Instant gratification

[Norwegianwood]

I know it´s dangerous to bring up this issue, given the high rate of G.A.S around here.

But I wonder: How do you cope with the need for instant gratification? Do you have it? Do you fight it?

Some months ago I decided not to buy anything I don´t really need. So no ipod touch for me Because, after all, it would take one week and I´d start wanting the iphone. And it never ends!

I mean this NOT in a political sense or anything, so please do not bring up the politics. I just think this subject wouldn´t suffer from a little deliberation.

[Nappa]

I go to Best like I'm doing now and post from a Mac on display.

[tplyons]

I stay out of the Basses section... really.

I've put more of a focus on the people in my life, not the things in my life.

So all I have to do is call up a buddy and hang out. Instant gratification.

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm posting from my iPhone.

[L-A]

I deal with this need by trying a reasonable means of getting it, and if it doesn't happen then I don't sweat it.

Usually, it means I throw my pants down, and say to the general audience "Well, it ain't gonna **** itself".

[EricF]

I have not yet found a reliable means of controlling those urges.

[Otso]

I have Jedi like self control.

[DudeistMonk]

The solution is to auto deduct money and put it into savings...whatever is left is yours to spend on that new ipod a new shirt, the Schecter you decided you wanted on a whim while buying strings....or just a lot of beer.

I also put away extra money in the from my taxes so I never own the gov. and every spring its like super $1,500 dollar personal Christmas time.

[IconBasser]

define: "Instant Gratification".

[Honk'n_down-low]

I try to be realistic and separate the want from the need. There are some items on my list - and if one of those happens to land here at the right prices I am in trouble - so far I have resisted the FMT that I really want - love to snag a Sadowsky - but not sure I could drop that much cash without actually either being really familiar with the model or having played one very similar.

At this point I want to thin the heard and get to 3 or 4 premium Basses I can be happy with.

[KennethB]

I'm more into delayed gratification.

[flipper_gv]

Originally Posted by KennethB

I'm more into delayed gratification.

Me too. Like, when I'll go out of college, I'll order a Ken Smith

[Norwegianwood]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

define: "Instant Gratification".

Well, it usually reffers to the ways in which we do things that gives us a short term "kick", but no long term benefit. Additionaly, the "kick" is usually considered shallow.

That´s how I´ve come across the term in philosophic writings, anyway. I think it´s somehow symbolized by how buying new stuff seldom makes us any happier whatsoever. After you got that first phone, it doesn´t actually matter for your quality of life what kind it is. But yet you keep buying new phones, because it feels good right when you get it. And before you get it, you feel like a 5 year old.

But surely, the concept can be relevant for other aspects of life. Some have even labeled some of today´s pop music a symptom of a desire for instant gratification.

My generation (I´m 22) is often labelled the "instant gratification generation". That´s also quite related to how we are always online, use SMS, Email and so on. We need reward right away.

[Honk'n_down-low]

Well I succumbed to the discounted SWR 350x Amp on the bay - did I need another Amp seeing that I have 3 - No! Was it a great deal at $245 - you betcha and you only live once and you can't take any of it with you!

[Unrepresented]

Keep your priorities in mind.

I'd love to drop money on a lot of things but I remember what my longer term goals are:

no credit card debt, bigger rainey day fund, more money in my retirement account, down payment for a house, new car, etc.

Nobody's perfect, but being able to visualize what you're sacrificing for makes it a lot easier.

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm a fan of instant gratification. That is all I will say in this matter.

[Chipsonfire]

Easy: I remember I'm a broke-ass college student and have a need to eat/pay rent in the coming weeks. Either that or remind myself I have several senior projects to work on and don't have time for frivolous spending :-p