Thrift & Frugality - a quality or a meanness?
06-13-23, 04:48 AM
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Thrift & Frugality - a quality or a meanness?
There are those who state with conviction that thrift is an admirable quality, one that all should possess. In similar vein, to be frugal is to respect mother earth's diminishing resources.
Some adopt this position from need, from lack of resource. Some from political conviction. Some from their cultural roots.
There are those who (famously, Gordon, Famously) state that greed is good and prompts development and advancement.
There must be a middle-line somewhere: those people who will harbour an eleventy-billion year old pair of socks, yet splurge on the latest hi-high carbon-frames etc. That might be me [cough].
Your anecdotes please; either introspective self-awareness or settling scores with the mean person who dissed you last decade and against whom you still harbour a grudge ;-)
Some adopt this position from need, from lack of resource. Some from political conviction. Some from their cultural roots.
There are those who (famously, Gordon, Famously) state that greed is good and prompts development and advancement.
There must be a middle-line somewhere: those people who will harbour an eleventy-billion year old pair of socks, yet splurge on the latest hi-high carbon-frames etc. That might be me [cough].
Your anecdotes please; either introspective self-awareness or settling scores with the mean person who dissed you last decade and against whom you still harbour a grudge ;-)
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06-13-23, 06:29 AM
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06-13-23, 06:49 AM
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OP must be inspired by the seven-year old sock guy and the “turned my jacket inside out“ guy.
This should be a good ride…
This should be a good ride…
06-13-23, 06:58 AM
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Not to mention Britney's underwear.... 
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06-13-23, 07:11 AM
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06-13-23, 07:28 AM
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There are those who state with conviction that thrift is an admirable quality, one that all should possess. In similar vein, to be frugal is to respect mother earth's diminishing resources.
Some adopt this position from need, from lack of resource. Some from political conviction. Some from their cultural roots.
There are those who (famously, Gordon, Famously) state that greed is good and prompts development and advancement.
There must be a middle-line somewhere: those people who will harbour an eleventy-billion year old pair of socks, yet splurge on the latest hi-high carbon-frames etc. That might be me [cough].
Your anecdotes please; either introspective self-awareness or settling scores with the mean person who dissed you last decade and against whom you still harbour a grudge ;-)
Some adopt this position from need, from lack of resource. Some from political conviction. Some from their cultural roots.
There are those who (famously, Gordon, Famously) state that greed is good and prompts development and advancement.
There must be a middle-line somewhere: those people who will harbour an eleventy-billion year old pair of socks, yet splurge on the latest hi-high carbon-frames etc. That might be me [cough].
Your anecdotes please; either introspective self-awareness or settling scores with the mean person who dissed you last decade and against whom you still harbour a grudge ;-)
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06-13-23, 07:30 AM
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06-13-23, 07:57 AM
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06-13-23, 08:05 AM
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And I have a custom Dinucci bike and an Alex Singer randonneur built in Paris for me. So I guess that frugality thing is out the window
/markp
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06-13-23, 08:16 AM
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Hmm. I try to be efficient with my mental energy, especially negative mental energy. Anger and resentment eat away at you. Let it go, you'll be lighter and faster.
And I have a custom Dinucci bike and an Alex Singer randonneur built in Paris for me. So I guess that frugality thing is out the window
/markp
And I have a custom Dinucci bike and an Alex Singer randonneur built in Paris for me. So I guess that frugality thing is out the window
/markp
06-13-23, 08:19 AM
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06-13-23, 08:19 AM
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Hand knitted in Alpaca wool, with extra Cushioning at the ball and apex of the foot. Just the right size as one foot is slightly larger then the other...
I'll take um in Orange please... Oh Yeah!
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06-13-23, 08:26 AM
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06-13-23, 08:32 AM
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Always thought a frugal manager making the most out of available resources was a highly sought after skill in business circles?
A friend of mine is on disability and learned how to make the most out of her monthly allotment out of necessity.
A friend of mine is on disability and learned how to make the most out of her monthly allotment out of necessity.
06-13-23, 09:56 AM
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I guess the middle ground could be spending countless hours on the net researching the lowest price available for that high end frame/groupset/bling/jersey/etc a person's just got have. Or not.
06-13-23, 10:11 AM
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I dont buy fast fashion and keep clothes for a long time. As a result, I dont buy frequently, but do often spend more on some clothing I have found to last a long time and fits well. Conversely, I bet I could find plenty of slob fit tshirts at Goodwill for $3 each.
I love to rebuild old bike frames with modern components- love the process and the ability to bring something unused back to life and modern. But I largely dislike old drivetrain styles. Conversely, I just finished a singlespeed last night that uses an early 70s 531 Peugeot road frame that I got for free.
