mandag, april 14, 2008

Cure for what ails you

I lied when I said I was not a materialist. Because there's one place where I am, a bit. Food. I'm not a gourmet, but I am able to spend money on food that I wouldn't spend on anything else. Because 1) even really expensive food is not so expensive when you compare it to things like computer items or designer clothing, and 2) it eventually gets eaten, allowing the consumer to maintain some delusion of minimalism.

And, in the case of ice cream, I would like to convince myself that it helps with heartburn, in the same way that milk is supposed to. My anecdotal evidence swears to me that it works. More rationally, it doesn't really make a difference, but I listen to the anecdote because it gives me an excuse to eat more ice cream.

On a not very related note, this is the silliest post I've written in a long time (and that's saying something. I write silly stuff all the time). Please help me make it all better by telling me your stories. In what areas are you willing and able to splurge? And if/when you splurge on food and drink, what food or drink do you buy?

*Photo credit: one of my all-time favorites, though not the only one I like by any means, http://bestuff.com/stuff/ben-and-jerrys-cookie-dough*

8 kommentarer:

i'm marion sagde ...

Definitely food as well. I wish I could give a good reason, but I just enjoy cooking, eating and trying new things (even after three years of living in the city of chip barms...) :-)

Devil Mood sagde ...

That's an area where I don't splurge. Precisely because it gets eaten. Wait a minute - I spent all that money and where did it go?

I must say though, that this might change when I actually start buying my own food all the time and also when I get my own salary. lol it's interesting that I still don't know what kind of person I'll become. Suddenly your post became reaaaally serious. 8P

N sagde ...

I love to try all kinds of food.

x sagde ...

i only splurge on gifts, almost never on food and absolutely never on clothes.
food is a kind of gift too, so don't feel bad. x

Anonym sagde ...

It is a known fact that premium ice creams cost more because they actually DO have a higher butterfat content, meaning there's more milk/cream in there and less air whipped into the mix before it froze all the way. some may even have some egg in there, giving it more of a custard base than a milk or cream base.

I wholeheartedly endorse splurging on food, because it's one of the things where you actually do get what you pay for in terms of quality and nutritional value.

Anonym sagde ...

My appetite is for laptops! Yes, laptops are my melting point, my meltdown, my desired undoing, and as I’m going down, down, down the financial mudslide, I’m grinning like a technofool! I get overlap laptops, meaning at the first whiff of possible imperfection that arises from my current laptop, I officially open the laptop search ceremonies with internet visits to Sony, Dell, HP, Gateway where I build bunches of laptops, agonizing over amenities with sordid delight! HAHA!

Anonym sagde ...

In all honesty, I splurge on everything. Food. Electronics. Books. Toys. Music. Clothes. I earned that money fair and square so ti is my divinely ordained right to spend it on the things I like. Sure, I have to be practical about it and splurge within my means, but often, if i can't afford the Good Stuff, I'll wait a paycheck or two and come back when I can, because if I'm spending the money anyway I'd rather spend it on quality.

kimananda sagde ...

Marion, you've given several good reasons. The best food to buy is food you want to try out.

Ms. Mood, this comment really got me thinking. I am willing to spend a lot now, and really get into new foods, or new types of my old favorites. But when I wasn't paying for my food, I really couldn't figure out why anyone would spend more than the bare minimum in a grocery store. It may also be because I have moved too many times in the past several years, and have realized each time how annoying it is to have too much stuff. Food is there, you enjoy it, and then it's gone, and you don't have to lug it around with you to your next living place!

Bluefish, me too! That's what makes it fun to find new things at the grocery store. And of course one of the things that makes it fun to travel to new places.

Chloe, gifts are good too. It's far easier to spend on others than on oneself. I also like to get Thor food treats for that same reason.

Dok, definitely high quality ice cream is worth the extra few kronor. And I think it's a good attitude, to indulge in things that you enjoy. I feel that way in theory, but in practice, I feel burdened when I have too many things. But when I do get things, I try to get nice quality things that will last. Because there's nothing more depressing than to have something you really like break or otherwise become unusable.

Missalister, laptops are one thing that I definitely splurge on every few years. Actually, I'm overdue for a new one (just based on how long I usually wait, not because my old one needs replacing in any way...it is more than fine for what I need). It's a traditional purchase when I go back home to the states, just because they're so much cheaper there than in Europe. I'm heavily eyeing the MacBook Air, but realistically there's no way I can afford it. Which hasn't always stopped me from making similar purchases in the past!