04 August 2015

A pile of old invoices

Because this beautiful feline looks way better than a pile of invoices (oddly) // Personal picture 2015

As I went to the family home during the summer, I sorted boxes of things left behind during my latest move, including one full of papers. As I sifted through old contracts and grade summaries and student subscription forms (and realized how far away student life suddenly felt), I unearthed a pile of old invoices and warranty documents. Here is what I learned from these.

Most of them were over 10 years old, the latest ones dated from 2010. And you know what? Over 90% of all these things are no longer in my life. Oven, cathodic TV, iPod mini, golden earrings, an online order of 100 blank CDs...

Not as durable and crucial as we think...

That made me think of the actual importance of all the objects we surround ourselves with, and the importance we give to acquiring new items to perfect our homes and lives. This pile of invoices and warranty documents represents my biggest purchases of the 2000's, the ones that mattered to me. The ones I saved for, the ones that seemed significant.

I remember, when I saved for them, chose them and bought them, I thought of them as the items that crafted my living standard, my home, little pieces to the bigger, life-long edifice of my interior and life. Would I have spent to much, had I known that 5 years later, over 90% of them would be replaced or discarded?

That makes sense though. Between planned obsolescence, recent purchases, moves across the country and as a couple, life and tastes evolving, seeing these invoices brought me nothing but a bit of nostalgia: I didn't actually miss any of these long lost items. I did see the amount of money spent at the bottom of each invoice though.

Shifting values

I remember a time when I thought I preferred to spend 20€ on a DVD rather than a night out because DVDs stay as an investment, and nights out are lost to me after they're gone. But when I see just how much money was spent in these long gone "investments", and how great memories of travels and time spent with friends linger, I see even more clearly now that experiences are probably a much better investment than any high tech gadget or video game collection might be.

Imagine the memories I could have gathered if I had bought a cheaper TV or renounced to that iPod (which battery broke after a year, by the way), or if I had worked less during summers to pay for all these things, and gone backpack travelling instead. We can't change the past of course, but we can learn from it.

Of course, none of this is black and white. I used the iPod every day for a year, and the cathodic TV hosted some of my best PS1 and PS2 memories (Final Fantasy VII summers...) Some of these items, of which only the invoice remains, have served me well. Others, not so much.

On change and the fleeting nature of things

I'd like to see this pile of invoices as a reminder that in life, everything changes: the tastes and needs, the life circumstances and priorities, the values and ethics. If an object has been useful for years, enabled many great memories, enchanted the everyday life, then it was money well spent. But let's not forget we will change in the future more than we think we will, as Dan Gilbert explains.

"Shouldn't we understand our future selves well enough to shape their lives - to find careers and lovers whom they will cherish, to buy slipcovers for the sofa that they will treasure for years to come? So why do they end up with attics and lives that are full of stuff that we considered indispensable and that they consider painful, embarrassing, or useless?"

-- Daniel Gilbert, in Stumbling Upon Happiness


When I hear across some of the minimalist circles about buying investment pieces such as 3000€ bags "for a lifetime", I remember this pile of invoices. Of course luxury brands want us to think we are spending that much money for a "long term investment", but life is fleeting, and by the end of it our taste will change, our lifestyle may not include a designer handbag any longer (you know, when you'll need to carry diapers and bibs for example), or we may end up smitten by a better one next year. The real question is: what will really remain in 10 years time? How much of it will really matter?

Also, no object is as important to our life, well-being and happiness as we think it will when we are about to acquire it. In the end, it might end up in a storage box or landfill, with only an old invoice left in your life.


So, when I'm about to make a purchase significant enough to keep the invoice for future reference, I ask myself: what is this object going to bring me in five years' time, or ten? Does it really deserve the sacrifice of time, energy, hard-spent money I'm about to give away? As far as I'm concerned, the answer is often "no". Sometimes, it's yes. And perhaps in ten years, I'll laugh at myself.

19 comments:

  1. what a cute photo :)

    I've gone through a few moves from city to city myself and can no longer remember how many items I've parted with (many, for sure). It definitely helps with becoming less attached to things!

    Also - your comment on designer/diaper bags reminded me of when I had a neighbor who decided to use the designer bag she'd owned for a while to carry her new baby's diapers... made me laugh, and I appreciated that she didn't act like her belongings were too precious.

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    1. Thanks! It's true that moves are sobering, especially when it's across the country or even abroad.
      The designer bag was only an example - I thought it was a good one as, contrary to clothes, or furniture that can be too heavy to move around, they are the type of object we consider most as "investment pieces". But your neighbour's story is interesting, it's true that it can be a loss to treat objects like they are too precious :)

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  2. Thank you for sharing, as always. I am a lot more reflective on my purchases, thanks to your writing!

