Something I often thought about when I was poor is how expensive it is to be poor.
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Something I often thought about when I was poor is how expensive it is to be poor. You're constantly making bad economic decisions, because you can't afford to make the right ones. At least not all of them. For example, you don't buy a ticket on the subway and get fined. Or buy crap products that don't last long, so you need to get new ones much sooner. Or skip the dentist appointment, because it will break you bank account, so your teeth gets worse.
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Something I often thought about when I was poor is how expensive it is to be poor. You're constantly making bad economic decisions, because you can't afford to make the right ones. At least not all of them. For example, you don't buy a ticket on the subway and get fined. Or buy crap products that don't last long, so you need to get new ones much sooner. Or skip the dentist appointment, because it will break you bank account, so your teeth gets worse.
If you've never experienced it, I think it is difficult to understand the logic. Since I got enough money to make better decisions, I could immediately feel the effects on my psyche. I save up money now - I have savings. Which I've never had before and feel so joyous and proud about. That means I can "invest" my money (a whole new way of thinking), that is, make better economic decision. Living suddenly becomes cheaper, because I can afford the right decisions. This is the crazy part for me.
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If you've never experienced it, I think it is difficult to understand the logic. Since I got enough money to make better decisions, I could immediately feel the effects on my psyche. I save up money now - I have savings. Which I've never had before and feel so joyous and proud about. That means I can "invest" my money (a whole new way of thinking), that is, make better economic decision. Living suddenly becomes cheaper, because I can afford the right decisions. This is the crazy part for me.
To my surprise, there's a "theory" or about this, called the Sam Vimes theory of socioeconomic unfairness or simply Boots theory. Terry Pratchet came up with this in one of his fantasy novels. The theory is basically that "people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory
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To my surprise, there's a "theory" or about this, called the Sam Vimes theory of socioeconomic unfairness or simply Boots theory. Terry Pratchet came up with this in one of his fantasy novels. The theory is basically that "people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory
Looking back on the footwear I've had over the years, I've had lots of bad quality, but I'm happy that I've taken pretty good care of my shoes and boots regardless. Most have stayed with me for years before breaking apart, some are still with me since 2013 and 2016. Not having money can teach you frugality, and I will take that with me. Now that I have enough money to buy good quality footwear, I want to have shit that will last for decades, can be resoled etc.
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Looking back on the footwear I've had over the years, I've had lots of bad quality, but I'm happy that I've taken pretty good care of my shoes and boots regardless. Most have stayed with me for years before breaking apart, some are still with me since 2013 and 2016. Not having money can teach you frugality, and I will take that with me. Now that I have enough money to buy good quality footwear, I want to have shit that will last for decades, can be resoled etc.
The wider morale of this story is of course that the unfairness in Boots theory is also why we will continue to be doomed as far as the ecological crisis goes unless we turn the economic order upside-down. We're all paying the price for fast fashion and all the other bad ecological decisions being made today, because people can't afford to make the right ones. This is the ultimate injustice and a strong reason for climate justice to be center of the agenda.
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If you've never experienced it, I think it is difficult to understand the logic. Since I got enough money to make better decisions, I could immediately feel the effects on my psyche. I save up money now - I have savings. Which I've never had before and feel so joyous and proud about. That means I can "invest" my money (a whole new way of thinking), that is, make better economic decision. Living suddenly becomes cheaper, because I can afford the right decisions. This is the crazy part for me.
money is a tool
use the tool to help yourself - boots that last, an education, reliable transportation, a financial buffer, moving to a place with better jobs
use it to make yourself more productive, minimize risk, and create opportunity
don't spend it, invest it in yourself. food and shelter are investments
cheap boots can be wise, if they leave you with more to invest, in more productive things. id rather have cheap boots and cheap gloves then great boots and no gloves
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money is a tool
use the tool to help yourself - boots that last, an education, reliable transportation, a financial buffer, moving to a place with better jobs
use it to make yourself more productive, minimize risk, and create opportunity
don't spend it, invest it in yourself. food and shelter are investments
cheap boots can be wise, if they leave you with more to invest, in more productive things. id rather have cheap boots and cheap gloves then great boots and no gloves
the cheap boots are not a problem, or a cause of trouble, they can be the smartest choice at the time
ask yourself what you would do if you needed to double your income. what new skill, new permit, new location, new degree would it take? write it down
a specific target is a goal. a goal with a date attached is a plan
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the cheap boots are not a problem, or a cause of trouble, they can be the smartest choice at the time
ask yourself what you would do if you needed to double your income. what new skill, new permit, new location, new degree would it take? write it down
a specific target is a goal. a goal with a date attached is a plan
@mikejackmin What you're saying seems vaguely coherent but at the same time a bit nonsensical.
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@mikejackmin What you're saying seems vaguely coherent but at the same time a bit nonsensical.
it might be me. usually it's me
just to clarify, im not saying it's fair, and i'm not even saying it will work, it's just a way to understand how the idea of investment applies to your personal life
imagine you were stranded on a deserted island. you have limited energy, and the clock is ticking
find water first, then make shelter, then find food, then do the next thing, and the next, each step making yourself safer. its just how to survive
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it might be me. usually it's me
just to clarify, im not saying it's fair, and i'm not even saying it will work, it's just a way to understand how the idea of investment applies to your personal life
imagine you were stranded on a deserted island. you have limited energy, and the clock is ticking
find water first, then make shelter, then find food, then do the next thing, and the next, each step making yourself safer. its just how to survive
somebody comes by and sees you drinking water out of a stream with your hands. you need a cup! you're wasting energy and time
no, im investing my energy in more important things. ill make a cup when it becomes the most important thing. right now, using my hands is smart
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somebody comes by and sees you drinking water out of a stream with your hands. you need a cup! you're wasting energy and time
no, im investing my energy in more important things. ill make a cup when it becomes the most important thing. right now, using my hands is smart
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@mikejackmin Since you're speaking in the imperative, you're message comes across as advice. You're writing to me, after all. At the same time there's little indication that you've listened to my story. Hence why it seems a bit nonsensical. I'm close to repeating myself, so if I get a new round of free association, I'll not respond to it, but put some music to it and imagine it's economic religion turned into a performance piece.
