Are other people also happily basic?

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audienceandaudio2@reddit

If you like what you're doing and where you're spending your money, then you're absolutely fine. There's a little bit of a culture on Reddit on being aggressively cheap, delighting in not spending money, and anybody buying anything new is a fool wasting their money, which is often taking it to the extremes. If you're happy with your life, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

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wglwse@reddit

I completely agree with you, 100%, but in addition to it and to play devil's advocate a little, I can't help but think we as a society are sleepwalking into habits of overconsumption we don't really even want or need. We all sort of buy crap we don't really want or need in a manner we wouldn't have 20 years ago. Not to be argumentative just putting another view out there

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JHolmesSlut@reddit

I mean I think that has been true for decades now, it’s just easier to do now, if we only bought things we need life would be pretty dull

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wglwse@reddit

I'm not sure I agree to be honest, if we could calculate what Britain purchased per capita 20 years ago vs today or say 50 years ago I truly believe those figures would look vastly different. I also am not for a single moment advocating that nobody buys anything they don't 'need' ever, that would, as you say be a mindnumbing existence!

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JHolmesSlut@reddit

Right but if you look at production numbers per capita it eclipses what it was 50 years ago, we over produce if anything

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wglwse@reddit

Supply and demand my friend

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JHolmesSlut@reddit

Except the supply is so much larger than the demand, the volume of production has only increased while demand has steadily increased and wages even slower

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wglwse@reddit

Source for this?

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JHolmesSlut@reddit

Look at turnover times for products, it used to be weeks and now it’s sometimes the same day, massive factories in China are pumping out so much that prices are almost nothing for some items due to the supply. The demand dictates but the supply has been way over for a long time now. What you might be confused with is artificial scarcity, holding back stock or producing smaller batches to drive up prices and hype for a product this is not the same

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wglwse@reddit

They're producing that stuff because the demands there for it. If it wasn't selling they wouldn't continue to make it en masse. Supply is dictated by demand. Why continue to make a product that's not selling??

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JHolmesSlut@reddit

Yes I already pointed that out demand dictates but it should be a balance it sadly is not, there are stock piles of these products because of how the markets work now, you aren’t ever really buying from a company directly anymore it’s usually a brand stick over a mass produced design by another brand that has artificial scarcity

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Thick_Reality_5889@reddit

I agree with this. I spend money on good quality stuff that I use every day, and some of that might seem a little silly, like salt and pepper grinders at £40 a pop, but they last a lifetime and I'd rather buy once and have it be good than buy super cheap and have to deal with its crappiness it until it breaks. A lot of other stuff I get second hand too. People buy stuff of Temu simply because it's cheap, not because they need it in any way. It sucks so much and it hurts that we're going to backwards

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ot1smile@reddit

I spent £40 on a pepper mill when my wife and I first set up home and I was using it the other day and realised that it’s over 20 years old now.

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Ok_Slice_9799@reddit

Well said

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SlightlyIncandescent@reddit

I'm aspiring to be more basic to be honest, taking deliberate steps to work towards that. For example like most people I automatically got a new flagship phone on contract every 2 years for a long time then suddenly questioned it, started buying phones outright and suddenly a £200-300 phone is lasting 5+ years instead of a £600+ phone lasting 2 years. I realised I'm not that capitalist career/wealth driven type, I like the simple things. Rather than trying to earn more I'm trying to spend less.

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No_Doughnut3257@reddit

I’m performatively happily basic

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togtogtog@reddit

I don't really know what that means! Does that mean someone who is basic, doesn't like it, but pretends to be happy about it to impress others?

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ot1smile@reddit

I read it as happily basic and doesn’t shut up about it!

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togtogtog@reddit

Oh! Yeah, maybe that is it? Thanks :-)

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FHFBEATS@reddit

Well done for ignoring capitalism. The rat race in unavoidable but you can choose to walk it. Stoicism helped free my mind from the daily stresses and the toxic elements of using social media such as comparison and envy. We will all die, eventually. Enjoy what you have before it’s gone, even the little things in life.

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sudwald@reddit (OP)

Another stoicism fan here. The thing is the stoics say it’s not bad to have stuff. Stuff is nice! But knowing you could live without it all if you had to - that’s happiness.

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FHFBEATS@reddit

It’s a real eye-opener. People hear “death” and attribute it to negativity/morbidness. The thought of It now brings me peace and happiness for I can sit back and appreciate the fact that I am a self-aware creature on this tiny grain of sand in space. It’s soothing as hell.

