Am I cheap, frugal, a minimalist, a Stoic, all of the above? I have no idea, maybe you can tell me.
A lot of the stuff I have now is stuff I’ve had for years. Same T-shirts since senior year of high school, same backpack since college, even the same sneakers since 2016. Most of my shit is old.
Yes some of it is pretty worn down. Colors have faded, scratches have formed, and dirt has collected. I don’t feel like I need new stuff though. I don’t really want new stuff.
My thought is “If it still does what it’s supposed to, why get a new one?” All my clothes still fit, my backpack still carries things, my shoes still protect my feet. Why do I need to spend money on any of these?
There’s a Stoic practice where you break objects down to their base-level purpose or description. A nice steak is no more than a chunk of cow that gives me some protein. A house is simply a box with a roof that separates me from outside. Clothes are just pieces of cloth that cover my skin.
I don’t attach deeper meaning to my items. Criticism from other people doesn’t bother me. I’d rather have money in my bank account than the nicest clothes, technology, and any other items out there.
Eventually holes will form in my clothes, tears will render my backpack useless, and time will win the battle against most of my stuff. When that happens, I’ll start fresh with the most basic items money can buy and the process will continue again.
Don’t put so much stock into the things you own. If it does the job, be grateful for it and don’t seek something new or more expensive.
February 9, 2022
