House obsession

My son will obsess about wanting things others have and even have meltdowns when it is not possible. If we ride it out a while he forgets and often realises later he does not really need or want that thing someone else has.

Can you think of some positive things about where he currently lives and keep reinforcing them? He found it hard when we moved house but now appreciates the advantages. 

Homebird, if your son is learning that that initial covetousness passes quite quickly, then he is learning a lesson many do not. That's great! Tell him from me, someone who does own pretty much any material thing I've ever wanted, that waiting is best, and paying cash is also best. I shop endlessly, but buy very little. 

Tell hi from me, NEVER EVER pay full price for a car, motorcycle or electronics item. All give much more pleasure when bought carefully second hand. That new car smell wears off, and leaves you with the car that you bought. A known good quality used car, doesn't have that smell or initial euphoria but it does give a lot of pleasure or good use over a long time, and you get a MUCH better choice with second hand... 

Having said that I must say, I have mad "fixing" skills, so used items don't frighten me. On my last car purchase (A larger type of car, which I'd NEVER be able to have new) the dealer turned on the car radio just as the differential started to whine. That cost him about 400 quid in the haggling because I knew he wanted the car to go, I knew he was concealing a fault and I know I could get it fixed for about 250 quid and I budgetted at the time 1300 quid a year to keep a Jaguar on the road and steadily "improving"...

Fixing and negotiating skills are really good to have.

And finally as he goes out into life, acquiring the physical possessions he wants, he'd do well to bear in mind the words of wisdom given to me by my friend "Harry Lagan" (who owned a second hand shop): 

"Own not, lest ye be owned yourself" 

Homebird, if your son is learning that that initial covetousness passes quite quickly, then he is learning a lesson many do not. That's great! Tell him from me, someone who does own pretty much any material thing I've ever wanted, that waiting is best, and paying cash is also best. I shop endlessly, but buy very little. 

Tell hi from me, NEVER EVER pay full price for a car, motorcycle or electronics item. All give much more pleasure when bought carefully second hand. That new car smell wears off, and leaves you with the car that you bought. A known good quality used car, doesn't have that smell or initial euphoria but it does give a lot of pleasure or good use over a long time, and you get a MUCH better choice with second hand... 

Having said that I must say, I have mad "fixing" skills, so used items don't frighten me. On my last car purchase (A larger type of car, which I'd NEVER be able to have new) the dealer turned on the car radio just as the differential started to whine. That cost him about 400 quid in the haggling because I knew he wanted the car to go, I knew he was concealing a fault and I know I could get it fixed for about 250 quid and I budgetted at the time 1300 quid a year to keep a Jaguar on the road and steadily "improving"...

Fixing and negotiating skills are really good to have.

And finally as he goes out into life, acquiring the physical possessions he wants, he'd do well to bear in mind the words of wisdom given to me by my friend "Harry Lagan" (who owned a second hand shop): 

"Own not, lest ye be owned yourself" 

I attend repair cafe now, it's so nice to just use the skills free of monetary consideration or argument. it can either be fixed there and then or it cannot.

Every "designed to be unfixable" Item I fix is as revolutionary act as chucking a small bomb, but infinitely more satisfying to me. It's like stealing money from the monolithic corporations who make disposable crap instead of "consumer durables" when I fix something (((they))) didn't want repaired... 

if I could reliably post pictures here I'd draw and explain the bathtub curve which essentially shows you that you should NEVER buy a new complex machine, but if you must be "up to date" buy one that is three months old and isn't being dumped because it is a lemon.. and at the other end of the curve there are immense savings to be had.

My business motor was always a Jaguar for about twenty years, because it was on average cheaper than renting a ford fiesta type car, (including fuelling cost) but infinitely better to travel in, and made a decent first impression too. If I needed a car of my own I'd still be driving one, albeit running on LPG to keep the cost a little lower, although that will probably have ended by now...

I agree, we buy second hand quite often and also re use things for new purposes. My husband got a lovely reconditioned bike for a fraction of the price from a charity that trains people who have been homeless with skills to help them get work.

Not only does it save money, but I hate sending things that can be reused to landfill.