Article in The Atlantic Cities about materialism and your neighbourhood

[moestache]

Found this an interesting article, saying that "living in a wealthy neighborhood might make you more materialistic", but the article also points out that "In any case, the larger problem here is that materialism itself has been linked with reduced well-being. So people who are unhappy knowing their neighbors make more money can become even less happy as they embrace the material habits that surround them.."

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2014/02/living-wealthy-neighborhood-might-make-you-materialistic/8435/

[Milspecstache]

Nice article and why I don't like subdivisions, particularly those with McMansions.  Makes it much harder to focus on being not-so-materialistic.

[DollarBill]

I wish I would have found this website before I bought my house. I would have done things different but it's turned out well.

Cons: Subdivision, no HOA yet but when they get 80% complete it starts, everyone else is married w/ kids (So they don't like to mingle w/ the single guy), they make at least double my income w/ lots of grown up toys (envy at times), I've had to spend more to fill up the house w/ furniture I don't really need. 

Pros: Got it close to the bottom in 09, houses are cheap in Kansas, smallest in the neighborhood (Still it's 5 Bed, 3 bath, 2 1/2 car garage), it's paid off :)

I was trying to buy a smaller townhouse but this was just a little bit more and thought it would be a better investment. I have wrestled small bouts of materialism but I think I've made good choices while continuing to live below my means. Hit FI, shooting for ER in a year or two.

[lexie2000]

Insecurity can be very expensive.

We've always marched to the beat of our own drum.  We never cared what other people thought.

[the fixer]

Poorly written article jumping to conclusions, though they at least admit the problem:

There are caveats, to be sure, as well as other factors to consider. The study could not show that living near wealth caused materialism; just that the two were linked. Materialistic people might self-select into these neighborhoods, moving there to be around the wealth they admire. And mere exposure to materialism — having luxury advertisements or items in the area — might play as big a part as direct neighborly comparisons.

This is extremely important: they've shown a correlation, but they cannot determine causality in either direction. It's just as likely in my mind that materialistic people choose to live in such neighborhoods.

[Abe]

I agree with the fixer.  Looking at houses in various towns we are considering moving to after finishing my training, most of the ones in the "rich" neighborhoods catering to highly paid professions are silly (a marble jacuzzi? really?). Same with fancy cars in those neighborhoods. I see the cars and think "stuck in the same traffic as everyone else and paying x times as much!" I think people who really want marble jacuzzis after stepping out of their Mercedes will tend to consider being around other such people a very important status symbol. I find it less likely that someone who doesn't like those things will suddenly say "huh, I should drastically change how I live because of the neighborhood I'm in!"

[greaper007]

I have a 2700 sq ft house (way too big but it was a great deal) in a 70s neighborhood that we only paid $275,000 for.    Whenever I go to friends houses in fancy new neighborhoods with no backyards I check what they paid on zillow.   For houses that only have about 25,000 more square feet I haven't seen anything below 425,000.   I don't get it.    They only thing their houses have that I want is 3 car garage.   A wood shop and a lift, I can dream right?

[soccerluvof4]

I dont know. I have lived and do now in what so many call mini mc mansions neighborhoods. Some are alot more extreme than others and gain reputations. The one we live in now is on the low end but by MM standards would still be a Mini- McMansion. The attitude in this subdivision compared to others is simple. Families with kids, no competing with the Jones and people just want a nice house and take care of there yards. I see hardly and outside vendors but larger families. I think to many times things get thrown into one catagory. When i lived about 10 years ago in a golf community with the big Mini Mc Mansions we never felt we fit in however there was a large group of people like us in there as well. We didnt belong to the golf or tennis etc... and we just hung out with the people that were more down to earth. So while i am not defending myself , well i guess i am. We wanted to be in a certain school district and there really isnt any choice so we moved to the most mini-mc mansion sub we could find of late. In either case the taxes suck and 4 years 2 out of 4 kids gone we are out of here. But i do like taking care of a house, 3 car garage and this summer putting in some raise planters. But i can say i do what i want and dont try to compete with anyone and feel there are plenty of people in my subdivision that are the same. Just saying!