'Wartime - make do and mend' vs. 'Consumerism'

[kapitanprien]

I happened to be reading on the one vintage living forum I sometimes visit a post about 'wartime culture' vs. 'consumerism' (which brings about 'disposability).

As one who isn't reincarnated by birth - I am curious to know how your post war upbringing has changed your 'wartime culture' (make do and mend, etc.) ways.

Consumerism is very alien to me and I cringe every time I have to throw out food or throw something away because I am unable to fix it even though I may have just recently bought the item. It is difficult for me to deal with a world of 'consumerism' and 'cheap junk' that...no sooner do you buy it, use it once, and it breaks. (ok an exaggeration but you get the idea).

I am very much a make-do-and-mend type having fixed many of my own clothes as best as I could as well as being very resourceful.

So...I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.

[kapitanprien]

Thanks McCoy - I understand what you're saying though with regards to how the money went into the addictions and therefore that changed things considerably. Even though the money was there it did go -somewhere- and therefore due to that you have grown up to be careful.

After having stated that, I can't see how it would be connected to your past life and like you said cannot see how it could be philosophical either. It was simply a common sense realistic approach to survive - nothing more, nothing less.

Having read your post, I came to realize something that I don't experience due to how I reincarnated...that I now realize how you folks see yourselves as having had 'separate' lives...the 'past' and now the 'current'.

I know I'm digressing here though...but it at least has helped me understand how you folks 'view' your situations.

[kapitanprien]

Yeah I'd have to agree with you on that re the sideshow comment with regards to your past life stuff. I understand your reasoning there.

[Laurasia]

Well I'm finding this rather difficult for me to answer. I, in no way, have "wealth" to waste on consumerism nowadays; hence the decrepit 13-year-old computer & resistance to spending the amount needed for a new system. What I consider to be "big-ticket purchases" (which is apparently much lower than others by the way that they consistently buy new cell phones, laptops & such) cause me great anxiety. LOL! So, in many ways, I realize that I am much more reserved about spending money then other people that I know - even those who are basically in the same situation as me financially.

I do have a tendency to over spend on little things though....magazines, clothes (bought at thrift stores though LOL!), eating out, etc.

As for Hans, he was born in 1911 so the economic collapse was something that he had experienced. I have recalled that Hans was willing to spend money to get Anna & their home in Berlin nice things, but his own personal space at the camp was actually rather sparse. Though he did love & had antique furnishings, he pretty much had the basics & not much else. He also did not like "things on top of things" for the most part so, for example, the top of his bureau was empty. So while he liked his antiques he also liked to keep things rather sparse & simple too.

Now I am quite different in those regards nowadays. LOL! I am a terrible pack rat & often, to my dismay, find that I have let my surfaces get too covered in things.

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[Miss Bothmann]

I really didn't have to worry about money in my past life as Anna. However towards the end of the war, money was not so fabulous anymore. In this life I have definitly become more frugal. Not that I think that has anything to do with my past life. I feel that having not had a job in a bad economy in this present life taught me a bigger lesson. Still, I am prone to be extravagant at times, and I have to stop myself. That must have been what I retained from Anna's life!

[kapitanprien]

Laurasia: Well I'm finding this rather difficult for me to answer. I, in no way, have "wealth" to waste on consumerism nowadays; hence the decrepit 13-year-old computer & resistance to spending the amount needed for a new system. What I consider to be "big-ticket purchases" (which is apparently much lower than others by the way that they consistently buy new cell phones, laptops & such) cause me great anxiety. LOL! So, in many ways, I realize that I am much more reserved about spending money then other people that I know - even those who are basically in the same situation as me financially.

LoL - Yes the old 'puter you got there. My first laptop was a refurbished Dell Latitude which got to the point where it was literally falling apart. My mom had to help me with getting my new laptop as far as applying for the Best Buy credit card - and then I just made the payments on it (been paid off for awhile now) - but there was no way for me to fix the old one and it was also getting to the point where, due to not enough 'space' on the hard drive, I couldn't do too much. This laptop I'll keep till it dies... But what you said is exactly one of the things that I was getting to - constantly buying new things even though the current model they have, which may not be all that bad (unlike your computer which...really needs to go...*laughs* - big difference).

I do have a tendency to over spend on little things though....magazines, clothes (bought at thrift stores though LOL!), eating out, etc.