There is no reason for someone to always choose thrift or to always splurge. Each purchase is allowed to be its own standalone decision.
I cant think of anyone over the years that I still harbor a grudge against because they 'dissed' me. I am an adult, I dont allow my life to work in that way.
06-13-23, 11:31 AM
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Greed is responsible for all the misery where we have billionaires and people living in tents in the USA. Greed is the motivation for all wars even if the perpetrators pretend otherwise. Soldiers learn this ealy on and other than the 2% that are psychopaths they develop PTSD within 60 days of combat as they experience first hand the disconnect between what they were told and what they are experiencing first hand.
I try to minimize my carbon footprint as much as possible and have altered my lifestyle as a result. I have cut out all air travel and reduced my meat consumption by 90%. I avoid buying any products in plastic packaging as 95% of recyled plastic ends up being incinerated or in the local landfill.
One does what one can but I have long felt like someone in one of the lifeboats who is watching the Titanic slowly sink beneath the water while all around me are people who were not provided with a lifeboat and so they are slowly freezing to death one by one.
I try to minimize my carbon footprint as much as possible and have altered my lifestyle as a result. I have cut out all air travel and reduced my meat consumption by 90%. I avoid buying any products in plastic packaging as 95% of recyled plastic ends up being incinerated or in the local landfill.
One does what one can but I have long felt like someone in one of the lifeboats who is watching the Titanic slowly sink beneath the water while all around me are people who were not provided with a lifeboat and so they are slowly freezing to death one by one.
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06-13-23, 11:43 AM
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I have ridden near this place a few times, and i know a woman whose brother was the sous chef there. Might still be. You don't have to be a billionaire to afford it, but it would help.
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06-13-23, 11:56 AM
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I like buying high-end products for mid-level prices, because I enjoy and appreciate the quality and performance, but I'm realistic about what my income level can tolerate.
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06-13-23, 12:06 PM
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I prefer quality and to buy something that will last me a while. That doesn't always mean it's expensive. I have seen absolute garbage for sale with a high price tag and amazing quality for cheap. Each purchase is a chance to exercise your values in relation to capitalism and social responsibility.
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06-13-23, 12:10 PM
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Greed is responsible for all the misery where we have billionaires and people living in tents in the USA. Greed is the motivation for all wars even if the perpetrators pretend otherwise. Soldiers learn this ealy on and other than the 2% that are psychopaths they develop PTSD within 60 days of combat as they experience first hand the disconnect between what they were told and what they are experiencing first hand.
I try to minimize my carbon footprint as much as possible and have altered my lifestyle as a result. I have cut out all air travel and reduced my meat consumption by 90%. I avoid buying any products in plastic packaging as 95% of recyled plastic ends up being incinerated or in the local landfill.
One does what one can but I have long felt like someone in one of the lifeboats who is watching the Titanic slowly sink beneath the water while all around me are people who were not provided with a lifeboat and so they are slowly freezing to death one by one.
I try to minimize my carbon footprint as much as possible and have altered my lifestyle as a result. I have cut out all air travel and reduced my meat consumption by 90%. I avoid buying any products in plastic packaging as 95% of recyled plastic ends up being incinerated or in the local landfill.
One does what one can but I have long felt like someone in one of the lifeboats who is watching the Titanic slowly sink beneath the water while all around me are people who were not provided with a lifeboat and so they are slowly freezing to death one by one.
06-13-23, 12:22 PM
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Anyone brought up The Paradox Of Thrift yet? Okay.
We generally recognize thrift as an individual virtue - not buying things you don't need, making do with what you have, making it last as long as possible, saving your money.
However, in order to feed, clothe, and house the population, you need enough economic activity to provide jobs for everyone. Economic activity = some people make stuff, some people do stuff, some people sell stuff, other people pay for that stuff. People buying goods and services is where jobs come from. The more goods and services people buy, the more jobs there are, and the more people can afford to buy goods and services.
So, if EVERYONE cut back on their purchases, only ever bought what they really needed, made do with less, and saved their money, a whole lot of people would be out of work. What is individually virtuous may be catastrophic at the level of the whole economy.
We generally recognize thrift as an individual virtue - not buying things you don't need, making do with what you have, making it last as long as possible, saving your money.
However, in order to feed, clothe, and house the population, you need enough economic activity to provide jobs for everyone. Economic activity = some people make stuff, some people do stuff, some people sell stuff, other people pay for that stuff. People buying goods and services is where jobs come from. The more goods and services people buy, the more jobs there are, and the more people can afford to buy goods and services.
So, if EVERYONE cut back on their purchases, only ever bought what they really needed, made do with less, and saved their money, a whole lot of people would be out of work. What is individually virtuous may be catastrophic at the level of the whole economy.
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