My relationship with money

In the 80s I grew up with toys from the garbage, fixed by my foster dad. It was great.

One year later mid 80s I had brand new Lacoste shirts, before the French suburbs knew about the (rich) symbol it represents, at the same time that New York rappers from the ghetto were buying all the chic European brands like Gucci or wanting to do so so badly. It was great too.

86, bitch. With my dad, at the grand-mother’s.

It kind of says it all. I’ve never been trying to show off my status so much than having a few cool, sturdy things. It’s a very privileged position to not be spoiled, knowing what things are worth and at the same time, not wanting anything because you’ve been growing up with little and not needing anything either because the new family can provide. I never craved being rich nor felt disdain for not so rich people. I understood that you can be happy/unhappy regardless of what you have on your account, it was amazing getting aware of that at an early age, living it like I watch a movie. Kind of a perfect balance.

Knowing this I quickly focused on the fact that obviously, quality stuff have a price which is fine to pay. But paying for social status, no way man. It was disturbing in high school, when it was all about brands and shit. Even more when Paris minorities were all about Lacoste and that I was like “thank god I don’t have to wear these white-people good quality shirts anymore, looking like Carlton.” They would be parading in their fresh Lacoste tracksuits and I would smile, thinking how lucky I was to be out of this stupid pyramid of meaningless status bullshit. Because I knew that wearing some expensive clothes doesn’t make you part of a class, no amount of money will. I mean I didn’t know, I felt it. I learned about it later on in my life.

Anyway. Today my adult world is shallow, cares too much about brands and status (sad and hilarious to look at people looking at each other’s smartphones in the metro). It became an obsession through the 00s, actually. I guess my generation is really fucked up on that. I don’t care! My jeans are like $10 with shipping but I get quite a unique style. My laptop is $500 but you don’t do much more on your $3000 one (yes I have a SSD so it’s fast too). I use the "horrible brand, ew” Windows-powered phone which gives me the best mobile experience -I tried them all, you haven’t- and it feels like you’re missing out for a question of status.

Nah wealth is knowledge, the capacity of deciphering things so that you get the best for the buck is being rich. It might be because knowledge is pretty much free on the internet that people stay on Facebook, measuring where they are on the social pyramid. Free tools to change your way of thinking? Meh. Free wealth symbols? Fuck yeah.

I think I modestly participate at flattening this world. I like this idea.