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Looking back on the footwear I've had over the years, I've had lots of bad quality, but I'm happy that I've taken pretty good care of my shoes and boots regardless. Most have stayed with me for years before breaking apart, some are still with me since 2013 and 2016. Not having money can teach you frugality, and I will take that with me. Now that I have enough money to buy good quality footwear, I want to have shit that will last for decades, can be resoled etc.
@malte Where will you buy lasting footwear in Copenhagen to day?
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@malte Where will you buy lasting footwear in Copenhagen to day?
@siggi I've had good experiences in shops that deal in traditional work wear like Brund and Motorious. You can get quality leather footwear with properly stitched soles plus advice to take good care of your shoes or boots. Some of their customers obsess about the aesthetics of long-worn footwear or denim which can seem a bit, well, obsessive or just silly. But I have some sympathy. It's probably thanks to "denim heads" & other fanatics that the rest of us can still get lasting clothes.
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The wider morale of this story is of course that the unfairness in Boots theory is also why we will continue to be doomed as far as the ecological crisis goes unless we turn the economic order upside-down. We're all paying the price for fast fashion and all the other bad ecological decisions being made today, because people can't afford to make the right ones. This is the ultimate injustice and a strong reason for climate justice to be center of the agenda.
Speaking of durable clothing, I was happy to explore knitwear brand Andersen-Andersen's store today. Read an interview with co-founder Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen. Consider how rare it is to hear a CEO of a clothing company say something like this: “The collection is actually complete now. That's a pretty wild thing to say in this world, where everything has to be renewed all the time. We don't have to do that ... we don't need to make any new models." https://heartbeats.dk/hun-ville-lave-verdens-bedste-soemandstroeje-nu-er-det-danske-toejmaerke-andersen-andersen-komplet (article in Danish)
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Speaking of durable clothing, I was happy to explore knitwear brand Andersen-Andersen's store today. Read an interview with co-founder Cathrine Lundgren-Andersen. Consider how rare it is to hear a CEO of a clothing company say something like this: “The collection is actually complete now. That's a pretty wild thing to say in this world, where everything has to be renewed all the time. We don't have to do that ... we don't need to make any new models." https://heartbeats.dk/hun-ville-lave-verdens-bedste-soemandstroeje-nu-er-det-danske-toejmaerke-andersen-andersen-komplet (article in Danish)
Some researchers are now describing Japan as a "low desire society", because people increasingly don't want things. If the Japanese developments in declining birthrates have taught us something, it is that they might be a few years ahead of the overdeveloped world. There's a sense of saturation and depression with the wasteful constant growth paradigm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Koow0Q6EiXU
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@siggi I've had good experiences in shops that deal in traditional work wear like Brund and Motorious. You can get quality leather footwear with properly stitched soles plus advice to take good care of your shoes or boots. Some of their customers obsess about the aesthetics of long-worn footwear or denim which can seem a bit, well, obsessive or just silly. But I have some sympathy. It's probably thanks to "denim heads" & other fanatics that the rest of us can still get lasting clothes.
@malte thanks. Will tjeck the shops out. What kind of shoes do you use in to make garden work in?
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@malte thanks. Will tjeck the shops out. What kind of shoes do you use in to make garden work in?
@siggi I've used different types of Chelsea boots made for work over the years - variously called "Australian work boot" or Dealer boots. I like that they're slip-on (with goring instead of laces) and pull tabs, to go in and out of the house. The problem is that most of them have glued on soles, which makes them cheaper to make, but difficult to resole. I'm trying to resole a pair for the second time now and the cobbler couldn't guarantee that he could repair them.
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@siggi I've used different types of Chelsea boots made for work over the years - variously called "Australian work boot" or Dealer boots. I like that they're slip-on (with goring instead of laces) and pull tabs, to go in and out of the house. The problem is that most of them have glued on soles, which makes them cheaper to make, but difficult to resole. I'm trying to resole a pair for the second time now and the cobbler couldn't guarantee that he could repair them.
@siggi I wanted to get boots with stitched or welted sole, that could more easily be repaired later. I decided laces are OK, because the gardening work I do now is often many hours in a row without me needing to get boots on and off. I wanted flat soles (wedge soles) without too much pattern, because they tend to get really heavy when mud builds up. I also didn't want to buy online, so I ended up getting one of Red Wings Moc Toes, because they ticked all the boxes.
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@siggi I wanted to get boots with stitched or welted sole, that could more easily be repaired later. I decided laces are OK, because the gardening work I do now is often many hours in a row without me needing to get boots on and off. I wanted flat soles (wedge soles) without too much pattern, because they tend to get really heavy when mud builds up. I also didn't want to buy online, so I ended up getting one of Red Wings Moc Toes, because they ticked all the boxes.
@siggi For people that garden more casually, I think Chelsea work boots are still a great option, because you can slip them on easily and go garden for half an hour or even lots of hours (most of my colleagues use this style of boot). Just make sure to get a boot that has a welted, not glued sole. If I were to get a pair today, I would probably go look for a store - perhaps even make a small trip to get to one - and try the ones made by French producer Gatine https://chaussuresdegatine.fr/produit/rungis/
