Yes I do. I think it all ties into living up with the "joneses". I try really hard to not buy things for myself or the kids "just because" anymore. Even with bdays & Christmas I try to suggest to family members on certain things or gift cards. Too much stuff!!!

I think as a whole, yes. The mentality most people have is "bigger is better" and so people are always wanting to upgrade what they currently have. Hence, where the expression "keeping up with the Joneses" came from (IMO).

There are those of us who can appreciate the things we do have, or those of us who don't need a whole lot to be happy, but I don't think this group makes up the majority. The majority of our society is always looking for newer, bigger, and better.

Gosh, I feel like I am always the odd ball lately

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Absolutely. I think there are a few who aren't but many are.

I don't think most people are materialistic to the point that they look down on others for not having nice things, but as a whole our society is. I think as a society our view of what "success" is usually involves money. We are always so impressed with someone who has a high paying or high ranking profession. We kind of brush aside the fact that they are super stressed and work too many hours. We only focus on the glamorous side of it.

When I was in high school it was simply assumed that I would go to college. I was in the advanced classes, what other option did I have than to go forward and succeed. You were supposed to have big plans for yourself. Go to school, do well, get a good job. You could have anything and everything (they didn't tell you that sometimes it was best not to have it all at once - hence why I'm quitting my job to stay home)

Every generation wants the next to be more successful than they are. Look at the pressure that's being put on our children's generation already. My daughter is only 18 months and the preschool questions are already starting! We think we need to push our kids to do well and for what? So they can get a good job and buy the things that we can't give them. Eventually, they too will figure out what is important to them.

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Yes, and it's unfortunate in my opinion.

Look at the foreclosures, the credit card debt rate, etc.

Not the oddball, you just need to get out more! Just kidding.

I know YOU are not materialistic, Mrs. "My van is not simple" (which I agree with, by the way!).

I just tend to thing there are alot of other people out there like me!!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

If this is the case then I think you should consider yourself very lucky.

I find myself increasingly isolated with my thoughts of doing more with less. Most of the people I know are in the Jones rat race. Not my close friends, mind you, but the people I know casually from my kids activities.

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Megan

Ditto...except for me the majority of people, by far, that I know are not.