I tend to do my 'splurges' (not counting healing stuff like crystals, essences, etc. - cause that doesn't count in my book) - at places like thrift stores. In fact just on Wed. I took a walk to Salvation Army and they were having 1/2 off day on certain tag colors. I walked out of there with two like new navy pairs of khakis, a like new brand name button down shirt....the only reason why it was there was because down near the bottom of the shirt there was a bleach spot! I thought, "No one sees that...I don't get it...oh well their loss my gain." It wasn't even thread bare or anything. They got rid of it simply because of some little bleach spot that no one would see anyway as it's tucked in the pants. I'll never figure it out...but anyway...I also picked up 2 more small mugs, and a bunch of saucers and plates. The saucers were in superb condition - there were 4 at .49/each. Since they were white with silver rim, I decided to put them with my tea cups which are a powder blue with silver rim - they look excellent together. The plates, I buy old ones to put under my plant pots to 'spiff up' my plants. It was a neat little brain fart I had about 3 years ago. I forgot to add...all those purchases at the thrift store cost me just $15 and some odd cents! Big spender.... *laughs*

As for Hans, he was born in 1911 so the economic collapse was something that he had experienced. I have recalled that Hans was willing to spend money to get Anna & their home in Berlin nice things, but his own personal space at the camp was actually rather sparse. Though he did love & had antique furnishings, he pretty much had the basics & not much else. He also did not like "things on top of things" for the most part so, for example, the top of his bureau was empty. So while he liked his antiques he also liked to keep things rather sparse & simple too.

That's kind of how I am and if you even look at photos of interiors of the late '30s and into the 40s you'll notice a 'sparse-ness' of things. I'm also the 'less is more' as far as decorating is concerned too. I just changed around my china cabinet because it was still too cluttered looking for me. So what I have in it is - top shelf: deco aluminum canister set with a large sand dollar and my repro. vintage style Niederegger tin in front; middle shelf - kromex aluminum canister set with my WWI German Naval Officer's dagger and coral chunk in front; bottom shelf the teacups and saucers with a white seashell and that is it.

Now I am quite different in those regards nowadays. LOL! I am a terrible pack rat & often, to my dismay, find that I have let my surfaces get too covered in things.

LoL! I'm the pack rat's worst enemy... I'm always throwing stuff out (papers) or donating stuff, or giving it to someone I know,and some people wonder how I can live with so little and I sit there and wonder how they can wonder WHY they need so much stuff...LoL! ;D

[kapitanprien]

Re McCoy - I think it's interesting you brought this up with your reply to Laurasia and I don't think it is off topic either (it is related in a way I feel).

The only things I 'stock up' on, but not nearly to the extent of a pack rat - would be thinks like: soap and other toiletries, tea and that is about it. As far as clothing is concerned, my current wardrobe is undergoing a bit of a change as I 'upgrade' to some nicer used clothing (something I've been wanting to do for a few months now). The clothes that I don't want anymore will be donated - so far two pairs of pants are in the donation bag.

I can't see myself as a clothing pack rat either. I have 'spares' - like three light sweaters, and three heavy ones...but that doesn't constitute 'pack rat-ism'.

When there is too much stuff, for some reason...I feel overwhelmed...like I'm almost suffocating. I love the 'light airy' feeling of 'space'. It's not as suffocating to me and even if I would be in a larger place...too many things would make me feel almost claustrophobic (I'm not claustrophobic considering how small my apartment's bathroom is...but you get the idea).

[kapitanprien]

I'm much like you then. I wouldn't want to live in 'the inner city' where I can't see the sun come up and the sky. I like the open spaces - one reason why I would like to move closer to the Atlantic coast (of course the sea too).

Interesting thing about the coffee houses - in my favorite cafe, there is a little corner in which I always cram myself. It is out of the way - a 'hidden' spot of sorts - that I like to be in, so as to be 'out of the way' from all the hubbub. That is one of the few times where I don't mind a small area. I guess in the same way you mention that it isn't the physical dimensions, but the people rather.

I hear you about stretching out the income! I do most of my grocery shopping at a discount store, and then go to the regular retail chain store (carrying any coupons I could use with me:) ).

Recently I've been the same way regarding frozen food - I'm eating more canned food actually - because it gets freezer burnt and I just wind up throwing it away. I'm still trying to cut back on my food purchases and look at what I really like to eat, and buy mostly that, with a few variables for a change here and there in the menu.

[Storm]

I really think that rationing food would be a great way to tackle obesity. People were certainly healthier in the UK back in war. My Gran used to always say that.

