This is a great thread and I really agree with sky and Brian m 101. I think we are all individuals in what we value and what we think is extravagant. I have been and probably still am much better off then many peers. There is nothing I buy that is not needed and freecycle has taught me to get rid of what I don't use. Silly Girl, I think in some ways I can see what you are saying from a really different prospective. I was poor and neglected and never had right clothing. I never learned to shop for myself really. I find it appalling to see a pair of jeans with a $50.00 price tag and would sooner give it to the bag lady pushing the cart. It is actually a difficult issue for me. My MIL has great taste and gets me cool clothes that I like. I would never in a million years buy these things unless they were at thrift stores. It's just that I can't let myself spend money like that. On the other hand when my children were older they were more expensive and ski swaps stopped working well. My son got x-country skis one year and downhill another, brand new!!! No to me looking back the down hills were extravagant but at the time I didn't know as much about where to find stuff as I do now. However, the daughter who never lets me buy her any clothes and can't ever find a coat she likes fell in love with a very expensive coat last year and I put it on lay away and bought it for her. It was a struggle.

All I am saying is that it is different for everyone and I agree with Brian a lot. We had it we spent it, we don't have it we don't spend it.

However, all of that said, the thing that yanks my chain so much is conspicous consumption. Every new toy, every new album, computer, etc. I believe our culture teaches us to behave this way.

I hope I am not boring or upsetting anyone but here, it's like this:
My friends are younger and have a 3 year old foster daughter they are adopting. She is quite a pip, has been with them since she was 13 months. Anyway, during the holidays this year we were staying with these friends to be closer to our daughter who was hospitalized. This child who already had two winter outfits, snow pants,. coat, boots, got three more sets and clothing like you wouldn't believe. It was grandparents trying to show love but to me it was really overwhelming. She got every Dora the Explorer toy invented and then some. We gave her a story book about bears and it came with two little bears and she loved it and we read it 100 times. She remembers us because of the bear book, and the discipline, she thought we could be taken, ha ha. I taught her mom well.

I am sure it is way more complicated. Just my thoughts for today.