But they’re on sale…
So, this may step on a few peoples toes but I’ve had some version of this post in my drafts for a long time and I need to get it off my chest. This is not directed towards anyone in particular, just the lifestyle that so many Americans chose to live. Here it goes…
With the huge Nordstrom Anniversary Sale going on, my blog feed is full of “must have” items simply because they’re on sale.
Just like at Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, these post have stirred up a frustration inside of me. Not because I’m against shopping or spending money on nice things {because I like those things too}, and it definitely makes sense to buy things when they are discounted but I’m tired of seeing so much money wasted on stuff.
As someone who has traveled to a foreign country where much of the population is so poor that children run around with bloody toes because they can’t afford even one pair of shoes, it’s pretty disgusting that you just bought another pair of booties because they were marked down to $100.
I get it. Not everyone has seen what I’ve seen and not everyone has the same opinion as me but do you know how far that $150 you just spent on a pair shorts would go in a neighborhood like this?
$150 is almost enough to provide one child with health insurance, school fees, a school uniform and a mattress for a full year in Rwanda.
You could save a life.
Which is something to actually be exited about.
And I’m a blogger so I understand that not everyone who does a blog post about the sale is ordering everything on their list. You probably make an income from your blog and it’s good content that people will be interested in, but I can’t be the only one who feels this way. Can I?
I’m not saying that the people who chose to spend their money on expensive clothes {or cars or electronics or whatever} are bad people. It’s their money and they can spend it however they please. I’m sure they are very generous and help others in need but can you imagine the dent we could make in the poverty of this world if everyone would just skip that new pair of shoes and send it where it’s needed?
There’s nothing wrong with privilege. The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from above–you have what you have as a gift from God. You don’t have to feel guilty for having things that other people don’t have. But we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, have a responsibility as citizens of the world to be wise stewards of the abundance that we have. If you ignore your own privilege, it will almost always result in a loss of perspective. Maybe a $175 pair of shoes isn’t that big of a deal to some people. That is a matter of perspective. However, if you forget that $175 is a big deal to some people and that maybe they need it and you don’t need that pair of shoes, you’ve lost perspective.
True privilege is making sure everyone has what they need to survive, rather than one person having what they want to feel proud. Privilege is a wonderful thing to have. Why not share it?
Please, please, please don’t take this as jealousy. Yes, I enjoy getting new stuff but I’ve been that person who would spend $200 on a new pair of jeans and I don’t like that version of myself. I love buying designer jeans every once in a while, too, but it’s much more satisfying to pay a fraction of the price on a slightly used pair so I can sponsor a cute little girl in Africa.
Am I trying to put myself on a pedestal?
Absolutely not!
I am FAR from perfect. I am a sinner. I make mistakes on a daily basis and there’s nothing wrong with buying myself things from time to time. But God has called us to go out into this world and bring glory to His name. I believe that means taking the focus off of ourselves and our wants and putting others, even strangers, first. I believe that means spending less money on myself so that I have more to spend on other people. For me, that gets harder and harder to do when I’m constantly surrounding myself with people who place such high value in monetary objects. It’s hard to watch other people have all of these fabulous things, knowing that if I just restructure my spending habits, I could have them too. But I’m reminded of a wonderful quote from comedian Louis C.K.: “The only time you look in your neighbor’s bowl is to make sure that they have enough. You don’t look in your neighbor’s bowl to see if you have as much as them.”
Maybe this is just a rant and you’ll just glaze right over it. Maybe I’ll lose followers over it because they disagree or it makes them feel guilty {and who wants to go around feeling guilty and reading blogs that make them feel bad?} but maybe, just maybe, someone will decide to not pull the trigger on a $300 bag because it’s not $400 and give that money to someone whose whole way of life can be transformed by that much money.
As for me? I can’t keep pretending that I’m interested in your weekly shopping spree or all the items that you just had to have to stuff your already full closet. I don’t agree with buying something just because it’s on sale. But I can’t and won’t judge you by those posts because I don’t know your situation or what you may be giving to others, so you’ll understand if I just skip over those posts, won’t you?
