Do you live in luxury? If so, what are your luxuries?

[Rosebud77]

Loving some of the posts here…

Me? I am on a small pension, made smaller by brexit just now , and after most of my life on disability?

And I live a purposeful, safe deep simplicity. Not forced by circumstance. The less you have the less you need.

I gave up home ownership as repairs and maintenance were way beyond me. so i deliberately moved into renting. At least appliances ( here most rentals are furnished) are provided and replaced and repairs done.

Had some very interesting places.

But I have all I need and more. I never use half the appliances provided as running costs are too high; eg dishwashers. And heating water for even a shower. costs too much.

LIke others here, I wash in a bowl or sink. When I have had a house where the fire had a backboiler ie free hot water, I have enjoyed a deep daily bath mightily nut that is not so here. And that is fine too.

Clothes on my back and no more. Need no more; nightwear etc like sheets , from a thrift shop. Most of each day abed now.

Simple food; here the supermarkets have “reduced” sections so I dine from them.

Small old car; this may well be my last car due to my age. That is fine too. Will get stuff delivered as I have had to before.

Working on a chromebook that a dear friend gave me and my phone works via that too. So why need a cell phone.

And I save so much that I can send money away to loved ones working at the coal face of real deprivation. That means far far more than anything else. It really does. Makes life in Christ meaningful .

I am seeking perforce a “new” rental and telling agents I need somewhere basic and simple .

Luxuries?Oh yes. Clean water albeit bought… food enough, and aplenty, meds when I need them. Work for my hands and kind folk who give eg wool oddments to work with .

Making “virtue” from necessity. Making prayer real in day to day life.

 

[Rosebud77]

My dad is a hoarder so there are piles of junk nearly hitting the ceiling, most of the rooms are filled with so much junk that you can’t see the carpet, I spend a lot of my spare time behind my pc which is in the kitchin which is also calmed with junk which my dad refuses to.part with.

I have no central heating
No Shower
No bath ( need to wash at my sisters and have sink washes)
Toilet won’t flush, we need to use buckets of water to flush things down.
No cooker
No broadband Internet, just 3g Internet via dongle.
No car

Luxuries:

My smartphone was given to me by a friend
Microwave works
Fridge works

 

[Rosebud77]

I have what I need and much more, like a car and

more yarn than most people would know what to do with.

I have a TV and cable, which are not necessities. I have plenty of food and clothing, two pets, many books, internet access and a computer. These are all luxuries. I am very poor compared to almost every person I know and associate with as I live on disability but I am rich compared to most people in the world.

We should start a club! I was given the entire stock of a large craft shop and am still sorting and giving away yarn.

This last while have given away ten big sacks.

It has enabled me to knit and sell and give. And will continue to do so as long as I live. ,

Most of my other stuff has been “lost” in my many moves which has also taught me how little we really need.

 

[pensmama87]

My dad is a hoarder so there are piles of junk nearly hitting the ceiling, most of the rooms are filled with so much junk that you can’t see the carpet, I spend a lot of my spare time behind my pc which is in the kitchin which is also calmed with junk which my dad refuses to.part with.

I have no central heating
No Shower
No bath ( need to wash at my sisters and have sink washes)
Toilet won’t flush, we need to use buckets of water to flush things down.
No cooker
No broadband Internet, just 3g Internet via dongle.
No car

Luxuries:

My smartphone was given to me by a friend
Microwave works
Fridge works

How old are you?

I grew up in a hoarder house and it was awful. I left at 17 and it was amazing to feel like I could breathe again (guess how choked with dust and other gunk your home gets, since it’s not possible to clean.)

It can be really unsafe, and extreme hoarding can threaten the structural integrity of your home. At some point, for your dad’s safety or the safety of anyone else in.the home, authorities might need to get involved. There was an incident a little while ago in our town where an ambulance was called to a hoarder house and the house was impossible to navigate. I believe they eventually got the person out who needed help, but the house got condemned as a result because it wasn’t safe to live in.

 

[AdamP88]

I suppose my wife and I live in relative luxury compared to most people on the planet. But I wouldn’t say we live in luxury. Prettymuch the same as most middle class people in the west. We rent a small apartment, have a normal car, we can afford to live fairly comfortably and also engage in hobbies and take a holiday each year with a bit of savings.

 

[puzzledtoo]

I share many of the luxuries already listed. Especially the luxury of clean water-so grateful for that.
This particular week I have the added luxury of my wife being off visiting our son and his family. I can eat in silence, read in silence. I don’t have to listen to my wife gossip about a particular friend or family member. I don’t have to listen to her half of the conversation when she answers her cell phone during a meal of while we’re in the car (usually someone complaining) For these added luxuries this week as well as all the others I experience daily I’m very grateful.

