How true this is. I have raised in a thrifty family, so I became used to not having the latest greatest things, whether it be clothes, computers, cars, etc. I took that lesson with me into college and remember countless times where I would try to explain to others why I didn't have a cell phone my first two years, or how their rush to get out of school and get a job so they'd have more money didn't appeal to me. I like stuff, everyone does, but I thought I had a pretty good control on my desire for it. Now I'm out of school and have been working for about a year. I make enough to comfortably afford my rent, food, and simple living expenses and still have some left over to save. Well a chain of event led to me having more money that I was used to having, finished very well in a road running race and came away with a few thousand dollars, and around the same time by birthday so I received money from loved ones. Suddenly I found myself "needing" so many things that I didn't before. I got a new camera, new shoes, climbing gear and began searching for a new bike, all things I have done without for months because I didn't really need them. Then my computer blew up and I had to buy a new one, before I knew it I had blown through a lot of that money and had collected a lot of stuff and for some reason was hungry for more. It was a strange feeling for me and I didn't like it. I liked being that simple guy who made just enough to tithe, pay the rent, and get on living simply, without these desired to have more stuff. So I put a hold on the spending spree and have learned to back up and think before making big purchases. It's not that I think buying stuff is bad, it was the craving to buy more that scared me to death and made me do a double take at my spending.