Have we gone too far?
Between 1998 and 2012, the number of self-storage facilities doubled to 15,000, and there seems to be no end in sight. In some cases, people lost their homes and had to store their stuff, but this growth is a direct reflection of our insatiable appetite to own stuff.
Some historians point to the Chicago World’s fair in 1893 as the launching pad for mass consumerism in America, and it took off after WWII.
1945-1949 Americans purchased:
- 20 Million Refrigerators
- 21 Million Cars
- 5.5 Million Stoves
There was tremendous demand after the Great Depression and the war to end all wars where jobs were plentiful, wages grew, and there were massive family formations… all were considered practical purchases.
These days, we call it conspicuous consumption:
- 809 Cars for every 1,000 people
- 327 Million Cell phones for a population of 317 million people
- 54% of all Households with at least three televisions
Every year around this time, there is a movement to cut back on consumerism. Some from religious groups and some from those who do not like capitalism, but the fact is we walk a delicate line… how do you handle this with your children?
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