10 Comments
Biana @ Blovedboston
Even though I myself wrote about the sale – it was actually because of a giveaway I’m part of and I’m not a card holder, so there are things that I wont buy over a certain price…but I 100% understand what you’re saying and I will say that all your posts about your trip totally stay with me to this day – the look on those kids faces is ones that I will never forget and I never even met them. I think it’s fair for you to skip over ANY posts that don’t speak to you – whether it’s a sale or a DIY doesn’t matter :)
Rachel G
didn’t step on my toes, I’ll tell you that! You’re absolutely right that we can never dictate how other people spend their money–and guilt-tripping really isn’t the right way to go either. But being able to look at yourself and your own situation in a realistic light is important. Like, in my situation– Sometimes, for whatever reason, I think I need to worry about money, or having enough. That’s so ridiculous. I have always had enough for everything I need, I have always been able to save money. Dear, dear friends of mine, lifelong friends here, have never known and probably will never know the kind of easy security I have. There’s this teenage boy, I’ve know since he was a toddler, going to high school and working to help provide for himself and his mom. He works delivering pizza and makes the equivalent of $1.50 an hour. I’m so proud of him, I’m proud that he works hard, that he’s taking care of his family as best he can–but it’s hard to see people I’ve loved for so long living in a tin shack with no refrigerator or other basic appliances of their own–and no real way out of poverty either. Multiply by millions, and that’s the world. I’m grateful I get to be here, and I’m grateful for what’s being done in long term ways to help…but it’s hard for these kinds of issues to be a priority for those who don’t know anyone involved.
Rebecca
With What program did you travel and donate your time? Where would you donate that has a REPUTABLE giving to earnings ratio?
Paige Sloan
The non-profit that Cory and I run is called Barnabas X and the organization that we support in Rwanda is called Reach the Children of Rwanda International (RCRI). Obviously, I think both of these are great organizations to donate to. RCRI has very low overhead cost and when you sponsor a child, 100% of that money goes toward the child. They have been fortunate enough to have churches who donate each month to specifically cover their admin cost. Other good organizations are MB Mission, which has a fairly low admin cost, and Compassion International. If you look at Compassion Internationals financial statements, their admin cost looks extremely high, to me, but in comparison to their program expenses it’s less than 8%.
Rebecca Jo
I actually commented to someone just a minute ago that I don’t feel like a ‘real blogger’ because I have never bought anything from Nordstrom nor even visited there :) haha
Preach sister… preach. I’m with you! Proud of you for doing this post!
kristen
Not stepping on my toes! For one, I think spending $100 on a pair of shoes or $150 on a pair of shorts or $300 on a bag is just ludicrous. I am currently doing a shopping ban, so no Nordstrom sale for me. I’m doing it because I know I have too much ‘stuff’ and I don’t need it. That being said – I do what I do, I spend what I spend, I donate what I donate. I spend money on travel because it makes me happy. Yes, that money could go to charities, but I personally believe that we should also try to enjoy our own lives as well as helping others. I’m not saying I don’t help charities because I do. But it’s all relative and I can’t give everything I have simply because I do not want to. I am sure that makes me seem selfish, and I guess I am. I think celebrities should donate way more! But that’s another story lol. I do donate, regularly. It’s as much a necessity to me as paying my bills or mortgage. We could all live way below our means and donate more, but most of us don’t. I do understand how good I have my life. I’m grateful for it. But I don’t judge others, they work hard for their money (I’m assuming) and deserve to spend it how they want. I am not trying to pretend I have known a life of true struggle, but I didn’t grow up well off at all and I know the value of a dollar. I think some people forget that, and how hard it is to struggle to make ends meet. Because I knew some struggle, it’s important to me to donate to things similar to the organisations you work with.
Paige
I think It’s great you had the courage to write this! I agree, my blogfeed has been full of Nordstrom sale posts and I’ve found myself clicking on certain items just because someone wrote about it. Do I really NEED those glitter Kate Spade earrings? Nope! Thanks for helping put things in perspective. :)
Erin LFF
Absolutely love this post and appreciate your honesty so much. i rarely shop and when i do, its for necessities or an occasional “splurge” at tjmaxx or the thriftstore haha! i love hearing someone else who values the lives of others and giving back.
Kaitlyn
Right, there WERE SO MANY POSTS ABOUT THE NORDSTROMS SALE. I LOVE GOOD FASHION, BUT WE GET WHAT YOU MEAN. THOSE LITTLE FACES ARE ADORABLE. I WOULD LOVE TO GO ON A MISSION TRIP LIKE THAT. HOW DO YOU PARTAKE IN THOSE WHEN YOU’RE NOT AFFILIATED WITH A PARTICULAR CHURCH?
KAITLYN-DANIELLE.BLOGSPOT.COM
Julie Joy
Great post Paige! the Nordstrom sale was never heard of in my world until I became a blogger. So out of curiosity after reading a post one time and thinking something was sooooo cute and know it was “on sale” I thought I would check it out. Only to find that holy shit! It’s still $100+! Ummm… no thank you! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about a good deal… however I thinking blowing money on monetary things isn’t necessary. Not in my life anyways… I think your mentality of why not help save a life is a great mindset! No offense taken from me! :)