If you listen to Barrett Strong’s 1959 hit single “Money (That’s What I Want)” - you’ll hear these famously covered lyrics: The best things in life are free/ but you can give them to the birds and bees/ I want money.
Call this materialistic. Call it superficial. Whatever. The people who say “money can’t buy happiness” are full of shit. Having money can and should make everything easier - it’s all about how you use it. The root of unhappiness is people not making the most out of what they have.
Obviously, material possessions can never replace or create meaningful relationships or friendships. A false expectation like that could be the core of why many wealthy people out there hate their lives so much. Then, when you factor in the amount of people who use others’ wealth for their own gain - that can also be disastrous. However, once again, it’s all about how you use your wealth. It’s yours to use how you choose - if you have it, that is. I know what it’s like to have money. I know what it’s like to not have money. And right now, being sort of fresh out of college, I’m virtually broke. I’m still happy, because I’m trying to make the most out of what I have (and I’m fortunate enough to have generous friends with jobs/money)… But my point is that having money is the greatest. You can have so many more kinds of experiences. You can travel the world. You can try more new things. And you can still slum it whenever you want.
… Then the idea of freedom comes into play. The theory that the more materials an individual possesses, the more they are tied down by them. It’s incredibly plausible. Just as one becomes dependent on friends and various relationships, so too can they become dependent on their possessions. I can’t give away that shirt because I wore it that one time and I might wear it again becomes I need another room so I can fit all of my stuff in it. And then I’m buying more stuff to fit more of my stuff… It’s like that George Carlin stand up routine about stuff. And it’s true that many people allow their material possessions weigh them down. Some people live in a prison of their own things. But I think that this is once again where choice comes into play. If you choose to spend your money on awesome things that you don’t necessarily need - but you know you will get a lot of use out of - do it. We buy things we don’t need. We buy things we won’t ever use. Why? Are we really buying it for ourselves or are we buying it to impress others? But if you are buying it for you and you know you could use it and you can afford it, why not indulge yourself? It’s those things that you won’t use or you don’t need - the things that maybe you’ll wear once or thought it would be a good decorative piece - those are the materials that weigh us down. In the end, it’s the clutter that will only clutter your life and restrain you from living in freedom.
To many, this general concept of freedom vs. materialism can be measurable to a person’s happiness. It’s the basic idea that only when you are truly free will you be truly happy. So if a person is too caught up in their material possessions, they cannot be free, and therefore cannot be truly happy. It’s an interesting thought, but I’m not sure I buy it. Once again, it’s all situational - depending on the person, the types of possessions, motive, usage, and levels of satisfaction.
I admit that I am a materialistic individual. I like having stuff. I don’t always buy things solely for my own enjoyment. But I like my stuff. I like buying things. I like having money to at least have the option to buy things. If I could spend money professionally, I’d be so good at it. However, I have boxes of things I don’t need or want or use, but I am unable to just throw them away. I’m no hoarder yet, but I’ve become emotionally attached to these clothes I never wear or old memorabilia or costumes or stuffed animals. It’s restricting my freedom. My things are holding me back. Materialism has become a dominant ism in my life, but in the end, I’m not sure I want it to go away. Because in the end, that materialism is going to be one of the fueling factors driving me to be successful and have the life that I strive for. Like Barrett Strong, I too want money.
Just to clarify: I do believe there are obviously many things in life that are more rewarding and more important than material possessions. After all, The Beatles did say “money can’t buy me love.” I just think that the people who say that material things don’t matter are lying to themselves.
So, in conclusion, I leave you with these iconic words that forever paved the way for our materialistic generation:
“We are living in a material world…. and I am a material girl.” - Madonna
Alex Sautter (@calexifornia)
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