Saulgoldie, I am constantly trying to simplify, downsize, make experience the issue, not stuff. I fail pretty miserably at it, though because in the consumer world we live in in the US, it is very difficult to compete, keep my business competitive, etc unless I fall victim of this very materialistic society.

I can at least appreciate the simple life as being more valuable than having the newest videophone, palm pilot or SUV. By the way, although the US is the mother of all materialism, I see more and more Europeans falling in to the same traps.

What I see also, though are folks who are in poverty who wouldn't be if they had prioritized their spending. The other night on my local news, they were telling the story of a poor victim of loansharking practice in our area whic is basically under the guise of writing post dated checks to a company who will give you an advance on your check. People get in to this habit and continue to write more and more checks paying 35-40 percent interest until they are hopelessly in debt. I do not condone these charlitans who do this practice and prey on the folks, but When they interviewed this lady, she had a satellite TV, a new car, a sunbed, an incredible stereo system, plus all the other junk you can imagine. At some point, don't people need to take SOME responsibility of their own actions?