I do not like consumerism, in that shopping is a British national pass time nowadays, but I am also a total hypocrite because if something is there and I like it and I can afford it, then I will most certainly buy it, lol! I do make stuff though. I sew and make patchwork and stuff. and I love vintage stuff. I have a ridiculous art collection and especially collect 18th century English antiques and paintings.

I think barter and swapping will come back into style in time. As the economy changes, which it will, then the availablility of cheap throw away items will lessen and re-use will be the way to go.

It is interesting that past lives may help form our shopping habits though. In the other past life I have found, and indeed have much documented evidence for, I was a very rich man. I had everything I wanted and more. My Nazi life appreciated fine things and seemed to try and emulate the other lifetime in terms of having a huge grand country estate etc in the later stages of his life. His perspective would have been hugely different from many people's in the era though because he was once again in the elite.

In this life I had a huge addiction to fine things. I was a spoiled princess and I am totally getting over that. But I have multitudes of designer junk I never use and am now going to sell off. I think much of that is born from a reaction to being a woman for the first time in goodness knows how long. I felt that a woman needs a little treat when she is down in the dumps and indulged myself accordingly. But it doesn't matter how many trinkets I bought myself they never cheered me up for long. (I know I bought my wife many trinkets in the past to cheer her up, or to say sorry, in both lifetimes I have discovered).

I do like technology and I will spend copiously on it. I do not watch TV at all. Only online and only news/documentaries and the occassional film, so I have not upgraded to HD or anything like my friends. I have a 50" wall mounted TV which I just use for watching films. I love the internet. I do not think I would go so far as having a microchip interfacing with it, like some people I know in MENSA want to have oneday, (for gaming etc), but I do like the internet for research.

I buy loads of books and cannot get into my E- reader at all. I like old and rare books that smell of years of history and the sensation of turning pages for me is something familiar and cherished. But I have just succumbed to an iPhone and am planning to get an ipad soon. I want to save paper as I am fed up with huge agendas so a tablet would be a good idea.

Food wise I plan to start growing food in my garden. I am a veggie and I want to grow as much as I can myself now. Also I want harness my rainwater where possible. I definitely want to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle than I did in the past, (in this life). I also try where possible to buy local and to buy ethical.

Kapitan, I am SO interested in your comment that you aren't reincarnated by birth. Can you pm me about that maybe or direct me to a post where you explain that or a part of one of your sites that explains that? Thanks so much. x

[kapitanprien]

SSKarma: I really think that rationing food would be a great way to tackle obesity. People were certainly healthier in the UK back in war. My Gran used to always say that.

I have to agree with you on this. Of course, doing what I did back then...being a member of the 'North Atlantic Trade Disruption Committee'...I had a hand in the whole rationing thing for the UK.

I have written down some wartime recipes from some wartime cookbooks this one lady I know has. Many of them are very delicious. I have them saved on my computer and if anyone is interested I can post them in a new thread.

I do not like consumerism, in that shopping is a British national pass time nowadays, but I am also a total hypocrite because if something is there and I like it and I can afford it, then I will most certainly buy it, lol! I do make stuff though. I sew and make patchwork and stuff. and I love vintage stuff. I have a ridiculous art collection and especially collect 18th century English antiques and paintings.

Well I'm like you in that respect if there is something that I can use, and I like and can afford - I will buy it. But I tend to be - what some may consider ruthlessly pragmatic at times. For example I have two teapots - but I can only put one in the microwave. I use two teapots when I brew loose leaf tea. Seeing I can only put one in the microwave, I am looking to buy another that is microwave friendly from the Stash Tea Company. I'd like to have a spare microwavable one in case the other breaks. That's one example.

Because I live in a small apartment - there is no way I will allow clutter to accrue.

I think barter and swapping will come back into style in time. As the economy changes, which it will, then the availablility of cheap throw away items will lessen and re-use will be the way to go.

I can see that happening. I'm a big eBayer in addition to shopping at antique shops, thrift stores and yard/garage sales.

It is interesting that past lives may help form our shopping habits though. In the other past life I have found, and indeed have much documented evidence for, I was a very rich man. I had everything I wanted and more. My Nazi life appreciated fine things and seemed to try and emulate the other lifetime in terms of having a huge grand country estate etc in the later stages of his life. His perspective would have been hugely different from many people's in the era though because he was once again in the elite.

