Blog: The privilege of choice

Choosing conscientiously is praiseworthy. If you have a choice, says blogger Emma.
Emma Mouthaan

Recently, I read the blog Value is more than money by fellow blogger Oscar. His main point is that he feels the value of certain things should be expressed in how happy they make you or how much time they save you. He concludes his blog with: ‘All in all, I prefer to buy a few valuable things I really enjoy than a whole bunch of budget items that aren’t quite “it”.’

A wonderful concept towards which I, too, strive. Yet, I feel something was lacking in his blog: reflection on his privilege to be able to choose between an expensive and cheap version of things. Please don’t stop reading here! I know many people abhor the word privilege. It is, however, a privilege to be able to buy expensive items.

Please don’t stop reading here! I know many people abhor the word privilege

Imagine being rich and needing a new pair of shoes. Rich people always have money in their bank account, so, you buy a pair of high-quality leather shoes that can easily last five years. Price? 250 euros.
If you don’t have that much money and live from paycheck to paycheck – yes, this happens more often than you would think in the Netherlands – you don’t have 250 euros available to buy new shoes, even if your old ones are completely worn out. Instead, you scrape money together, which will allow you to buy a new pair for some 60 euros, of dubious quality.

By saving on costs, you have also saved on quality and will likely have to buy a new pair each year. Meanwhile, the rich you has a pair that lasts longer and keeps its looks. After five years, poor you has spent more on shoes than rich you, even without taking all the other expenses into account, not to mention the effects over a lifetime. Consider, for example, buying food in bulk, renting rather than buying, and other things that require a relatively large investment upfront but help you save money in the long run. It is precisely such investments poor people are unable to make since they need their money now to pay for their primary needs. For many people in the Netherlands also, this is a sad reality.

Emma Mouthaan (25) is a master’s student of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology and is also taking a master in Writing at the VU. Emma blogs on studying and finances on the website The Stingy Student. Previously, she wrote about fashion and food.

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