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Weird1Intrepid@reddit

Yeah I'm pretty extremely frugal with all aspects of my life. I don't have much money coming in and most of it gets spent on my crippling alcoholism, so I've learned to make do with a lot of things that other people would find unacceptable. I don't even turn my own lights on at night because my neighbour's lights shine in through my window and illuminate things just fine until like 1 or 2AM most nights 😅

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HopingillWin@reddit

10-15 years old? Rookie numbers....,/lol

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togtogtog@reddit

Yeah, that's me. My brother in law bought us some wine glasses, so that we could have 'matching glasses' when we have guests. But we just kept them to one side for when our existing ones broke (we still have some spare!). We like having mismatched stuff, because it gives you options to choose from! Also, I would rather save money for early retirement or working less, rather than having everything look right for other people. (Some of our towels are about 40 years old now, and when I wanted some smaller towels, I chopped one of the bath-sheets that we don't use much in two and hemmed them to make two smaller towels).

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neo101b@reddit

Look right ? such a weird concept, I don't even have matching socks.

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ot1smile@reddit

Non-matching socks would do my head in. Not so bothered about colour but thickness/fit being different on each foot would really annoy me.

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VioletDime@reddit

I've got an old car and coats that are 20 years old. They do the job, and l am happy with them. However, where l make savings there, and other places, l really like to splurge on things. I don't eat out a lot, but when l do, it's all courses, multiple drinks and in a top quality restaurant. A bit of restraint in some areas allows some fun in others!

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theModge@reddit

Exactly: that's where I'm at: topic by topic. My car is old and has some cosmetic wear, but the functional bits are all well maintained and the tires are great. It works flawlessly, but doesn't impress. Other things in my life (definitely including mismatched soft furnishing + towels! who the fuck has time for matching soft furnishings?) are basic. Others are not, Seeing my in-laws is an expensive plane ticket. Our weekly food bill is what some of the tightest fisted amongst you manage in a month, but I'm happy whenever I eat. My tea is loose whole leaves and my bike rather good too (though not the more-than -my-car level that some plump for)

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iggle_piggle@reddit

Calling a 10 year old car old is kinda wild to me, isn't that about average?

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theModge@reddit

A) it's 11 years actually, I just logged on to edit. B) a lot of people have cars on three year leases, so there's a lot of people with <3 year old cars and a lot more taking them on after the 3 years are out for another 3 years, so having <6 years old. I mean it's not unheard of either, it's not even the only one on my street, but I'd say it's at the older end of things

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iggle_piggle@reddit

That's fair, maybe I am an outlier, I've never had a car newer than 10 years old. My current is a 2008.

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thescamperinghamster@reddit

Yup, i rarely buy new clothes, other than band merch, have an old car and generally try to keep food costs down, takeaways maybe once or twice a year, but those savings allows me to spend that money on doing fun things and having adventures. I really don't need more shit, but love doing things, life is short, who knows when it'll end, so I try to experience as much a possible, since future adventures aren't guaranteed.

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TimeForGrass@reddit

I'm the same, to an extent. I like having a newer car I guess, and gadgets that make my life easier. Though I need to ask, where are you buying your 10-15 year clothes??

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CriticalCentimeter@reddit

I imagine they bought them new, 10-15 years ago

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TimeForGrass@reddit

Yeah I get that, but my question was because I can manage maybe 1/2 years out of clothes tops, so I want to know where I can buy clothes that last ten.

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CriticalCentimeter@reddit

ah ok, sorry, I misunderstood. I've still got clothes that I wear from 10-15 years ago. They're typically quite expensive ones at the time. Altho, I dont think items from the same brands bought now would last 10-15 years - as typically, they get shitter quality as time goes on.

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KaleidoscopeFull9951@reddit

I’m like this. Car is 17 years old and still going strong so why change? Try to keep purchasing anything to a minimum and generally live frugally. Come from parents who were always mortgaged up to the hilt, lived on an overdraft and spent every penny they had on soft furnishings and useless antique ornaments. Never had a family holiday as a child, they saw that as wasteful. But we had lots of nice cushions on the sofa! So now try to live with little and have holidays and treats instead of things.

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GT283@reddit

what car is it?

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KaleidoscopeFull9951@reddit

VW Jetta 2 litre diesel. V old fashioned. Massive boot!

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PatserGrey@reddit

Snap on the car age. Last MOT was perfect (I did give the underside a bit of spray paint the week before). For the 2-3000 miles a year I do, changing just does not make sense. I don't mind spending money on quality, love fixing things, absolutely hate throwaway culture.

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Rude_as_HECK@reddit

A lot of this sounds fine other than the oven. What you have is a broken oven.