That is interesting. I've discussed this several years ago when I was down in Delaware at Ft. Miles with someone I've been attending WWII events with. We were discussing the whole post-war thing with her shopping habits, but she also said that she felt like she was trying to 'fill a void' with material possessions - and I think that is a main 'root' of consumerism. I don't care if one is atheist or believes in something, but I think a sort of 'inner spiritual disconnection' can lead to consumerism to fill that 'void'.

Having spent one half of my life (mainly) in the Handelsmarine/German Merchant Marine, I never cared about material possessions unless it was gear like oilskins or work shoes, things of that nature. One couldn't take too much aboard a ship anyway and if the ship foundered...well there goes your precious possessions (think of the movie Titanic with the first class people and their jewelry and money). I guess in a strange way it is almost like embracing death before it happens as the saying goes 'you can't take it with you'. Same goes with the U-Boats - certainly can't take much aboard them! And I think with the prospects of us facing the high possibility of dying out at sea during the war - on land with money it was something like 'spend it while you're alive and while you can'.

In this life I had a huge addiction to fine things. I was a spoiled princess and I am totally getting over that. But I have multitudes of designer junk I never use and am now going to sell off. I think much of that is born from a reaction to being a woman for the first time in goodness knows how long. I felt that a woman needs a little treat when she is down in the dumps and indulged myself accordingly. But it doesn't matter how many trinkets I bought myself they never cheered me up for long. (I know I bought my wife many trinkets in the past to cheer her up, or to say sorry, in both lifetimes I have discovered).


Best wishes on your sale! What you mention about buying stuff to cheer you up I think ties in what I said above with the discussion I had with the one friend about 'filling in the void'.

I do like technology and I will spend copiously on it. I do not watch TV at all. Only online and only news/documentaries and the occassional film, so I have not upgraded to HD or anything like my friends. I have a 50" wall mounted TV which I just use for watching films. I love the internet. I do not think I would go so far as having a microchip interfacing with it, like some people I know in MENSA want to have oneday, (for gaming etc), but I do like the internet for research.

I don't own a TV and don't really care to. If I want to watch a movie -or documentary I can buy the DVD and watch it on my laptop (one thing I love about this laptop! ;D ) I enjoy the net for research like you, but mainly use it to purchase things.

I buy loads of books and cannot get into my E- reader at all. I like old and rare books that smell of years of history and the sensation of turning pages for me is something familiar and cherished. But I have just succumbed to an iPhone and am planning to get an ipad soon. I want to save paper as I am fed up with huge agendas so a tablet would be a good idea.

I'm not much of a book worm. I don't know if that's because my brain is so preoccupied with clearing stuff out and going through its 're-wiring' that I feel 'burned out' mentally most of the time or what. My library consists of just a few WWI and II U-Boat books and a few on Cape Horn ships. Like you I love the smell of old books too...*laughs* I don't have any of those iPhone type gadgets as I have no use for them, but I can see how they'd be handy if you're a business person.

Food wise I plan to start growing food in my garden. I am a veggie and I want to grow as much as I can myself now. Also I want harness my rainwater where possible. I definitely want to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle than I did in the past, (in this life). I also try where possible to buy local and to buy ethical.

That's cool. I'm the infamous omnivore *evil shark toothed grin* but I don't blame you on growing your own. Many of the people I know grow their own simply due to the cost at the store. And I fully understand doing the 'rainwater catch' too. I also hear you on buying local and ethical. I live in North Eastern Pennsylvania and there are many farms around here - so there's a number of farmer's markets, apiaries for local honey, and organic meats and cheeses - free range/grass fed type farms. You could also do 'canning' with growing your own too which is nice.

Kapitan, I am SO interested in your comment that you aren't reincarnated by birth. Can you pm me about that maybe or direct me to a post where you explain that or a part of one of your sites that explains that? Thanks so much. x

In my (currently chaotic ) main page which is the first link in my signature I talk a bit about that without going into detail. I've been thinking about organizing that page a bit but haven't had the brain fart yet on how to go about doing it. If you want to know more feel free to PM me - but the main site should help explain some things.

[kapitanprien]

Thanks - I hope so too, although where I'm looking to go there will be more of a 'beach coast' than a rocky coast.

[kapitanprien]

Re SSKarma: I just wanted to let you know about the link in my signature - use the one that I have 'My Memories' next to as I'm sorting things out and the other one I have deleted.

[Iseke]

I really love reading the descriptions of everyone's lifestyles here, it's very interesting!

