Chapter 27

NAME BRAND INSECURITIES

Robert G. Ingersol said, “Few rich men own their property. Their property owns them.”

                Human beings, especially here in America, are always trying to mask their hidden insecurities with name brand labels. Louis Vuitton is just a band-aid that covers up the fact that somebody has low self-esteem.

                Of course, many humans like to rationalize this name brand fascination by saying things like: “I just like nice things.” Nice things are fine. But overspending on name brand labels is just stupid. I’m not saying it’s stupid because I’m trying to be mean; I’m saying it’s stupid because it’s a stupid financial decision.

                Let’s say you’re searching for a new purse. You find a Louis Vuitton purse online for $1,000. While shopping at your local Walmart, you see a fashionable purse for $20. They’re both going to serve the same function—which is to transport all your “girl stuff” from place to place. To waste $980 dollars for the label of “Louis Vuitton” is just plain stupid.

                You could create significant social value with that additional $980. You could treat yourself to a $100 full-body massage, and the masseuse would benefit as well. Now you still have $880 additional dollars to spend. Take your mom out to dinner. Buy some Girl Scout cookies. And please don’t sink into debt trying to purchase overpriced name brand items. That takes “stupid” to astronomical levels. Your new nickname should be The Stupid Astronaut.

                Here’s the truth about “generic” items: In most cases, they’re no different than the name brand items. Name brands can afford to advertise because they make money by manipulating the stupid, insecure people of the world.


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