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Gauntlets28@reddit

Nah, that's not broken. Most ovens come with two bits, and one of them's always broken. Standard configuration, innit?

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octoberforeverr@reddit

The oven and the towels for me. Everything else is fine but mismatched towels would make my eye twitch.

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Zenafa@reddit

I've never even considered that my towels should match. I like the variety

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theModge@reddit

Life is too short for matching towels. I get just as dry on mismatched towels.

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anabsentfriend@reddit

I have an oven that has two ovens. A large one and a half-size one next to it. If I use the oven, it would only ever be the small one so I wouldn't even know if the other half was broken.

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Brilliant-Offer-4208@reddit

It’s not a broken oven. One half works and that will do unless it causes OP aggro.

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Fluffy-Inside-4191@reddit

One half doesn't work... because it's broken.

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Brilliant-Offer-4208@reddit

The other half does work because it’s not broken.

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Brilliant-Offer-4208@reddit

Awaiting incoming analogy

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VanicFanboy@reddit

He's 27 until he's 28

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Ferforious@reddit

Ironically it’s broking

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BrieflyVerbose@reddit

Sounds like me to be honest. Just still trying to keep going!

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Poison1990@reddit

He's an oven half working kinda guy.

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togtogtog@reddit

It sounded like one broken oven and one working oven?

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Gauntlets28@reddit

Pretty much the same, honestly. There are better things i could be spending my money on, frankly. Ovens that still cook okay aren't a top priority. That said, i got a new car second hand last year because the old one kept failing.

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tenaji9@reddit

I got what I need . No designer . I am OK

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shiftyemu@reddit

My parents were very wealthy but didn't spoil me. We had nice stuff and if I wanted anything I'd have to wait for birthday/Christmas but I'd always get it. As a result "stuff" just doesn't interest me. I'd had stuff all my life , it's just stuff. If something still worked there was no way I'd replace it. Then I met my husband when we were 16. Raised in absolute poverty. Never had stuff. He aspired to have stuff. We got jobs and we could afford things. I spent my money on experiences, he spent it on stuff. I remember when the PS4 came out I was completely bewildered that he was buying one when his PS3 still worked. We live in a very nice large house which is probably the only unnecessary thing I've ever bought, we would've been fine in a smaller house but I fell in love with this one. Looking around I'm seeing my husband's game consoles. He has an Xbox one, PS5 pro, switch 2, quest 2 vr headset, steam deck and analogue pocket. His final fantasy 14 collectables are on a shelf including a complete set of encyclopaedias and vinyls of songs from the game, plus his graded (10) MTG chocobo card. In the office his beast of a gaming computer with 3 screens is upgraded all the time. I have a very nice razer laptop for gaming but it's about 10 years old. It still plays everything I want so I won't let him upgrade it. I don't have a lot of stuff. And the stuff I do have is quite old. Stuff just doesn't bring me joy. I don't judge my husband for his love of stuff though. He got a great job so he can afford stuff and I've never lived in poverty so i don't feel like it's fair for me to rain on his parade. It brings him joy and we can afford it. I'm just not interested in having stuff myself.

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AlGunner@reddit

Of course the people who want you to buy their stuff say old stuff is not ok. But once you go down that road it's a slippery slope. If you listen to them and do what they tell you you'll soon end up with breast implants, lip filler, tattooed eye brows and I don't just mean the women!!!

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Thick_Reality_5889@reddit

For many years I thought the bottom of our oven was broken because when I asked my dad why he didn't use it he *said* it was broken. It turns out it was absolutely fine, he just couldn't bend down that far and didn't want to admit to getting old

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birchboleta@reddit

Yes basically happy too. , my biggest pleasure is foraging for food in the wild and charity shop shopping not bought new clothes for years. Have a 35 year old van we go and have great adventures in, park in free places where possible, the wilder and away from people the better. Got a small 20 year old car costs nothing to run. Have our own house in the country, dog, not got much money as i have had 3 years after losing my job waiting to get my pension. Always got food, booze etc. I couldn't think of anything else I really need to be happy

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VioletsSoul@reddit

Yeah I am. The world needs some people who are not desperately striving after the hustle or chasing the aesthetic of the week. My towels don't match either. They're fine. I sold my car because I hated maintaining it and I like taking the train. I don't buy clothes that often.