I'm embarrassed to admit that my past life experiences have not made me particularly wary about the availability of goods and services. I have no idea what my level of affluence was (middle class?), so to what degree it is influencing me now I can't say. But I'll describe a bit of my current lifestyle anyway.

--I don't make or have much money and thus don't spend a lot, but the things I will spend on are: good food, coffee, electronics, blankets, and metaphysical goods. I also eat out quite a bit! The electronics and metaphysical goods are obviously based in this life, but the food and blankets thing...I'm thinking I like to maintain a level of Taurean comfort that is a direct nod to my past lives. I also hate to be cold!

--The food thing: I'm extremely picky about food, and I think this has a lot to do with either the kinds of food I was forced to eat, or just being forced to eat barely palatable food in the first place. As a result, my tastes in food are a bit eccentric and might stretch beyond what is available if it weren't for the fact that I live in a highly multicultural area where food from many areas is widely accessible. Also, pretty cheap!

--I live in a small place, but it's irredeemably messy. I wouldn't call myself a packrat, per se, just...slow to declutter.

--Antibacterial soap + hand sanitizer, and lots of it! This is one thing I can't imagine giving up to live in another time period. (And yes, I know these things increase bacteria immunity, thus rendering them less valuable than we might have hoped. Still, it helps me sleep at night!)

So what I'm seeing here in general is a desire for good food, warmth, and cleanliness, which were big issues in the camps. Money and attitude to available resources, however...I'm not sure I can define a direct correlation.

Also, Prien, I totally want to come over and have tea.

[kapitanprien]

Iseke: I really love reading the descriptions of everyone's lifestyles here, it's very interesting!

That's why I started this thread.

I'm embarrassed to admit that my past life experiences have not made me particularly wary about the availability of goods and services. I have no idea what my level of affluence was (middle class?), so to what degree it is influencing me now I can't say. But I'll describe a bit of my current lifestyle anyway.


That's ok.

--I don't make or have much money and thus don't spend a lot, but the things I will spend on are: good food, coffee, electronics, blankets, and metaphysical goods. I also eat out quite a bit! The electronics and metaphysical goods are obviously based in this life, but the food and blankets thing...I'm thinking I like to maintain a level of Taurean comfort that is a direct nod to my past lives. I also hate to be cold!


I understand. I'm on a 'fixed income' so very picky choosy. I would love to eat out more if there were more neat places here to eat out at (and if I had more money - that's one thing I miss about being in France...neat places to eat out in!)

I don't mind the cold - I sleep with few blankets and then just boxer shorts or nothing at all... *laughs* even in the middle of winter. For some reason I am more comfortable in cooler weather than 'hot sticky' weather. That's another reason why I'd love to get closer to the coast - there is the sea to help moderate the humidity a bit.

--The food thing: I'm extremely picky about food, and I think this has a lot to do with either the kinds of food I was forced to eat, or just being forced to eat barely palatable food in the first place. As a result, my tastes in food are a bit eccentric and might stretch beyond what is available if it weren't for the fact that I live in a highly multicultural area where food from many areas is widely accessible. Also, pretty cheap!

I'm not exceedingly picky about food. When I'm hungry...I just want to eat. Unlike you I don't live in a very multicultural area - being in rural PA...although I do like to try foods from other countries!

--I live in a small place, but it's irredeemably messy. I wouldn't call myself a packrat, per se, just...slow to declutter.

*laughs*

--Antibacterial soap + hand sanitizer, and lots of it! This is one thing I can't imagine giving up to live in another time period. (And yes, I know these things increase bacteria immunity, thus rendering them less valuable than we might have hoped. Still, it helps me sleep at night!)

I'm the opposite here. I use natural soaps - that's the only kind my skin likes (and my skin likes the vegan/vegetarian type of soaps the best). I tend to make friends with 'the bugs' in a sense that if I have to 'fight' them I will use natural means - probiotics, essential oils...that sort of thing. Just fighting fire with fire.

So what I'm seeing here in general is a desire for good food, warmth, and cleanliness, which were big issues in the camps. Money and attitude to available resources, however...I'm not sure I can define a direct correlation.

I can see how you draw those conclusions.

Also, Prien, I totally want to come over and have tea.

I'd be happy to share.

[kapitanprien]

Re McCoy -

Are you sick of meatloaf at all from having it so often? I love the dish if it's made right and I hear you about hot potatoes in 100 deg. weather!

I would have to agree with you as far as no 'past life influence' at all - just how things are now for you.