It’s finally happened. After a long time lusting over others, much discussion, mulling it over, shuffling of numbers, a bit of guilt and many phone calls to telstra…. I finally have a brand new shiny iphone. And oooh it is soooo pretty!
I giggled like a school girl when I discovered I could take a picture of the Father Figure and have it appear when he calls me. I may have used voice recognition to call him several times yesterday afternoon, just because it is so cool to say “Call Simon” and have it… call Simon! I was equally chuffed when I could fire up my evernote app and actually show a friend what I was talking about this morning. And.. ahem… angry birds… need I say more?
However, I am some what disturbed about how happy this little gadget makes me.
I try hard not to be a big consumer of ‘stuff’. We try to make careful decisions about what we spend our money on and not to buy things that we don’t really need. Our budget is tight, our house is small and our time is limited, we don’t need lots of ‘stuff’ cluttering up our lives. We also like to consume responsibly on environmental and ethical grounds.
Have I just succumbed to the hype?
Have I given in to peer pressure and not wanting to be ‘the only one who doesn’t have an iphone.’
Do I really need an iphone?
Is this a want or a need?
My old mobile phone was old, really old, and broken. I needed a new phone. And I needed an iphone because I need help to get and stay organised…. and…
I could try to justify this purchase till the cows come home, but the truth is, there are so many things in my life that I don’t really need. If it came down to it, we could survive without electricity, 90% of our clothes and a whole lot of other things we take for granted. I live a privileged life, attempting to claim my new phone as a need seems wrong, so I won’t.
Honestly, I got an iphone because I wanted one. I did my research, I waited and made sure I wasn’t being sucked in by the hype. I decided this was something I really did want and really would use. It is useful and it makes me happy.
Yes, I could live without it.
Nope I didn’t really need it.
Yes we could have spent the money on other things, but we probably don’t really need those things either.
So why the guilt?
The old wants vs needs gets me every time.
I am not flippant with purchases. In fact I am the opposite and just a little bit (ok a lot) of a tight wad. I tend to think about things for a long time before I purchase them as I loathe to buy something only to find out it is not as good as I thought it was, or that I don’t really like it so much after all.
So, being that I think things through before I buy them, why isn’t ok for me to buy something for the main reason that it makes me happy? I am ok with buying things for others just because it makes them happy…so why do I not extend that favour to myself occasionally? Why do I feel this slight tinge of guilt when I fling that angry bird at those pig things (aside from the fact that I am catapulting birds when I should be cooking dinner)?
So here I go… ditching the wants vs needs guilt and enjoying my new toy.
Ooooh, I want voice recognition! Would be luffly to have someone, ANYONE actually obey my voice command – it certainly doesn’t work on the iKids, 1, 2, 3 or 4…
*jealous*
enjoy!
Yes, enjoy it! 18 months in, I am still quite taken with mine, there’s not many consumer items that can keep people hooked so long. And when it comes to clutter/consumption, it’s pretty small LOL I am sure you’ll get lots of happy use from it :)
Ooh, I am super envious! I would love, love, love an iphone and I too have struggled with the needing it v. the wanting it! Sadly I my crappy old phone is still in contract until May and the increase in cap fee per month is off the budget right now. Come May – a gorgeous iphone WILL BE MINE! Enjoy!
I’m with Leah-I’m STILL quite in love with my iGadget. Hope you enjoy yours too :)
And I lost a whole month of my life to angry birds. You have been warned.
I think I need one. Now!!
I’ve had mine for a few months too. I waited but peer group pressure eventually wore me down, and I am very happy…
Don’t let your children know the secrets of the iPhone otherwise you’ll be fighting them for it ;)
Everyone needs a new toy now & then. Enjoy!
I wouldn’t feel guilty :) My hubby wants an iPhone SO bad, but we just can’t justify the extra monthly expense (it’s more insurance, more on the cell phone bill w/the required minimum data plan, etc.). I hate that he wants it and isn’t getting it, but man – they really make you pay for the cool toys! (If he was online on his phone all the time, it would be a different story, but we very rarely find ourselves out with a need to get online.)