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PoundingTheStreets@reddit

I don’t think most people are as consumerist as we’re led to believe and that most of us are rubbing along just fine just as the OP is. I think it’s a small number of people who are very active online who are buying, using and promoting the “best” of everything. And of course companies promote this aggressively as they want to sell more and governments support it as they want economy growth. But there’s a large element of smoke and mirrors here. It may be just the company I keep but most of us have second-hand cars, ‘quirky’ appliances of one sort or another that work perfectly well if you know how to use them properly, items of clothing that are no longer particularly fashionable but are comfortable and perfectly serviceable so continue to be worn, homes where many of the rooms haven’t seen a paintbrush in years, etc.

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Thi13een@reddit

Reddit is gonna be all over this. OP you don’t know it yet but you’ve just entered into a Reddit frugality contest; “your clothes are only 15 years old? Well MY clothes are 30 years old, and they’re all made from old burlap sacks I found in a bin. You only have half an oven? Well, I cook everything on an open flame from a fire made from foraged wood AND I only eat food I grow or find on the ground. You have a car? You’re a disgrace, I walk everywhere, barefoot of course, because shoes are a sign of capitalism” And so of and so forth

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Tricky-Ant5338@reddit

For some stuff, I completely agree. I use unmatched cutlery and plates because - well it all still works! Totally agree with you about a travelodge - you always know what you are going to get! For other stuff I will spend more - we spend a lot on food, but that’s because I aim to get organic and fresh when we can. Health-stuff is more important to me as I get older and therefore I spend more in this area.

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ProAtTresspass@reddit

Yeh mate self imposed destitution. All clothes and any items I need from charity shops and I'll wear them till they're no longer useable holes n all. I got thirty year old sandals I swiped that are falling apart - still work. Thirty year old french car that's shagged. All my friends call me a bum. Zero direct debits or standing orders. No credit. No loans. No need for holidays cuz my whole life is one. No TV. No phone.

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Poison1990@reddit

> I feel like there’s a very powerful current especially on social media and in advertising that tells you it’s bad for stuff to be fine. And this is why I opt out of both. The closest I get to an advert is a billboard. The closest I get to social media is Reddit or youtube (excluding the occasional video call via Instagram because that's what my parents use). For me it's worth the effort to avoid social media and advertising on my devices and I believe I'm happier for it. I'm not especially social so it works for me. I also don't want my kids exposed to advertising. I think it's bad for them.

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Dont_Kick_the_Dog@reddit

I guess it says a lot about me that I never even considered that anyone would want/need matching towels. Huh. I drive a 10 year old car, as does my partner, and we are quite happy for it. My cooker went and I replaced it with a reconditioned one. I buy clothes from vinted. I wear costume jewellery. I sleep on 30 year old sheets because they still work fine. I feel it's better for the environment and less wasteful to use/reuse what you have. I could afford new stuff but why should I? I'd rather spend my money on things that matter to me, not to Instagram. I resist being manipulated to feed consumerism. It only benefits corporations. I didn't realise I'm a basic person but I'm definitely one of the tribe.

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restingbitchsocks@reddit

I’m in complete agreement. I’m not tight either, but have got to a point in life where I acknowledge that more stuff, or a newer version of the stuff I already have is not going to make me happy. I have enough clothes to see me out. I have to remind myself from time to time that unless you are never going to go out or have anyone round your house, you need to make a bit of an effort to keep up appearances. I can’t be arsed with it though. I do feel a bit of responsibility for keeping the economy going, but I’m getting more tactical now and buying nicer quality things, made in the UK where possible.

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sock_cooker@reddit

I quite like the fact that my house looks like it was put together over time- my furniture mostly came from Facebook marketplace, bed linen and towels were all bought in some kind of sale and the art on the wall is prints of photographs I took myself

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No-Sympathy-4103@reddit

My cars almost 20 years old, I have makeup that’s old but I don’t wear very much/ very often. I have old clothes that fit me and I like. I have hand me downs pans etc from family, that are much better quality than the crap they sell nowadays. Only had a holiday this year for the first time in ten years. I don’t own one designer piece of clothing, bags or shoes, not my cup of tea! I don’t get my lashes done, Botox, hair dyed, nails. I have some greys coming through, I have frown lines on my face, I like not looking like everyone else. Too many people becoming clones or one another. But yes, I’m happy with the basic things in life for sure!

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SelmaEggs1@reddit

Love a travelodge, that’s a holiday for me.. and growing up all we knew was caravan holidays, one trip to butlins or a weekend in Blackpool - I never had to have fancy things. I don’t even have a car and I don’t care to. I can get around on public transport just fine. Better for the environment anyway.

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Ok_Slice_9799@reddit

Broke my smartphone and had to wait 2 weeks for a repair. So I had a basic phone for two weeks. The first week was hell. The second was actually freeing. I felt happier. I was going out more. But it's just not practical unfortunately.

