Defiant Frugality
It’s not often I blog about my day-job, but this has been annoying me for a while, so if you’re not interested in personal finance, just skip today’s post and move on to the next blog please….
In the current political and financial climate in the UK, the middle classes are pretty unhappy. Public services are a complete shambles, pensions are worthless, state schools went to the dogs long ago, and taxes are soaring. Most middle-class people are horribly in debt, overworked and rarely see their family. From what my US friends tell me, I believe the situation is much the same on the other side of the pond.
Last week the Times suggested that the solution to this mess is “Defiant Frugality”.
Nice term. I like it.
Why do we buy stuff we don’t need, like fancy shoes, the latest designer labels, processed food, and electrical gadgets that end up unused in the cupboard ? Why do we have to have the latest fancy medium-format camera, the latest lens, the latest shiny latex corset as worn by Bianca Beauchamp? And down to basics, why do we throw out over a third of the food we buy ?
Here’s a thought : Why not say “no”?
Give the finger to the system by rejecting consumption. The Government tells you to spend, spend, spend to support the economy.
Don’t.
Don’t shop, don’t waste money.
Reduce your overheads. Don’t buy anything you see in an advert, ever. Don’t buy things in packets (try that for a week and see how hard it is. I lasted four days).
Above all, don’t buy things on credit – it’s not your money.
Instead, spend wisely only on the things that really matter to you. And that doesn’t mean new seven inch fetish heels for your latest shoot – try nude modelling, no expensive outfits required.
If you spend less money, you will be able to work less. Plus you’ll pay less taxes! You’ll be able to spend more time with your family, friends or lovers, whatever (although lovers can be extremely expensive, so choose a cheap one).
It strikes me that most people would generally be a lot happier if they had basic lessons in how to draw up a monthly budget, and how to reconcile their bank statement. IMO, financial management lessons should be made compulsory in schools. It would sure make future generations a lot happier. Mind you, so would shooting the tax-man.
Sorry about the lecture folks, but I am an accountant, after all.
Come back soon Rich, and talk to us about the wonders of nude photography…..
Looking at nudes is much nicer than talking about budgeting, don’t you think?
(This is Kate, BTW)
In the current political and financial climate in the UK, the middle classes are pretty unhappy. Public services are a complete shambles, pensions are worthless, state schools went to the dogs long ago, and taxes are soaring. Most middle-class people are horribly in debt, overworked and rarely see their family. From what my US friends tell me, I believe the situation is much the same on the other side of the pond.
Last week the Times suggested that the solution to this mess is “Defiant Frugality”.
Nice term. I like it.
Why do we buy stuff we don’t need, like fancy shoes, the latest designer labels, processed food, and electrical gadgets that end up unused in the cupboard ? Why do we have to have the latest fancy medium-format camera, the latest lens, the latest shiny latex corset as worn by Bianca Beauchamp? And down to basics, why do we throw out over a third of the food we buy ?
Here’s a thought : Why not say “no”?
Give the finger to the system by rejecting consumption. The Government tells you to spend, spend, spend to support the economy.
Don’t.
Don’t shop, don’t waste money.
Reduce your overheads. Don’t buy anything you see in an advert, ever. Don’t buy things in packets (try that for a week and see how hard it is. I lasted four days).
Above all, don’t buy things on credit – it’s not your money.
Instead, spend wisely only on the things that really matter to you. And that doesn’t mean new seven inch fetish heels for your latest shoot – try nude modelling, no expensive outfits required.
If you spend less money, you will be able to work less. Plus you’ll pay less taxes! You’ll be able to spend more time with your family, friends or lovers, whatever (although lovers can be extremely expensive, so choose a cheap one).
It strikes me that most people would generally be a lot happier if they had basic lessons in how to draw up a monthly budget, and how to reconcile their bank statement. IMO, financial management lessons should be made compulsory in schools. It would sure make future generations a lot happier. Mind you, so would shooting the tax-man.
Sorry about the lecture folks, but I am an accountant, after all.
Come back soon Rich, and talk to us about the wonders of nude photography…..
Looking at nudes is much nicer than talking about budgeting, don’t you think?
(This is Kate, BTW)
posted by Lin at 8:04 AM
1 Comments:
There is a movement along these lines, possibly most visible at http://www.adbusters.org/home/ ...more about resisting the corporate/consumer identity and rediscovering our individual/creative identity.
Or to quote Tyler Durden in Fight Club, "You are not your fucking khakis."
But you're SURE I don't need the new medium format camera? You were kidding about that, right?
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