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    1. Thank you, I'm happy to hear that it can help thinking about your own purchases :)

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  3. Florie,

    I have an alternate view on this. Things dont last forever. That is given. The 2 years I spent in grad school were important. Because who knows what life has in store of me or even if I would be alive after? The furniture I needed, was needed at that point and I did not put it off waiting for permanence in my life ( after I move or buy a house ). I have a bachelor friend who has hobbies he doesnt pursue because they require things ( blender/knives when he loves cooking ). He is waiting for convergence in the future when he knows for sure that he will have them for a long time. I see younger years wasted in his case, when he could be honing a craft he really likes.

    I dont quite know how to put what I am trying to say, in the right words. I am not saying, run out and buy things on a whim. But there may never be permanence for lots of us. And every year we are alive is an important year hopefully. We need to do the needed now and be happy ? And is it going to make too many regrets every time we micro analyse every time a 'thing' leaves us ?

    Wish I had your writing skills.

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    1. Thanks for your input Archana! I actually agree that objects should be bought for a current need, as a support for today's lifestyle, activities and happiness, and not be "put off" for anything.
      I'm not sure what part of my article made you think that I suggested to put off purchases for a more stable period of life, My point was quite the opposite actually, that there is no such thing as permanence (may it be lifestyle, taste etc.) and that we shouldn't spend too much money on "investment items" for a "stable future". What I try to say is that perhaps we should have more modest needs that are adequate to our activities and lifestyle now, and save the rest of the money for other things - like experiences, activities...
      In the case of your bachelor friend, I'd definitely buy the tools and do the activity now! I did buy a violin on a whim 2 years ago after all. And in the case of my early twenty-something self, I would have bought adequate but less expensive items and spent my money towards other things, including activiteis. I don't know if that is clearer?

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  4. Hey, don't you dare making digs at my designer bags!

    I kid, I kid ;)

    You are completely right of course, although I honestly can't remember any huge purchases I have made that I thought at the time would be life-altering. Working with technology has taught me that the Newest Hottest Gadget™ will literally only be new and hot for a few months, and if you're lucky enough to see things pre-release they might even be old news to you by the time they are ready to ship. It is pointless to even try to keep up. I kept the receipts for my sofa and washing machine and camera/lenses + more expensive bags, but only in case I need to use the warranty or in case I want to re-sell the item, and I throw them away once they're out of date.

    If I do decide to re-sell any of my more pricey items, I like to think of it this way: It served me well for X amount of time and I enjoyed it while it lasted. If I don't get all of my money back from selling it, no biggie: The important thing is that it goes to a better home. You can't always know in advance which are going to be your "Forever Items" and which ones you will get tired of in 5 years, you know? Although of course, it is always important to give it a good hard think before you hand over a lot of cash!

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    1. Haha I was using designer bags as an example, because we all like bags and know how to convince ourselves to buy another one - you know what I'm saying ;)
      It is true that working in that kind of industry and seeing the behind the scenes of it all can help taking a step back - I know it has been the case for me with video games and latest consoles as well. I think there is nothing wrong with offering ourselves a nice little expensive treat - my point here was to say to be careful of the justification behind these purchases. when I see my old bills, I was sure to be investing money in a long lasting investment for my home. If I'd seen then what I see now, and known it was an object I buy now for this period of my life, that may or may not be useful for me in the future, I'd have spent my money differently.
      But you're right, what matters is how useful and joyful is the object now, and how well they have served when it's time to part from them? I can still spend money on similar items as the ones I found the receipts of, but the reasoning would probably be very different, and the resulting choice both of the object and the price range would be different. If it makes any sense at all.

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  5. Your post very much resonates with thoughts I had the last few weeks! I was thinking about the short time abroad when I had the luxury of not paying for the rent or food and even got some pocket money. Hence, I had some money to burn and was happy when I could go on a small shopping trip :) And that was already when I was working towards a capsule closet and only buying very few things. Still, I was happy spending some money and bought a few things - so I was thinking about what happenend to those things. Some are still very much in active use, however, there are also shoes for 110 euros which I hardly were because the heels are too high.... so, the money and the momentarily happiness went into sth I dont use. I find it quite embarrassing.... Especially because I was already in my "minimalist" phase!