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50_61S-----165_97E@reddit

Theres definitely a happy medium between living minimalistic and materialistic. Wearing 15 year old clothes might seem okay to you, but if they're ragged, stained and full of holes then other people will start judging you negatively for it. Also the oven.. if you're hosting people and you need the extra oven space, that's a good excuse to get it repaired, don't make your life harder when you have the means to make it easier. If spending a little bit of money will objectively improve your life or relationships then go ahead and do it.

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SixtyNineFlavours@reddit

That's basic It's not funny, it's so funny That's just basic being basic (basically)

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redandbluedragoneyes@reddit

for some stuff yes and other stuff now. I think we have our vices of things that we do not care and the bsic is fine and other stuff where we want the nicest/newest/poshest version. some of my clothes are years old and i do not bother to replace them until rip start to appear, they are also just normal brand or less known brands. I keep may cars until the cost of repair is higher then the value of the car. i also have missed match towels and replace them when needed. Our oven did break, did not bother to replace it for over a year, as the hib part still worked and we had an air fryer that did everything we needed. I do like to spend a bit more money on DIT stuff, while i would like to go down the DeWalt route, but as i am light user and more hobbyist, i went Ryobi. I keep my phones until they break or become slow for my day to day use.

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Infinite_Spring_3564@reddit

That’s not how I’ve ever defined ‘Basic’. IMO a basic person simply has no curiosity for culture or art (in any sense) outside of what is immediately served up to them by the most obvious and available channels. Like if you say you love music, but your favourite artists are Lewis Capaldi or Tom Odell, or if you love TV but really only mean stuff like Love is Blind or The Traitors - you’re basic. It’s not necessarily a negative thing at all though. Like I love weird, obscure and experimental music, for example, but when it comes to say, films, I’m basic as heck. Now if you’re basic in every single of those ways, then congrats - you’re all-round basic. That’s not great, but it doesn’t make someone a bad person of course. But anyway - yes I agree with the completely different point that you made. Going by *that* definition of ‘basic’, then yes I’m suppose I’m also basic.

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Monkeytennis01@reddit

Do you make do with these things because you want to, or because you have to be careful with your money?

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Fireflykoala@reddit

Same here in the U.S.!

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TomLondra@reddit

I'm basic too.

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angrypolishman@reddit

agree with all of these except the over and caravan holidays, id still honestly just rather stay at home but yea i like me a travelodge, actually feel well off staying in one compared to hostels lol

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lamaldo78@reddit

r/simpleliving might be up your street!

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SongsAboutGhosts@reddit

I wouldn't describe this as basic, I'd describe it as frugal - but with no negative connotation. It's nice to have nice things but I'm sure you do have things that are nice *to you*. Like, why spend more on a holiday when you enjoy your caravan holiday - what's the point? Buying a new full set of matching towels simply to have matching towels when it won't affect your enjoyment of your space in any way is just a waste of money and materials, and we don't need any more overcomsumption.

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barejokez@reddit

I went on holiday to the US in 2005 when the currency exchange was in my favour and bought a load of clothes that I liked because they were cheap. The shoes wore out, and the trousers don't seem to fit my waist anymore, but I still wear the rest of the items 20 years later. If they wore out I'd bin them but they're still in good shape. I love not having to spend money because I already have the thing. It's great.

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rsweb@reddit

In fact your so happy and content you had to make a Reddit post to check and ask others 🤣 Life your life how you want, personally I don’t want a broken over, but no issue if you’re happy with that

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AsleepPop6387@reddit

You're. As in, you are. Your. As in your broken oven. Tip: next time, try to replace your with, you are. If you can, it's you're.

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sudwald@reddit (OP)

Well we could all be out there living wholesome 100% self-validated lives but Reddit would be a pretty boring place if so ;)

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wildOldcheesecake@reddit

What does it matter? I mean if people said they weren’t or said that you were wronged would it change anything in your life?

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Norman_debris@reddit

Well done, I suppose? My possessions are a mixture of old knackered things and expensive top-of-the-range gear. My experiences are minimalist camping weekends or budget B&Bs to fine dining and travelling thousands of miles for expensive festivals. Live a varied life. Do what you enjoy. There's nothing noble about being a cheapskate and there's nothing impressive about ostentatious spending.

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ActivePalpitation980@reddit

you have a healthy brain with healthy habits and healthy look at life. Please stay as you are. You're not basic, you're NORMAL. Which is a very rare thing to achieve now days. ps. my towels do not match either can't can't be bothered with it at all.