 

[pensmama87]

I will say I don’t consider food, clean water, clean air, or basic shelter to be luxuries. It’s true that many people in the world don’t have them, but that alone doesn’t make them luxurious. Those things are needs, and I think we have an obligation as Christians to provide them for others to the extent that we are able.

 

[Rosebud77]

I will say I don’t consider food, clean water, clean air, or basic shelter to be luxuries. It’s true that many people in the world don’t have them, but that alone doesn’t make them luxurious. Those things are needs, and I think we have an obligation as Christians to provide them for others to the extent that we are able.

They are indeed needs, but surely that does not mean we take them for granted? Or see them as rights?

The deprivations of others changes them to luxuries. They have the same needs after all.

 

[bitterhope]

I will say I don’t consider food, clean water, clean air, or basic shelter to be luxuries. It’s true that many people in the world don’t have them, but that alone doesn’t make them luxurious. Those things are needs, and I think we have an obligation as Christians to provide them for others to the extent that we are able.

Yes, they are needs, but it is a luxury to be able to just turn on a tap and have it flow out, go to a store and buy already prepared things to eat (someone else planted, grew, harvested, slaughtered, skinned, butchered, etc), live in fully enclosed shelters with multiple rooms with different purposes, that sort of thing.

 

[heidi_storage]

They are indeed needs, but surely that does not mean we take them for granted? Or see them as rights?

The deprivations of others changes them to luxuries. They have the same needs after all.

And also, for most of human history the very mightiest and richest people in the world could not boast such a standard of living.

Now, this does NOT mean that we should dismiss the poor in our country, because they have it so much better than someone in South Sudan. But I do believe we should be grateful for what we have.

And Pensmama–you have quite the knack for stretching a dollar farther than I would’ve imagined it could go. You’re richer than many higher-income, but feckless folk! Good luck to you with Baby 4.

 

[heidi_storage]

One of the family proverbs in my family of origin is something like this–do without necessities, but never do without luxuries.

On occasion, this could be taken rather far (like I grew up without medical insurance or much in the way of routine medical care, but we went on ski vacation), but there is something to the idea.

So, after a rather scary incident with our oldest car (I got to coast downhill through a major intersection with no power), we sold that car and are now a family of five with a single car. My husband travels on occasion and is going to be taking our only car from time to time. Pretty soon, I’m going to have a week with two kids at home and no car. I have some workarounds and think we’re going to be OK, but it would be nice to have a second car again. But we’ve only owned two cars 3 of the 19 years we’ve been married, and we lived without any car at all for the first 9 years of our married life.

We also are able to cheap out on electronics, as my husband is very good at getting maximum value out of old and inexpensive electronics.

Here’s some stuff that that sort of unconventional living pays for:

–water park season passes
–iced mochas
–Blue Bell ice cream
–parents’ day out for Baby Girl
–music lessons for Big Girl

Ack! I’m glad you’re okay. That must have been scary. I see the point about luxuries and necessities, though it could lead to some bad situations. I remember a bit in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (story about a very poor Irish-American family growing up in early 20th-century New York) in which they make coffee every day, and waste a good deal of it, which makes them feel rich.

 

[mommy_k]

We are blessed to have our needs met as well as having enough to enjoy extras too.

As long as we use our blessings to bless others too, it’s all good. Personally for us, a generous heart no matter what comfort level you are at is what matters.

 

[pensmama87]

Yes, they are needs, but it is a luxury to be able to just turn on a tap and have it flow out, go to a store and buy already prepared things to eat (someone else planted, grew, harvested, slaughtered, skinned, butchered, etc), live in fully enclosed shelters with multiple rooms with different purposes, that sort of thing.

I don’t disagree, and I’m not advocating that we shouldn’t be grateful. I do think, sometimes, though, that those of us blessed with plenty can take a “shrug your shoulders” approach to those in dire poverty, or living in war torn areas, for example. Yes, people have survived those conditions, but that doesn’t make them “no big deal.”

 

[Xantippe]

Ack! I’m glad you’re okay. That must have been scary. I see the point about luxuries and necessities, though it could lead to some bad situations. I remember a bit in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (story about a very poor Irish-American family growing up in early 20th-century New York) in which they make coffee every day, and waste a good deal of it, which makes them feel rich.

