Was it Worth it?

An exploration of consumption - past and present

July 19, 2024

Life moves in fascinating ways. I’ve been thinking about worth, values, and money a lot in the past weeks. What’s worth my time and euros?

Unprompted conversations on money and worth-it-ness kept finding me in the past days, be it in conversations with friends or in casual encounters on mountain huts.

There’s something in the air…

Maybe, it’s the simplicity of summer living that asks us to reflect on what we really, truly want. Summer heat has us wearing less, doing what’s only necessary.

Every year, in the dead of summer, I re-evaluate. Do I have enough time? Does the work I do light me up? Who do I want to spend more or less time with?

Summer is my favorite season of them all. The preciousness of these days helps me measure: What is work that I enjoy doing, even though I’m missing out on outdoor time? Who are my favorite companions on hikes?

What’s Worth It?

It’s a fascinating topic. Money and values intersect at a personal and societal level. What is savvy spending? What’s a lack mentality? And, above all, when is enough enough for an individual?

I don’t need to tell you that these matters are greatly skewed at present…

In recent weeks, I’ve been intrigued by the Dior scandal. If you haven’t heard about it, yet: In early July news of an Italian police investigation into suppliers to the luxury brand surfaced. It turned out that bags that retailed for close to 3000€ were produced by laborers in less than favorable conditions for 53€ a piece (not counting materials).

Crazy, isn’t it? 

Irrespective of whether you’re in the market for a bag like that, the discrepancy between the manufacturing and retail cost is baffling, especially considering how poorly the working conditions are for those who make these bags. It would be reasonable to expect that at that price point, there is fair compensation for the laborers. Maybe, they aren’t made on time-worn wooden tables in a jolly Italian family workshop, where everyone wears leather aprons and has a cappuccino break on the company.

But, surely, at that price, workers could get health insurance, be paid an average salary, and work reasonable hours?

I find this especially gauche as the luxury industry has hiked its prices immensely. What used to be aspirational is now bonkers. As Emilia Petrarca put it in a Vogue piece I read recently, why buy a bag when you can renovate your bathroom for the price of that?

This situation creates an interesting thought experiment, though.

Imagine…If you had an unlimited budget, what would be worth it to you? Is an item worth it, when you as the customer ultimately know you’re being duped - even IF you were able to comfortably buy it from petty cash?

The conversations I had around money and worth got me thinking, what was actually worth it to me? And, what wasn’t?

Here’s My Personal List of Things That Were or Weren’t Worth it:

Food

  • Coffee & cake on mountain huts - always.

  • Croissants that don’t taste like they look - disappointing! Nope

  • High-quality food - def. worth it.

  • Eating in trendy restaurants - usually not. Avoid the hype. *Eyeroll*

  • Ice cream - Hardly ever. Many ice cream places use syrups with high-fructose corn syrup. No bueno. Good gelato, though…*drool*

Experiences

  • Travel - always.

  • Attending Oktoberfest. - LOL. No! The vintage tents at one of the far corners of the fair grounds are nice, though. Homey. Less drunken, more convivial.

  • Insane rent I paid for a room in Central London a couple of years ago - worth it. I could walk literally everywhere and immersed myself in the city.

  • Educational opportunities - for sure.

Consumption

  • Buying the cool thing du jour (sneakers, backpacks, trends) - I thought so, when I was younger. Definitely not in hindsight, as these things age so badly.

  • Investing in clothing made from natural fibers, vintage or on sale - definitely. I love when clothes get patina and slowly adapt their shape to my body.

  • Books - 99.9%. Though I’m good on business-how-to publications.

Other

  • Copious software subscriptions for my ex businesses - Hardly ever. Tech can help solve problems. Though you need to know which ones. Otherwise, it’s throwing money at the problem.

How About You?

What was worth it to you? What was a waste of your time and money?

Have a good week,

Johanna

PS: I write a newsletter on style, too. It’s called Bespoke Style. I write about personal style with a long-term view and how to integrate bespoke pieces into your wardrobe. Find it here.