I've always been a cheap date. I prefer silver to gold, piquette to Pétrus, Peugeot to Porsche, a cosy cottage to a palatial pile, and a good hearty country stew to a Michel Guérard stack of flavoured foams.
I have never seen the point of 'pretending' to be sophisticated by spending a fortune on things that one wouldn't otherwise touch with a barge pole. Nouveau riche 'Celebs' who spend a weeks wages on a bottle of Cristal Champagne, when they would probably prefer a half of cider, frankly just make me cringe. Sudden fame, and its attending bucket-loads of cash, seems to drive 'financial climbers' bonkers.
Has there ever been a top notch footballer who has NOT bought a top notch sports car, or a one-hit-wonder singer who has NOT bought some tasteless ready-furnished 'Executive Home'.
The real problem with this type of behaviour is that the day the supply of cash runs out, those empty bottles of Cristal suddenly look a wee bit sad. And, to make matters worse, all those 'friends' who shared them will more than likely have disappeared and moved on to the next mug with too much cash.
I shall stick to my frugal lifestyle; it's probably the only reason why I still have a few quid in the bank.
If one is a creative artist,one can live well on little.With diligence and imagination one can eat delicious meals, create a beautiful environment,and also can be cerebrally enriched and inspired by reading reflecting and intellectual pursuits.The creative lifestyle (luxury on a shoestring) gives the middle finger to the crass materialists who only produce opulent ugliness which never gives them ongoing satisfaction or pleasure. This in itself I find very
ReplyDeleteoops...continued
ReplyDeletereassuring and rewarding...Yes I know, how very unchristian of me:)
Is the ability to appreciate the simpler things in life exclusive to the creative? Probably! Not unchristian; observant.
DeleteNo, not exclusive to the creative. Down to earth, practical people appreciate what they have and value it too.
DeleteI'm with you all the way on this one - these newly monied celebs have vulgar taste and wouldn't know sophistication if it hit them in the face with a kipper.Keep life simple, keep it sweet. You often notice it with these people who win the lottery - they are just so predictable in what they spend their new found wealth on.
ReplyDeleteEric Cantona. He drove an old Datsun and lived in a rented maisonette in Leeds and stayed there when he went to play for Man U. I always liked Eric.
ReplyDeleteYes, but Eric was mad.
DeleteAnd a good footballer.
Deletea bottle of Cristal Champagne, when they would probably prefer a half of cider,
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't? LOL (waving the flag for Somerset!)
I always think how can you possibly treat yourself when your life is crammed full of treats. Love perfectly cooked egg and chips, a flavoursome real ale and some of my charity shop cosy clothes!
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is a case of coming by the money too easily? I think those who work hard to get it know what things they want to have to improve their life and what things are senseless extravagances. If you work hard to get it, you don't want to lose it again !!
ReplyDeleteIs Monty better yet?
ReplyDeleteHe's on his last few days of antibiotics, and seems to be over whatever malaise he had. Thank you.
DeleteI started out with nothing, and I still have most of it left.
ReplyDeleteBoom boom.
Deleteand quite a few friends as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Cro...large fortunes seem, in general, to kill good taste....big and garish is the order of the day.
ReplyDeleteThe notion of making that sort of dosh and not putting it away for a rainy day seems absolutely mad to me. And wasting it on Liberace glitz is rather like wiping your derier with 100 $ notes. But then I never had a pot to piss in anyhow. There is a reason I never watch sports.
ReplyDeleteComputer won't let me reply to your reply! Good to know that Monty is a lot better…he did look so forlorn.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds exactly like the farmer writing.
ReplyDelete