Yeah, as soon as that incident happened, I no longer wanted to drive that car anymore. Plus, the mechanic gave us a huge list of repairs that literally exceeded the value of the vehicle…

You’re right about how it’s definitely possible to take the luxury thing too far, and yet in appropriate doses, it can brighten up an otherwise difficult life.

I think one thing that people forget is that even in VERY poor societies, the residents have frills–elaborately patterned textiles or what have you.

washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/get-guatemalan-textiles-straight-from-the-weavers-hands/2015/07/02/55d7e66c-fa71-11e4-a13c-193b1241d51a_story.html?utm_term=.3ac108b31f90

gadventures.com/blog/story-behind-maasais-shuka-cloth/

 

[DarkLight]

Luxury depends on what you put into it. Thinking about my life, a lot of my “luxuries” required a significant amount of time investment. Thankfully, I’m quite happy when surrounded by paint, beads, or other accouterments. A significant portion of my jewelry is handmade, as are my rosaries. I eat well, mostly homecooked and low meat. Even store-bought stuff often can be found for much cheaper - you simply have to know where to look, and keep looking.

 

[bitterhope]

I don’t disagree, and I’m not advocating that we shouldn’t be grateful. I do think, sometimes, though, that those of us blessed with plenty can take a “shrug your shoulders” approach to those in dire poverty, or living in war torn areas, for example. Yes, people have survived those conditions, but that doesn’t make them “no big deal.”

Very much agree with you. Too many times people do that.

 

[signit]

I live in unimaginable luxury. I have a comfortable house; abundant, clean water; electricity; a stove, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, a cell phone, a tablet, and a computer/TV; I eat a huge variety of foods from everywhere on the planet; when I am sick, I can go to a doctor or hospital and receive medicine for things that would have killed me in times past; I have several items of clothing and shoes…

I agree with a lot of you that because I have these things I’m better off than a lot of people in other parts of the world or in times past, and I’m aware of it and I appreciate it.

But, if the question is, do I feel guilty when I buy something for myself that’s more than what I need to survive, the answer is no.

 

[Gertabelle]

I remember a bit in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (story about a very poor Irish-American family growing up in early 20th-century New York) in which they make coffee every day, and waste a good deal of it, which makes them feel rich.

Oh, I love that book.

The family is incredibly poor, but the two children find a way to have a few luxuries.

Every Saturday, they collect and sell scrap (old rags, tin cans) to a scrap collector for pennies, half of which they put in the family bank, and half of which they are allowed to spend on whatever they want. The little girl, Francie, buys a packet of peppermints that she enjoys while she reads books she’s checked out from the library.

Whether it’s a Christmas tree, library books, or the opportunity to go to a better public school, the book offers a valuable insight into needs and luxuries.

Absolutely love that book!

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

Oh man… It might be nothing compared to how some people live but I practically live like a king in my opinion compared to how I use to live before.

I have my own apartment and I live alone. It is a studio apartment but I live in it alone. And no, it is not lonely. It means I get to sleep when I want without people making noise, getting drunk and out of hand forcing me to go get a motel room some days so that I can get sleep for work tomorrow. It also means I keep my apartment clean as heck because I have never lived in a place without filth and roaches and or rats my entire life until now. And I control the AC

I have a work truck that is in good shape, I am able to afford Gym membership, internet, a cell phone, Amazon prime and I have a IPOD for when I go to the gym (I hate the music they play at my gym) and I can afford all these things and rent and be able to still save a few hundred bucks at the end of every month or if overtime is involved, even a thousand plus. I also can take my girlfriend to nice restaurants and other places without it breaking my financially.

I can go to Mass and other Church related things without worrying about being killed for my faith. I just got my braces on and I am covered through my union with full health insurance, dental, vision. I also got glasses just last month. I never had any of that my entire adult life until 2 years ago. I never go hungry and other than having to go to work sometimes when I do not feel like it (That’s not common, right? ) I basically do what I want when I want.

I feel blessed on a daily basis. These are all things that were not handed to me and I was not born into money. Its all been a great big blessing. But its humbling too knowing that God helped me a lot and can take it away too and that basically I deserve none of this. Sure, I worked for it but God gave me the ability to do what I do so it still all comes from God.

 

[pensmama87]

And Pensmama–you have quite the knack for stretching a dollar farther than I would’ve imagined it could go. You’re richer than many higher-income, but feckless folk! Good luck to you with Baby 4.

Thanks for the encouragement! I’ve been feeling rather anxious about this baby lately, so it’s very helpful to hear it.