...The Overspent American by Juliet Schor.   (Checked out from the library, of course! )Finding it quite an interesting read.

The basic point is that many Americans feel compelled not just to keep up with the Jonses, but to surpass them.  The last section includes profiles of "downshifters" from various walks of life.

Looks at media influence and peer group influence (be that work, neighborhood, etc.).  Cites hard number - for example, one survey that's been conducted several times over the past several decades shows how many more folks see as a necessity things that were considered luxuries 10 or 20 years ago (e.g., TV, cell phone, computer, car, second car... )  Being something of a research geek, I find this stuff interesting.

I think a far amount of the info probably applies more-or-less to "mainstream spending" Canadians.  Having said that, I also find that my experience is that Canadians in general seem to "use things up" more than Americans - i.e., less clothing with tags still on at garage sales or Goodwill, at least.

Thought someone here might also find it an intriguing read!

~Sara

This post was last modified: 27-08-2007 08:36 PM by SaraCate.

you have good taste in books we have the same interest.

Will have to look this one up!  Thanks for the suggestion!

...The Overspent American by Juliet Schor.   (Checked out from the library, of course! )Finding it quite an interesting read.

The basic point is that many Americans feel compelled not just to keep up with the Jonses, but to surpass them.  The last section includes profiles of "downshifters" from various walks of life.

Looks at media influence and peer group influence (be that work, neighborhood, etc.).  Cites hard number - for example, one survey that's been conducted several times over the past several decades shows how many more folks see as a necessity things that were considered luxuries 10 or 20 years ago (e.g., TV, cell phone, computer, car, second car... )  Being something of a research geek, I find this stuff interesting.

I think a far amount of the info probably applies more-or-less to "mainstream spending" Canadians.  Having said that, I also find that my experience is that Canadians in general seem to "use things up" more than Americans - i.e., less clothing with tags still on at garage sales or Goodwill, at least.

Thought someone here might also find it an intriguing read!

~Sara

I just finished reading "Dishwasher - One man's quest to wash dishes in 50 states" (<-- got it from the library, of course).

It's the true account of a man who washed dishes as a means of travelling the country.  He is extremely frugal and able to survive on very little.

Next, I want to read "Scratch Beginnings", by Adam Shepard.  About a guy who started with a duffel bag, sleeping bag, and $25 to see if he could, in one year, rise from homelessness to having an apartment, a car, and $2500 in savings.  It's about optimism and a state of mind to improve his situation.  It seems like an interesting read, but I won't read it until the library gets a copy of it... lol!

...The Overspent American by Juliet Schor.   (Checked out from the library, of course! )Finding it quite an interesting read.

The basic point is that many Americans feel compelled not just to keep up with the Jonses, but to surpass them.  The last section includes profiles of "downshifters" from various walks of life.

Looks at media influence and peer group influence (be that work, neighborhood, etc.).  Cites hard number - for example, one survey that's been conducted several times over the past several decades shows how many more folks see as a necessity things that were considered luxuries 10 or 20 years ago (e.g., TV, cell phone, computer, car, second car... )  Being something of a research geek, I find this stuff interesting.

I think a far amount of the info probably applies more-or-less to "mainstream spending" Canadians.  Having said that, I also find that my experience is that Canadians in general seem to "use things up" more than Americans - i.e., less clothing with tags still on at garage sales or Goodwill, at least.

Thought someone here might also find it an intriguing read!

~Sara