The Scarlet Robe

The eighteenth century French philosopher Denis Diderot wrote an essay entitled "Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown."

Diderot`s regrets were prompted by a gift of a beautiful scarlet dressing gown. Delighted with his new acquisition, Diderot quikly discarded his old gown. But in a short time, his pleasure turned sour as he began to sense that the surroundings within which the gown was worn did not properly reflect the garment`s elegance.

He grew dissatisfied with his study, with his threadbare tapestry, the desk, his chairs, and even the room`s bookshelves. One by one, the familiar but well-worn furnishings of the study were replaced. In the end, Diderot found himself seated uncomfortably in the stylish formality of his new surroundings, regretting the work of this "imperious scarlet robe (that) forced everything else to conform with its own elegant tone."

Today, consumer researchers call such striving for conformity the "Diderot effect." And while Diderot effects can be constraining (some people foresee the problem and refuse the initial upgrading), in a world of growing income the pressures to enter and following the cycle are overwhelming. The purchase of a new home is the impetus for replacing old furniture; a new jacket makes little sense without the right skirt to matchup; an upgrade in china can`t really be enjoyed without a corresponding upgrade in glassware.  Excerpted from "The Overspent American" by Juliet B. Schor

Have you become a victim of the Diderot Effect? Isn`t it amazing how things haven`t changed that much since the 18th Century ... only the price tags.  Stay focused today and think twice before you go out and replace your "old dressing gown." Excerpted from from Mary Hunt's www.cheapskatemonthly website, a fabulous website!)

The Scarlet Robe is one of the the stories I think of often, when filtering through my mind whether or not I should buy something "new." A whole list of questions roll through my mind:

• First of all - is it in budget?
• Do we have cash for it?
• Would we rather pay down more on debt ~ OR ~ get this one thing?
• Will this one thing cause a cascade of "Diderot Effect" dissatisfaction in our lives?
• Will we need more to surround the new purchase?

Question every purchase! Think through each item of spending!

It will help you get the most out of every single penny you have, and that is, after all the point of being a good steward!

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