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JohnHunter1728@reddit

Is "normal" or a "rare thing"? These strike me as mutually exclusive. Either way the OP has discovered *contentedness*, which is the secret to happiness but will always evade most people.

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Imaginary_Bird538@reddit

Frugality is not about being cheap - it’s about not wasting money on things that don’t matter to you, so that you can spend it on things that do. I spend more than some people on food, as I like cooking and consider quality, healthy food an investment in my health and happiness. I also like to stay in nice places when I travel and I’m generous with friends and family. But I’m not bothered about branded clothes, toiletries, cars or technology etc so I don’t buy them. And that gives me the freedom to spend on things that I think are important. Living below your means is a powerful habit, it gives you freedom when other people are trapped by spending.

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Dizzy-Silver-4678@reddit

Yep. My literal dream is to buy a static caravan on the coast. Other than that, I replace stuff when it's broken, don't see the point of anything else (I don't judge if that's not how other people want to live though).

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Prestigious_Grade640@reddit

we have an opposite definition of basic to me someone who is basic is someone who is worried about all those meaningless things, has the matching towels, has the new car yada yada

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dayonedlc@reddit

Yeah I feel the same way. I'm human and like to treat myself sometimes to nice things, but when it comes to my day-to-day and the things I engage with on that basis, if something works then it works. My car could be better, my clothes could be fancier or higher-quality, I could go out and buy some really expensive piece of technology that might make a difference or might not, but generally my rule of thumb is that if something isn't broken, why go out of my way to fix it. Also caravan holidays will never not be a fun holiday for me. Did one with my girlfriend and our friends earlier this year and had such a great week for insanely cheap. Going abroad and exploring the world is amazing, but a holiday doesn't have to be a huge financial commitment to be good fun.

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CaveJohnson82@reddit

What does basic mean? Living your life in a way that makes you happy? Not buying in to capitalist excesses? This is a genuine question btw. I'm probably basic but I couldn't gaf.

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No_Battle_6402@reddit

I’ve always wanted a basic cabin lifestyle near a lake I can kayak on, but in reality I DID spend thousands on shoes and bags which I hardly use (more like a collector) I spend shit loads of games and collect even more gaming merch (I had a wicked games room) I book the best rooms in hotels and spend hundreds at high end restaurants and religiously went to the hair dressers every Thursday to have my extensions tidied up…. Anyway then 2020 happened. Business closed. Never been full time ever since. I still try to keep the business going but I probably work around 4 hours a week. Applied for hundreds of jobs but this is all I have ever done, so I don’t have much experience in anything else. Currently learning new skills to better my chances. Landlord sold the place I lived in for many years and I’ve been sofa surfing the last year and everything I own is in storage. But not being around my stuff all the time has certainly changed my mindset! I don’t need anything that’s in storage except my clothes… my hairs short now and easy to manage, I buy from the charity shop, I buy from the fridge in Tesco where they sell stuff off because it’s out of date (so I cook and freeze it) I wear around two different outfits a week. I have all my bags away to friends and all my clothes I don’t wear to the charity shop down the road! I love not being into shit anymore!!! I can’t believe I got dragged into that lifestyle and I used to feel like walking around with a posh handbag would impress strangers but who the fuck cares about shit like that! Like people with fancy cars - they’re not impressing anyone but themselves, because I wouldn’t be impressed anymore… what’s the point? Anyway, here’s to new found freedom *clink glass*

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OutrageousScallion72@reddit

Keep on doing what you're doing. Fuck capitalism.

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No_General_7216@reddit

If proles had reddit

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TheMarkMatthews@reddit

I’ll spend money on things I really want , happily spend £250 on a pair of running shoes or a new video game. However I don’t need a luxury lifestyle, I don’t much like fancy restaurants or exotic holidays. I have a lot of spare time and just enjoy doing nothing a lot of the time. Like you I will happily stay at Travelodge and I don’t often buy new everyday clothes. I too have shirts and jeans I had when my son was born nearly 17 years ago lol. They still look ok. I’m happy basic

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Important_March1933@reddit

No I would find this extremely frustrating

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togtogtog@reddit

What would frustrate you about it?

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Tacklestiffener@reddit

Well... the matching towels thing obviously ;)

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religionisanger@reddit

Yeah man, I honestly don’t give a shit how I look or about the nice things I own. I’ve lived that life in my 20s and it’s shit. I am 100% average and completely content with that. All day I get social media posts from my friends doing shit for charity, people with their huge home cinemas and their model wives showing off their model kids. It’s all bullshit, the people who post these things are inherently insecure people who want someone to recognise and respond to them, by proxy they also advertise an unachievable lifestyle because shagging a 21 year old supermodel in a speedboat is the only thing that gets attention. I’ve said it before, but be content with being boring and you’ll be happier for it. Money (and more importantly possessions) cannot buy happiness and social media is an extension of personalised adverts.

