One of the great things about becoming an old(er) person is reaching that stage in life when you no longer give too many f*cks, and everything starts to become so much easier, especially when it comes to chores like shopping for stuff like clothes.
I thought about this the other day when I stumbled upon a sale at the mall, and saw T-shirts that were the type that I usually like for only P395 each, from the original price of P595 (I think). Attracted by the savings, I checked out the available colors, gave the fabric a feel test, and then picked out the colors that I either didn’t have or had but I knew were already starting to fade or look old. I ended up getting 3 shirts.
Then, while waiting for the wife and daughter to finish their shopping, which usually takes much longer than me, I checked out the bargain bins, where random items are always on sale and I know from experience I can always manage to find a good deal, every now and then.
Lo and behold, there were shorts, also on sale and in my size. So I bought two, based on the criteria of either not having the same color, or the one I still have is already starting to look worn and faded.
I had accidentally wandered into a shopping spree, which is quite rare given that I hardly shop anymore, and as I was paying I realized that I have become the type of shopper who only buys stuff that is on sale. I no longer chase trends but hunt down deals on the stuff I am familiar with. I don’t think I have ever bought shoes that’s not at least 30% off, which means I could be a few seasons behind if I ever get new shoes, but I am now blissfully unaware and beyond caring.
It’s boring and probably uncool, but if you come to think of it, it is quite liberating not to have to think about the wardrobe and whether its contents are still trendy. I just use whatever I have in my closet, until it either wears out, or gets replaced because a replacement went on sale. As long as the quality is good, I’m comfy with the fit and look, and the price is right, then everything is good.
When I was not-so-older some moons ago, I remember making fun of the titos who seemed stuck in a certain era and even if they looked like they could afford to be hip and trendy if they wanted to. But now that it seems I’ve become one of those guys, I can understand the appeal. It is certainly a less stressful, and a more affordable lifestyle. It’s not for everyone, but I get it now.
The beauty of not being affected by trends is that life is so much more simple, and more affordable too. When it comes to clothes and apparel, the ones that are trendy and in season are almost always never discounted, because everyone wants a piece of the action. Paying full price is a choice, and for others, it is worth it. But what I have noticed is that as you grow older, you figure out that going out of your way just to impress others is one of the worst ways to waste time and money. I always wish I could tell my 20-30 year old self that. The only problem is that they probably won’t believe me.
The same holds true for tech and gadgets, like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers. As long as you don’t desire the latest and greatest, there are a lot of savings to be made, while at the same time getting more or less the same performance when you go for the mid-top range spec of the previous cycle’s models.
This is where the law of diminishing returns can work for those who don’t really need to always have the updated stuff. Avoiding the latest model, or going for what was decent last year, can translate to significant savings, with minimal performance drops. Maybe I’m just being an old guy, but how can anyone really tell if your smartphone is not the latest and greatest? Why pay the premium for the newest drop when you can still get a perfectly decent and well-performing brand new unit from a year or two (or even three) ago? If you hang out with people who judge others based on the model of their gadgets, you might want to reconsider your and their priorities. Take it from this tito.
After all that ranting, all I guess I’m trying to say is that we shouldn’t buy stuff to impress others. We buy stuff for ourselves. If it works for us, nobody should care. If they are happy with their latest and greatest, that’s on them. But our happiness or contentment shouldn’t be dependent on other people’s approval.*
