I usually won’t buy it.
@Canino: Use an ebay store type of business. They do all the work for you in exchange for 30% of the selling price. I think that it’s worth it when you would otherwise just have a big pile o’ junk sitting around that you would probably just throw out or give away eventually.
@ShariC: Exactly. I’m not going to blow every dime I make on useless junk, but at the same time I’m not going to live in a hut tending to my vegetables and reading Proust novels printed on recycled napkins. Balance is the key to so many aspects of life, and so many people ignore that in favor of “swinging the pendulum as far in the other direction as possible,” to paraphrase a Pynchon character.
For instance, I spent $750 on a good hybrid bicycle and the necessary accessories recently, but I ride it all the time and get a good deal of exercise and relaxation (not to mention money saved on gas and stress/time reduced by not having to deal with street parking) out of it. It’s a material item, but one that accomplishes a purpose and contributes a great deal to my personal well-being. Likewise, having an MP3 player is extremely beneficial to my happiness because of my passion for music. If I buy a dozen new gadgets and gewgaws with every paycheck and never use them, though, that’s wasteful consumerism that doesn’t contribute to personal happiness.
In short, figure out what you need not only to satisfy the basic conditions of life, but also what you need to feel relaxed, happy and fulfilled. Don’t indulge in wasteful excess, but don’t deprive yourself of the things that make you happy either.
Not bad advice… Wish I’d have the willpower to follow it
I just moved and got rid of a lot of furniture and clutter. Most of my stuff is still in storage, including all our TVs, and I noticed last night that even though I was at home alone with nothing really to entertain me, save hanging out with my pets and watching an online documentary (about the rise of consumerism, no less), I felt very happy.
Actually in the documentary (it’s called Century of Self), someone said that the US is the country with the most images of happiness, like in ads and such, but we are in fact a very sad populace.
@Michael Belisle: That is a brilliant idea. I’m going to round up all my cables at home this weekend and take them into work on Monday. Our office has a storage room (a.k.a. junk room) that already has a box of old cables in it.
@nrwfos: Besides donating to charities such as Goodwill (as suggested earlier), you could give away items using your local Freecycle community. I’ve done that for many of my clients who’ve decided to get rid of stuff – I’m a professional organizer – and it’s made both the givers and receivers very happy. Things that were just taking space in closets, garages, etc. are now being put to good use.