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Sea-Possession-1208@reddit

There are things that are important to me and things that aren't. And I think most people are like this. Eg My car is basic and battered. My carpets are tattered and ancient. And both of those things are fine to me. I'll get a new car when this one costs more to keep running than it would to replace. And it will be another basic car. But a broken half oven would bother me. Because I like cooking. I have two ovens at home to facilitate me coming in the way that I enjoy, rather than buying a double oven. One of them is a bit dodgy and I want to replace it. But can't justify it whilst it is dodgy rather than truly broken. I have other things, more important to spend my money on - like the extension to create a room i can work in from home when my health gives out and I can't drive any more. For other people - their car is really important to them. An extension of themselves. They want it to be all singing all dancing and the very best they can afford. I'd spend that on ovens. Is there nothing you have or enjoy that isn't just "fine"? Any hobby you spend time or money on? Any frivolity? What do you do with your money?

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Fit-Breakfast-3116@reddit

I like going away but I’m always happy in a place that’s on the cheaper end, I’ll always take location over it being ‘nice’

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togtogtog@reddit

I get a bit scared of places that are too 'nice' because I worry that I might make them dirty!

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newbracelet@reddit

I like having nice things, but nice doesn't always mean expensive or popular. I couldn't give a crap about trends, or showing off my stuff, but I want it to look and feel nice, and to last. I will spend a little more to get a better product, but I'll happily buy a cheaper product if it's just as good. Not sure if that makes me basic or not. I have very little debt, a mortgage and a small loan to buy a car when our last car was literally scrap which will take less than 2 years to pay off and leave us owning our car.

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markcorrigans_boiler@reddit

I'm typing this on a Motorola 8500x so what do you think?

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Technical-Bee-6202@reddit

I don't think you know what basic means. If anything it would be basic to match your towels.

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Lucky_Star_4007@reddit

You're the one who's confused my friend, understood just from the title what he meant

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GeggingIn@reddit

Being honest, love nice clothes and homewares but just buy most of it second hand. We used to go caravanning as a child and never want to do it ever again.

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Sammiebear_143@reddit

Meh! I only replace things on an as and when needed basis. I only bought some new clothes last year because I changed jobs from being a carer back to office work.

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skyepark@reddit

Yes completely fine. Capitalism wants you to spend all your money so you work longer. I buy in charity shops and vinted now I love how I can still express myself.

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Brilliant-Offer-4208@reddit

They make it our ‘duty’ to spend. To hell with that! I have some money in the bank and I have some nice things but I also go without a lot of things that I can easily afford to buy and enjoy because I find it so vacuous and pointless a lot of the time.

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No-Weather-3220@reddit

We have all we need and some of what we want so basically enough.

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Bitter-Association65@reddit

I would call that logical. Why buy more towels before you need to. A car is a depreciating asset and plenty of new ones have serious issues and recalls. If it works, you’re sorted. I think prioritising things to spend money on is smart. I never get a new phone because it’s a waste of money. I don’t need the newest filters on apps to lie to myself. Going abroad for the sake of showing off is a tad pointless. If you really enjoy it fair enough but it’s more stress than not , why bother? . I’m afraid you are a nightmare for corporations. Highly likely to not be influenced by social media ad campaigns or company sponsored peer pressure. I’m afraid I think ,that basic is doing what you are told to do ,by dudes in suits in boardrooms.

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e-pancake@reddit

partially; I’m happy without upgrading my phone, I’m actually happier with an older car than a new one, shops own food is fine. but generally I’d rather be able to extend beyond that, an expansive life would be nice. going abroad more than once a decade would be nice. I’d be happier if I had more and better things. but this is fine, it’s nice to appreciate things on a smaller scale

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Terrible-Group-9602@reddit

Good for you. If many others were like you the planet wouldn't be so trashed.

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Plot-3A@reddit

Yep. I replace what needs replacing. Otherwise I'll happily dry myself on a hodge-podge of towels before dressing in genuinely worn jeans and a polo with a fading logo ("I ❤ whisky" from The Pot Still for the few vaguely interested). I cook in the combi microwave or on the hob. Big oven is for high days and holidays. No need to buy new shit for the sake of it.

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r0se_jam@reddit

Happily basic is actually pretty optimal.

