Black Friday and The Tragic Death of Heirlooms

Now that we’ve survived the shopping frenzy associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the younger sibling), I have a question for anyone that attempted to find some good deals this year.  Did you see anything for sale that could last long enough to be an heirloom for your children, or grandchildren?  My guess is that very few items eagerly snatched up by bargain hunters this year would qualify as such, exemplifying one of the biggest issues with our spending habits: the purchase of cheap, disposable things.

I take our dog on walks every morning and every evening.  On Tuesday nights, she pulls to sniff everyone’s garbage out at the curb.  It’s rather upsetting at times, to see massive amounts of disposable goods on their way to pile up in landfills.  There have been many instances where I will drag something back down the street, to give the item a longer lifespan at our home.  I’ve written before about how the amount of trash you put out each week is a reflection of your spending habits and/or philosophy towards money.

Are You Throwing Away Your Money? What Your Garbage Says About Your Finances

At the present time of year, this premise seems especially poignant.  Shoppers everywhere will buy things just because of a good deal or just because they need something to give as a present to so-and-so.  It just feels so wasteful, both for your wallet and the environment.

My husband and I have evolved considerably with respect to our attitude toward all things financial in the past seven years or so.  This shift has had such a positive and powerful impact on our lives.  We have been able to pay off over $100,000 in debt and are poised to move into our forever homestead in the next year.  One of the keys to our success has been to stop spending on ALL unnecessary things.  It’s not just about skipping luxury items.  Instead, we’ve arrived at a place where we can truly evaluate whether purchases will add value to our lives, versus adhering to assumptions about normal expenses.

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to antiques.  The history of physical items is interesting, but I feel that there is also some special intrinsic value to an item which has lasted for a very long time without merely being thrown away, replaced by something shiny and new.  On our summer road trip to Maine, I wanted to have an item to commemorate our vacation, but chose not to purchase some kitschy souvenir.  Instead, I found the sweetest little Flow Blue China plate from an antique store.  Besides being a lovely little plate, I was sold by the information on the back: “My Mother’s First Plate, August 1849, Martha.”  It was so sentimental and precious to think about this little treasure being passed down through several generations and that now, it was my privilege to be its caretaker for foreseeable future.

The disposable goods we purchase and gift these days are not passed down.  At best, they may last a few years before ending up at the curb.  These inexpensive items have sadly replaced heirlooms.  Where there used to be a few, valuable pieces of jewelry owned by a woman, which would be inherited by her children, now she may have drawers filled with cheap “fashion jewelry” to match every outfit or trend.

We have now fully entered the holiday season, a time when everyone is spending, and the “spirit of giving” often outweighs budgets and rationality.  Allow me to suggest that you consider the life expectancy of presents for your friends and family.   Perhaps, a “really good deal” would be finding something that will be a part of your loved one’s life for many years to come.