    So I have been thinking about what we wear everyday and it is often things we bought rather recently, and "older" things - which we then bought happily and with thoughts of many good use and wear in the future - well, just disappear in our wardrobe... Obviously, this isnt always the case, but I guess it happens quite often. Or when you are on holiday and go clothes shopping - I guess, many people love the shopping part of holidays - what s going to happen with these clothes after a few years time? You see, I ve recently had similar thoughts to yours, only, you put it more nicely in words :)

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    1. It is true that in the case of clothes particularly we tend to overstimate how long we will like and use an item. I mean, when you buy a TV, even if it breaks down after 5 years, it's still 5 years! Buying TVs is both expensive and annoying to carry around. But clothing has a shorter life span in the end, even (and maybe especially) when you have a small wardrobe because they wear out faster, and the body changes, without even speaking of taste.
      I think maybe, when we adopt the quality over quantity mindset (which is a mindset I approve of otherwise of course), we tend to overestimate just how long we will use a "staple" in the future. Ironically for me, the items of clothing that really were staples wore out quickly because I was wearing them all the time. I guess in the end it's about giving a bit less importance to all this, and avoid buying very expensive things because 'they'll serve for a number of years'. I guess we are never sure.
      When it comes to clothing, now my philosophy is - more than having a capsule wardrobe - to chose ethical pieces and try to "vote with my wallet" as much as I can. Of course I consume much less than before but the ultimate goal isn't to won as few as possible, but to have adequate items to my preferences and lifestyle, and as ethical as possible. But more in the "now" than in the "future completed dream wardrobe".

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  6. I ran across this quote somewhere, from an unknown writer: "Going to the junkyard is a sobering experience. There you see the ultimate destination of almost everything we desire."

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    1. That's a very inspiring quote, and true too! Thanks for sharing :)

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  7. It's true, life is fleeting. Things we liked are now a piece of crap we don't enjoy anymore. Sad, but true.

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    1. That's what the Japanese call the "impermanence" of life. It can be a beautiful thought though, when you think about the fleeting beauty of a flower in spring. It's certainly more beautiful than to imagine a landfill full of junk items for sure :)

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  8. How awesome that an old box of invoices triggered these wonderful thoughts :). Archana makes a good alternative point in the comments, but the realization that you can't know you future self is still very important to me, especially since I often buy things for the future. Like last year I boughts expensive high heels and an evening bag from a fancy store, thinking I could justify the purchase because I did not just need them for one upcoming wedding but would be able to use them (being classic items) for years to come. Only one year later, I sold the shoes at a hundredth of the price because I could not get used to the high heels and comfort just matters so much more to me now than what others consider stylish. The bag was a bit of a statement piece but I now find it too loud for my simpler style (don't know what to do with it yet). Point in case. This teaches me two things:
    1. You can't know your future self so what you consider an investment, isn't always so. Spend money on quality or ethical standards if you want to, but not on projected cost per wear.
    2. You can't know your future self so only buy things you will immediately get a lot of pleasure out of. If you think you really need something for one special event, reconsider if you can't make do with something else in your wardrobe, lend something or maybe look for a cheaper or second-hand replacement.

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    1. These are 2 very important teachings indeed, I totally agree with these. Especially on point 1: it isn't about never buying expensive items again, it is about having other justifications (like ethics or adequate quality for example), instead of projecting future uses on them. So true!

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  9. Hi Kali! I read every post and rarely comment but I just want you to know how much your writing has made an impact on my life. The thoughts and reflections you have really do inspire me to evaluate who I am and what I want. I almost want to print out some of your articles and save them for fear that you might stop writing one day and I won't be able to access the blog. Thank you for always giving us readers the chance to be a part of your world- Lisette

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    1. Thanks Lisette! I'm a bit late to respond but your comment really moved me a lot :) I'm so happy to hear that, since sharing my journey has for objective to help people through their own journey so you made my day!

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  10. I don't generally save any of my receipts, but if I did, I think I'd be a bit embarrassed to look at receipts from 2010 or earlier. Back then, I rarely spent much time thinking about any particular purchase. I made many odd and unwise purchasing decisions, especially considering that I was a student with minimal income, and I don't remember ever really thinking about whether a purchase was wise or whether I would still be using an item five or even two years after the date of purchase. I just didn't think about things at all, I guess, and bought things almost entirely on impulse. (My individual purchases were usually fairly cheap, mostly used books and clothes on sale and the like, but they were often not items I would put to good use either...)

    This post (and the discussion in the comments) also makes me think about how I approach experiences versus things. I have personally experienced the value of spending on experiences (traveling, spending time with friends, etc.) and have never regretted all of the times I chose to spend on those experiences. I also have personally experienced that its often worth it to spend on items to facilitate hobbies and other experiences. At the same time, I think I might personally have a much stronger attachment to and affection for objects than most people. I derive a lot of enjoyment from planning out and researching purchases, and I sometimes get very emotionally attached to the objects I buy, strange as that is...

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