The Contentedness thread - Page 18

Like CodPiece, I went into full Pitti mode at one point, and I am sure there were occasions where I looked like a complete clown, but at least in NYC, it's a pretty ok thing to do. I gradually moved into the realm of sanity though and now that I live and breath clothing for my job, I see things from inside the industry and the kinds of crazy spending that companies and magazines are constantly pushing (mostly to women still).

I have accumulated an unreasonably large amount of clothing, like many people here, but the pieces that continue to deliver are the simple ones that everybody recommends. I have like 5 pairs of Aldens, and 2 EG, and a few nice watches, but here's what I wore to work for the past month:

- T-shirt (you can guess the company)
- APC New Standards
- Jack Purcell
- Fred Perry Harrington Jacket

I am content with a wardrobe that cost less than 1 pair of my EGs.

Edit - someone posted this article earlier linking to a pay site. I found the free PDF - If money doesn't make you happy, then you probably aren't
spending it right
Edited by thenanyu - 9/3/12 at 3:34am

At the moment, I am wondering if there is a form of content whereby one such as myself might accept the fact that he likes buying clothes and, as long as it is in good moderation, might just feel comfortable with that.

I have always treated buying clothes as solving a problem - like, "Oh, I need a (some item of clothing) because of (insert justification here)"

The trouble with this approach is that you start making up justifications to yourself about stuff that you "need", especially after the low hanging fruit have been picked. You can see this with MTO shoes (and TOJ Jackets) quite a lot - the reasoning becomes, here is one variation that I am missing, I MUST HAVE IT.

If that item is chucks or something, whatever get them in all colors, but when that stuff becomes more expensive, you end up with a crazy amount of spending before you know it. I sold a bunch of stuff the other day, for a pittance really, and it felt really good to have it out of my closet and off my mind. A lot of this stuff was bothering me because I was constantly looking for excuses to wear it and coming up empty. Now I don't have to think about it.
Edited by thenanyu - 9/4/12 at 5:00am

it's actually not uncomfortable at all. i can even type when i'm wearing it.

For the longest time, I've been thinking that being content means not buying anything. I'm quite happy with what I do have, but like to pick up something else (usually on good sale) from time to time.

On a related note, I've become more and more happy with my little house. I'm nearly done furnishing it with vintage Danish teak furniture that I've found here and there at very reasonable prices. The only things left that I need are a bookshelf for my daughter's room, a small table for the kitchen, and four bases for my Eames fiberglass chairs.

http://jawnz.com buy less but better.

student loans are a bitch... not sure how I'm ever supposed to move out of a shoebox apartment

Me too... back when I graduated HS (or even at college graduation) I figured I'd be more settled by now. I didn't think I'd be married or anything and definitely didn't think I'd have kids, but I figured I'd be at least somewhat established career-wise, earning a decent amount, etc...

Income based repayment (if you're loans are high enough). Right now I'm paying $45/month on my $120k of loans from law school
(ok, that's a little exaggerated because it's based off of my tax returns from 2011, when I didn't start working until halfway through the year. But IIRC if you earn $50k/yr or so your payments would still be only about $400/mo which isn't too bad)

I take issue with the plan though (used to be on it) because it doesn't take into account things like location/cost of living. I live in nyc, my rent, is almost 50% of my income... On paper it looks I make enough but in reality the cost of living here, crazy taxes, etc, mean I take home an abysmal percentage of my paycheck.

move to brooklyn

I can only possibly afford to pay my loans on IBR. On the regular 30-year plan I'd have to pay $900/mo and on the 10yr repayment they automatically start on it would've been a ridiculous $1700/mo.