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Why do we buy what we buy?

Today is Tuesday, my friends, and we’re almost half way through July 2021. Can you believe it? I can’t. Last year c-r-a-w-l-e-d but this year seems to have flown by.

Let’s get to today’s money stories.

Why do we buy what we buy? [Vox] — “I recently spoke with Juliet Schor, a sociologist at Boston College, about the history of modern American consumerism — what it’s rooted in, how it’s evolved, and how different groups of people have experienced it…In her view, marketers have less to do with what we want than, say, our neighbors, coworkers, or the people we follow on social media.”

Keep only the best. [Becoming Minimalist] — “An only the best approach to possessions is beneficial, but can still be difficult, especially for people with particularly sentimental personalities. If that is the case, here are a few tips to help you along in the difficult process.” [As a corollary, I’m learning to only buy the best when I have to purchase something.]

Time freedom (and choosing how to spend your time). [One Frugal Girl] — “What if we measured success in terms of time rather than money? What if we stopped focusing on how much we earned and instead paid attention to how much we loved, laughed, and enjoyed the moments that make up each day?”

And our last story today? Well, it has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with magic.

Disney adults don’t care if you hate them. They’re having fun. [Buzzfeed News] — “Disney has had quite an effect on Blackham, who even interned at Disney, where he eventually met the woman he would marry. (Naturally, they honeymooned at Disney World.) He said that Disney is also responsible for exposing him to identities outside of his own.”

That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with more great stuff. Join me then, won’t you?