What would happen if everyone cut down on the money
they spend on stuff like new clothes/shoes/sofas/coffee machines etc. by 20% or
even 50% - and then went spending the money saved on culture; art, concerts,
events?
Economists and environmentalists agree that the world
is running short on resourses, so we have to avoid over consuming and start
thinking more about recycling, like for instance the new law in France, that
says that super markets are not allowed to throw away edible food, but has to
donate it to charity or the like. Awesome!
But what will happen to the economy if there’s less
trade of material goods?
I think the economy will find a market for trade of
immaterial things like knowledge, art and events. Sharing or streaming things
like cars and movies instead of owning them is already a trend. This is the
future, and it’s already happening.
Do we really need to buy all this stuff?
Do I need 20
pairs of shoes? No, I don’t think so.
Some say that shopping fills an empty space in us, but
only temporarily so. Philosopher Alain de Botton made a wonderful documentary
about this issue. Apparently, it was already answered by Epicurus in ancient
Greece!
Video about the wisdom of Epicurus
Why we buy new things is, according to Alain de
Botton, because its makes us happy for a while by filling the empty gap, the
longing inside us, for a while.
But: the nice feeling of happiness or
attachment to the new pair of shoes/lamp/bicycle wears off ever so quickly – it cannot satisfy the longing for real happiness.
True happiness, it seems, comes from:
*Being with your friends/loved ones/family
*Being free of worries (even just for an hour)
*Being free of physical pain
A perfect reason for spending your money on an evening
in the theatre with your girlfriend, isn’t it?
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