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random_banana_bloke@reddit

yep im pretty basic, exception being my running hobby (i like soar kit) and my homelab hobby but tbh i buy loads of used kit for this. Apart from that I have a 10 year old car that im not upgrading until it dies, i live a 3 bed semi thats an ex council house with a small mortgage, i could move somewhere bigger but ...why, i like it here. Most of my clothes are free t shirts from races and my favorite pair of shorts im wearing right now are a pair of scruffs work shorts, even my daily trainers are old running shoes. I am quite happy!

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Brilliant-Offer-4208@reddit

Social media is the biggest advertising slop ever invented. Bigger than tv or any other form of advertising medium. And it is working brilliantly at telling people they need to consume and spend more because otherwise they are failing at life. And many people fall for it. We all probably do in one way or another or to a greater or lesser extent. You’re questioning of whether it’s ok to be happy with basic as you call it means that the huge pressure of advertising and capitalism is trying its best to break you down and spend and consume more in order to be happy. But it sounds like you are happy — don’t ever bend because you have it worked out and have won!

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ShingledPringle@reddit

Oh yeah. My main one is my phone. I never get a modern phone and the one I currently, begrudgingly have has had half its stuff turned off. Wife keeps trying to get me on IPhones and I just have no use for them.

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bbshdbbs02@reddit

I ride a 50cc moped everywhere I go and live extremely frugally. I’d say I’m very basic haha.

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SmellyPubes69@reddit

It's fine as long as your genuinely happy. I have a new car but it's a Toyota (not a posh Audi or fast car) I'm really happy as it's pretty cheap and roomy and very reliable which is all I need. My bicycle is a basic carbon one (worth about 1k) and riddled with bodge repairs but again I'm really happy with it, my mate just bought a fancy one for £3k reduced from 4.... 😮😮 Holidays is an interesting one, I like wild camping as it's back to nature but I do find caravans dingy and small. If I stay away I don't need a Megabucks hotel but I'll normally get an air BnB barn in the country. If I have to stay in a city I find Holiday Inn generally are better than travel lodge and not that much more expensive and dog friendly.

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Same_Water7713@reddit

If this is basic, I'm basic AF. And it's exactly like you said - I could buy new clothes, but these fit, are not worn, etc. I don't even have a TV. My last one broke. I never replaced it because I don't need a TV.

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Nearby_Impact6708@reddit

Yeah I'm pretty much the same. I've had friends just get fed up and give me shoes before because I have a comfy pair that are fucked but they've still got some life in them!! Went without gas for 2 years too, and again, other people were more worried than I was 😅

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Responsible-Mail-661@reddit

I bought season passes to a theme park for us all. Cost £900 but we take a picnic and it's a day out when we want. Or I could have had a long weekend in a caravan.

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StereotypicallBarbie@reddit

If you’re happy then who cares? Social media is all overconsumption! Half of these influencers get all this stuff sent to them for free…

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Gloomy_Custard_3914@reddit

I get it. I'm not super frugal but for about 2 or 3 years now I've been really questioning and challenging my own consumption. I also don't have matching sets of towels etc. I live a pretty basic life and I'm okay with it.

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OneGoal5596@reddit

As a guy, I'm in the same position. Same clothes, for years, typically my nice clothes are gifts from people. Car is the first I ever got, and its lasted. Never felt interested in fashion, or trendiness. In my 20s and have my own place. My money gets spent on Gym, food & pets. Anything left over goes on a nice holiday with friends each year. Other than that, I'm happy not caring about the opinions of others.

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WorhummerWoy@reddit

If you're content with your life as it is and not always chasing your tail trying to keep up with trends or get the latest tech, I think that leads to a happier life. Maybe I'm just old before my time.

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lubbockin@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/2kn1xfha5jof1.jpeg?width=1187&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c37cf3d8271c7823be442d5b88a7f88c2bfa453

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Uhurahoop@reddit

Yep I’m similar to yourself. In every way you listed. We have splurged on exotic holidays a few times (which I’ve never regretted and think is money well spent) but I’m pretty frugal generally.

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Rich-Cow-8056@reddit

You're describing me. I am such a "fit for purpose" person. And I live in east Asia now where it's even more superficial than the UK. There are a select few things in life I will splash out on, mostly when other people are involved, but everything I buy and own myself is basically "fine".

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VolcanicBear@reddit

You have a double oven? You posh fuck. However, yeah. Many people are. I lost some of my tax free allowance last year due to bad planning, and until two weeks ago drove a 15 year old Fiesta. There are a few aspects which I'll splash out on, such as triathlon gear, but I'll otherwise generally live massively below my means with the odd trip to places like the Maldives etc every 5-10 years.

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