I am a wannabe hipster. That’s right. I dream of hipsterdom. Unfortunately, my affinity for bottled water and bad television pretty much kills this dream for me. (I know, I know. Bottled water is bad. I tried going without it for a week and stopped drinking water! Dehydration is bad, too.)
So what is a hipster? A hipster is usually a twenty or thirty-something who is alternative in every way. The stereotypical hipster has independent political views, alternative spirituality, enjoys independent music and film, and rejects all that is mainstream. You will often find them reading obscure books while drinking tea in an independent coffee shop. They are the hippies of the now, with less drug use and sexual promiscuity.
What makes hipsters so different from the rest of us when it comes to spending money? I’m glad you asked.
Spending More
– Coffee & tea. You will not catch a true hipster at Starbucks. Starbucks is THE MAN. Hipsters get their caffeine at independent coffee shops. And good independent places are always more expensive than their “sell-out” counterparts.
– Apple products. If you are truly a hipster, you cannot have a PC. It is beneath your level of awesome. Apple is expensive but a hipster will swallow the cost because that is the cost of hipsterdom after all.
– Rent. Hipsters find refuge in large cities that offer both culture and acceptance of alternative and unique lifestyles. New York, L.A., Chicago. What do all those cities have in common? High rent and overall cost of living. Hipsters are doling out major bucks for their homes. Thankfully, they probably decorated them on the cheap with thrift store finds and someone else’s trash treasure.
Spending Less
– Tap Water. No bottled water for these guys. At most, they will invest in a BPA-free reusable water bottle. Go Earth!
– Clothing. A true hipster is rocking thrift store clothes. Why? Because it’s green. It means less waste. Even better, there are some awesome vintage pieces at thrift stores for those willing to dig.
– Stuff in general. The hipster culture as a whole is one of minimalism and the rejection of consumerism. Hipsters purchase with their environment and local retailers in mind, which costs more. However, they purchase less overall stuff and enjoy having only a few material goods that help their local and global environment.
Are you a hipster? If so, how do you spend differently than the general public? If not, do you also dream of hipsterdom?
[Image from teen.com]
