Words to Live By

I am increasingly troubled by conspicuous consumption on any level. I'll see an ad for "affordable shoes" and think, "they're cute" and discover they're $138. Here on Planet Reality, we don't buy $100 shoes. Maybe if I worked in an office and I had to keep up appearances...
When I worked for Los Angeles Magazine, which was owned by ABC at the time, I wore corporate attire, and that meant Anne Klein heels and little designer suits. But these days, it just kind of makes me sick that people buy $85 lipsticks and don't really think about it. Maybe if it was the only lippie they were going to buy for the season...
I think about Gilded Age excesses. I think about all the money I've wasted over the years myself, buying tons and tons of frivolous stuff.I live a simpler life now. I am learning the difference between "want" and "need." But it's harder than I would have thought.