conspicuousconsumption

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"Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
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kidkoolaid
12/02/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
Yeah, I guess. But I still don't get it. It's not like there hasn't ALWAYS been people who can't afford what the people in the article (and myself) can, so why do I have to feel uncomfortable NOW?
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GeorgeFayne
12/02/08

@kidkoolaid: You're fifteen. Luckily, you'll grow out of that in about a year.
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sassy
12/02/08

@kidkoolaid: You can't afford it. Your parents can. There is a difference.
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kidkoolaid
12/02/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
This may sound uncool, but...other people losing their jobs and not having money doesn't affect me. My parents have jobs that aren't going anywhere and have enough in savings to ride out this recession for a while (I'm 15). I don't understand why I should feel bad about a European vacation just because someone down the street is getting their house foreclosed on (that was hypothetical, but I am going to Europe next summer, and I went this summer).
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Cesybabe or Nirvanah Crane
12/02/08

@kidkoolaid: Yeah kiddo, I'm in a comfortable position too, with little responsibility, but you don't say these sorta things. I know you're young, but a bit of empathy goes a long way. One day you may be in that position, and THEN you'll understand.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
It seems like even if the uberwealthy are not personally suffering, it's now in poor taste to flaunt what you've got.

Newsflash: It's ALWAYS been in poor taste to flaunt what you've got.
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aubonpam
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
I secretly hope that the people they interview for all these kinds of articles are actually dimwitted pathological liars. "So I tell them...Uh...It's just an old Philip Lim! Yeah, that's what I would say..."
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flucky
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
It's funny, but I always forget I'm not rich. I live in a low-income neighborhood, I can't afford a car, and I was laid off in September and haven't been able to find a new job yet - I have big hopes for 2009 though:) My partner's salary is <40K (and health insurance for both of us). But we have everything we need. We have enough to eat, and we have heat and hot water (which in Boston = $$$). We have computers and cellphones and cable. We have sufficient clothing, although I realized this weekend a lot of my clothes are now 6+ years old and will probably be winging their way to Goodwill. We just spent something like $300 on Christmas presents. My only real money stressor is my student loan (blerrgh...).

So even though I haven't got much, I'm pretty sure I'm rich. Maybe knowing how to spend your money is more important than how much you make.

(P.S. Yes, the view from up here on my soapbox is super sweet)
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PhillyLass
12/01/08

@allibot: Word. You definitely have your priorities straight.
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iheartapocalypse
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
I felt guilty about buying the giant pack of 3-ply in these tough economic times, but then someone stole it from the bottom of my cart while I was loading the car anyway. (True story)
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HannahBethD
12/01/08

@iheartapocalypse: Ha! I totally downgraded to White Cloud from my usual Charmin. It was tough. I sent my roommate for paper towels and she bought Sparkle. I was a little disappointed considering I'm a Viva devotee.

Stealing TP however is not cool!

@marib: I have the rubbermaid version of that, and if anyone takes it from me, I will rain hell down upon them.
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KathrynwithaY loves Joan Collins
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
When people ask me if my shirt is from Target, I tell them its from Wal-Mart.

Ugh.

....Stupid Rich People and their Bottega Veneta outfits and Ferraris....
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quatrevingtquatre
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
I watched a marathon of this Bravo show about million dollar real estate and this dude bought his college aged-son a 3 million dollar home (IN CASH) because the kid wanted to move out of the dorm.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to have those kinds of funds just chilling in your bank account.

I take cash out in 10s.
It's all about the Hamiltons, baby.
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LaFemme
12/01/08

@thatonegirlsays: The fact that it was in cash makes me think that he did not obtain those funds legally and that they were never in a bank...
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robot ninja spy
12/01/08

@thatonegirlsays: And yes, I saw that! He originally budgeted less, but bumped up the amount he was willing to pay because he didn't think the view was good enough for the price. (He rejected the first few because they were too far away, which kind of made sense, but I'm sure there are apartments near campus. What developer wouldn't have apartments near a campus?)

Then again, he said some of the kids friends would be living there, so maybe he's charging them? I dunno.
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HappyHappyJoyJoy
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
Wait, wasn't it always tacky to flaunt it?

(Anyone else find themselves a "bargain shamer"? As in, someone says, "love your shoes!" and your immediate response is, "thanks! I got them at Old Navy for $3!")
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robot ninja spy
12/01/08

@HappyHappyJoyJoy: Oh, me. I've been trying to stop, but I can't. The skirt I get the most compliments on was $1.99 at Value Village. I always mention it.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
Has anyone else notice the new diamond print ads in the NYT (maybe DeBeers)? It is all about how we shouldn't be wasting money on crap, but diamonds are a wise, timeless investment that will show everyone how prudent you are. Hilarious.
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Aesop's Foibles. YES.
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
Does this remind anybody of the "poor" dinner party story from earlier? And it might just be me, but the accompanying stabbiness seems familiar, too...HEY, rich people! Don't buy me a Ferrari for Christmas, just shut the fuck up!!! Ho, ho, ho!!!
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robot ninja spy
12/01/08

@terribletwenties: Mwahahahahahaha! Your comment reminded me of Karen Walker thinking Grace was lying about "the little tube underground you take to work" and recoiling in horror when she took her to that designer outlet.
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PhillyLass
12/01/08

@r.n. spy: Yes! And thinking she'd have to fly to Brooklyn for Grace's dinner party.
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Flackette Goes Retro
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
If anyone has excess money they would like to give to a good cause, my student loans total much less than the cost of a new Ferrari. And I take PayPal.
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swashbuckling
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
I'm not rich by any stretch of the definition, but I have felt guilty about what I can buy versus what, say, an unemployed friend can buy, and I've tried to avoid calling attention to the disparity. But that's more like common courtesy than luxury shame, though, and I get to be at the receiving end of it after this Friday!
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
12/01/08

@swashbuckling: I feel your pain.
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sequined
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
I feel uncomfortable buying luxuries I can't afford. So I don't. Is that somehow related?
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LaComtesse
12/01/08

In reply to "Luxury Shame" Will Be Big For Winter
Because, really, isn't this recession ACTUALLY about the wealthy. Everything else is. Why should the recession be any different?

All these losers are playing milkmaid in Trianon...

Oh, and also, don't you love the fact that it takes someone they know (or hypothetically could know) to get them to be ashamed of the fact that they spend more money than I will make in 4 years on a car? As though ALL OF A SUDDEN there are poor people-- they just mystically appeared around August...
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