I am with you Bath.

My parents sold things so that they could afford to send us kids to the best schools that they could (not really) afford. And I am forever garteful for it.

I have also spent the last several years trying to get rid of "stuff" from our hours. DH was a bachelor on a very high income for a long time and used to just buy "stuff" all the time. It got to the stage where he had two cars but caught public transport to work!

Having said that - I love really nice things. But don't need too many of them - and things have to be practical.

I suppose that the best example I can give is that my engagement ring is a piano. DH wanted to spend a crazy amount on a diamond and I just thought that yeah diamonds are pretty but not particularly practical wheras a piano would bring me so much joy - and it does. I love it so much more than I could possibly love any diamond.

Most people know of my lust for a beautiful KitchenAid mixer - again expensive but so beautiful and practical. (which of course is now more expensive because I will need to find a matching Jessie Steele apron )

So I suppose that I am materialistic - but not in the got to have one of everything and two if it is something new kind of way. I don't need much stuff but I do like the stuff that i do have to be nice.

I was appauled by the Big W catalogue that appeared the other day - who knew that there was so much "essential" stuff that kids need this Christmas. What ever happened to a couple of books, stationery for school and a new pair of swimmers?