I used to be the kind of person that purchased the latest technological gadget first. I stood in line outside of Best Buy for 12 hours in order to buy a Playstation 2 on the first day of release. My computer had a TV tuner so I could capture and catalog television shows long before torrents existed. I was the first person I knew that owned a hybrid car (my Honda Civic Hybrid purchased 5 years ago).
However, now I am no longer tempted to have the latest and greatest. My cell phone is a 3-year old Motorola Razr. I finally bought a PS3 this weekend, my first new console in 10 years. My digital camera is so old that the memory cards aren't even sold in stores anymore. I haven't upgraded the motherboard and CPU in my computer in 5 years. It's a curious realization for me. When I didn't have the money to spare, I wanted and got the best gadgets I could find. Now that I have a steady, full-time job and can afford such things, I forgo them. I still buy them for others as presents, but I do not typically do so for myself.
It seems that the more money I have, the less I spend on myself. I think this is because I realize that spending money on myself does not make me happier. What makes me happiest is making others happy. The more I care for them, the more happiness I desire for them. If the latest gadget make them happy, I will gladly get it for them just to know that they are happy, even if it is fleeting.
However, now I am no longer tempted to have the latest and greatest. My cell phone is a 3-year old Motorola Razr. I finally bought a PS3 this weekend, my first new console in 10 years. My digital camera is so old that the memory cards aren't even sold in stores anymore. I haven't upgraded the motherboard and CPU in my computer in 5 years. It's a curious realization for me. When I didn't have the money to spare, I wanted and got the best gadgets I could find. Now that I have a steady, full-time job and can afford such things, I forgo them. I still buy them for others as presents, but I do not typically do so for myself.
It seems that the more money I have, the less I spend on myself. I think this is because I realize that spending money on myself does not make me happier. What makes me happiest is making others happy. The more I care for them, the more happiness I desire for them. If the latest gadget make them happy, I will gladly get it for them just to know that they are happy, even if it is fleeting.