Thrift as a Luxurious Lifestyle

This weekend was pretty stellar, in a down-home kind of way.  I’m swamped to the gills with many projects coming due at the same time, but my oldest and dearest friend surprised me with a four-day visit.  She took a 12-hour train from the South to come stay in my tiny Upper East Side apartment.  That’s a friend.

Not only did she make the trek, she also signed up to join me in volunteering for Housing Works’ Design on a Dime event; how she and I came from working side by side in Dave’s Hole in the Wall Pizza all those rose-colored years ago to manning velvet ropes and denying entry to New York’s finest designers is just another chapter in our story.

With she going back to grad school and me being a freelance artist, neither of us have a great lot of disposable cash. We endeavored to find adventures that didn’t break the bank.  Luxuries included cabs, chocolate liquor, European butter, fresh bread, eating breakfast across the harbor from the Statue of Liberty and beautifully crafted homemade dinners… as well as a visit to Housing Works Used Book Café, where we both made out like bandits.

In a used book store, I feel like a hummingbird, drawn to both familiar and strange nectars; hours can pass here, and the delight of craning my head sideways to read the titles is something I don’t do very often.  I’ve gotten rid of most of my books, keeping only about 50 or so of the ones that have the most impact on my life.

While browsing in the antique section, I stumbled on this little beauty:

“Thrift.” by Samuel Smiles.  $4.80.  There’s no date of publishing; the pages are thin and crinkly, and though of course the writing style is outdated with its constant use of the masculine, it’s a small purchase that thrills the hell out of me.  I can’t wait to read it in full, but just skimming through the rigid pages has already reminded me, yet again, to put things into perspective.

“Thrift does not require superior courage, nor superior intellect, nor any superhuman virtue.  It merely requires common sense, and the power of resisting selfish enjoyments.  In fact, thrift is merely common sense in every-day working action.  It needs no fervent resolution, but only a little patient self-denial.  BEGIN is its device!  The more the habit of thrift is practiced, the easier it becomes, and the sooner it compensates the self-denier for the sacrifices which it has imposed.”

“Money represents a multitude of objects without value, or without real utility; but it also represents something much more precious, and that is independence.  In this light it is of great moral importance.”

Now.  Though I run a website titled “Thrift Store Confidential,” I’m prone to splurges.  Even though I do shop in thrift stores for 90% of my clothing, accessories and housewares, I can go a little goofy with it just like I used to do in retail.  A dress that looks sort of great at the moment but that never leaves the house is $12.99 I could’ve put in my “Paris” tin for savoring a glass of brouilly in a café in St. Germain des Pres. I mean, you know, yay, that I didn’t spend $112.99 for it, but still. It adds up.

The present me isn’t always in sync with the future me.  The part of me that still has a tail likes instant gratification.   Ulysses had it right when he made his men tie him to the mast and put wax in their ears so the future him wouldn’t drive them all to death.  I need more of this thing – this bargain of supplanting impulse gratification for the good of my future life.  I’ve done reasonably well, weathering the recession as a freelance artist, but I know I can do better.  However, as proven during my weekend with my dearest old friend, this doesn’t mean I have to live without luxury.  The concept of “thrift as a luxurious lifestyle” kind of thrills me, really.  Instead of constantly wishing for a new car, when my old one runs beautifully, I can get it painted in the Bronx for $300.  I may even go for custom plates. My car is old enough to have street cred, and embracing that rather than being ashamed of it is a healthier way of looking at things.  Instead of dripping with envy as I pass shop windows on Madison Avenue, I can congratulate myself that I’m spending what money I do have on things that fulfill me, like travel, good food, and savings.

There’s actually a great episode on the RadioLab podcast about this type of thing, which I encourage you to listen to.  It’s called “Help!” and it explores the concept of “What do you do when your own worst enemy is…you? This hour, Radiolab looks for ways to gain the upper hand over those forces inside us–from unhealthy urges, to creative insights–that seem to have a mind of their own.”  RadioLab keeps me curious, and its episodes are absolutely divine for commuting.  They’re free downloads (again with the Thrift!) but are listener-supported.  If you like them, send them a buck or two so they can keep doing what they do.

http://www.radiolab.org/2011/mar/08/

In any event, this tiny book, as well as a great weekend of small delights with a dear friend, reminds me to practice more what I preach most; we may not all get to be millionaires or movie stars; in fact, most of us will, if we’re lucky, simply live curious, independent lives with more health and joy than pain and despair.  Knowing that a great lot of that future comes from present choices strengthens my resolve, and makes cultivating small moments with a good friend worth their weight in gold.

Want to read “Thrift.”?  It’s available as a free e-book download here:

http://www.manybooks.net/titles/smilessa1441814418-8.html

Mmm. Mondays!

This post is part of the fabulous Apron Thrift Girl’s Thrift Share Monday.  Please check her out!