Hacker News Reader

Except for mattresses, there is simply no reason to buy new furniture. I'm an engineer, I had a house fire recently and will easily have the budget to buy new furniture for my house after it is repaired. But I plan on shopping at Goodwill, Savers and Craigslist. Because new furniture is not necessary. Why would someone who is much poorer than me think otherwise?

View on HN

I upvoted you but not because I agree with what seems to be the implication, rather because I think it is an important question that gets to the core of the problem. >Why would someone who is much poorer than me think otherwise? It's, partly, because they are poorer than you that they think otherwise. The mere fact that it is new is part of what makes it attractive and because poor people often do not actually know how those of us who are well off actually live they aspire to what they assume are the trappings of wealth.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com