Hyped About My New Microphone
I am super hyped: I am testing my new microphone, my latest shopping indulgence, in this episode. For the past eight episodes, I have been using Silviu’s old Sennheiser headset. It’s a gaming headset with memory foam ear pads and a short boom arm for the microphone. I am using it as he has bought a fancier one. A Bose noise-cancelling headset which he uses for everything: playing games, listening to music, and watching movies. Last, but not least, he uses it while he’s reading or working so as to cover the din our upstairs neighbour creates in the middle of the night. And so, the Sennheiser is relegated to me.
To Buy Or Not To Buy
I was conflicted about buying a microphone. For the past 8 episodes, the Sennheiser headset has served me well. All I have to do is plug the headset into my Mac, pull the boom arm microphone down to my mouth, and speak. The sound effect seems reasonable, at least in the eyes of a newbie. Besides, it is highly likely that my budding, lockdown podcast project is going to be ephemeral.
Why Do I Need A New Microphone?
Why do I need to buy another microphone? Well, honestly, just to make myself feel good, to feel like a real podcaster. After poring through the website, reading countless articles on Podcast Starter Kit, I feel that I should treat myself to at least a decent microphone, a professional-looking one, especially since I have officially passed the “Podfade” phase. As discussed in the last episode, “Podfade” is an industry term meaning podcasts abruptly stopping production by their seventh episode. And today is my ninth one; I have survived.
The new microphone is a Samson Q2U. It’s a simple-looking mic that sits on the table on a mic stand. After reading various reviews, it seems that Samson Q2U is the best option for me. Indeed, it is simple to use, satisfies my basic requirements, and is on the lower end of the price range for professional microphones. So, even though it isn’t necessary to spend 90 euros on a new microphone, it’s not an extravagance either. Besides, this will be an additional motivation to continue with my new hobby, and not to bring it to an early end, which, according to Silviu, my husband, seems to happen frequently. By the way, Silviu has in his possession three sets of not inexpensive headphones. Hearing myself talking now reminds me of the famous quote from Queen Gertrude in Hamlet, “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
Now, a microphone. What’s the next item I would buy?
Souvenir Shopping on a Student Budget
Now that I think about it, this predilection for buying things started even before I was financially independent. When I backpacked and travelled as a student, I would pick up souvenirs as I roamed from city to city, country to country. A handcrafted wooden key chain here. A pretty diary made from rice paper there. A book of local folklore, even though I knew deep down that I would never read it. A handmade cashmere scarf… With the very limited luggage space I had in my backpack, I would trudge around, lugging the unwieldy bag stuffed with knick-knacks. These impulsive purchases all suffered the same fate: they would end up in one of the cabinets or a corner of my wardrobe in my bedroom, abandoned, until I needed to clear them out to accommodate more recent buys.
When I started working, shopping became more frequent and more expensive.
Asians and Shopping
Asians’ love affair with luxury products is widely known, and Singaporeans are part of this cult. I believe it was around the late 20th century or early 2000s that the expression “Five Cs of Singapore” first appeared. The 5 Cs represent “Cash, car, credit card, condominium, and country club membership,” referring to our obsession with possessions. Of course, the 5 Cs now might have changed to, I am not sure, maybe a permanent residency permit in another country, a house, instead of a condominium … The reputation is, of course, not without grounds and is patently visible everywhere in Singapore, especially in the financial industry.
Financial Industry - Shopping Incubator
World Of Luxury Brands
Perhaps I am biased, since I was in this industry for 12 years. But I don’t think I am too far off the mark. Take a stroll in the CBD in Singapore during the peak hours. There, I dare say that a big majority of the ladies, regardless of age — from fresh graduates to senior executives — have swinging on their shoulders, hanging around their elbows, dangling from their fingers, various luxury leather bags. Either from the discreetly or loudly embossed logos — the 2Cs (opposite-facing and interlocking), the capitalised, serif letters L and V monogram, the carriage and horse — one would know that the bag is worth a small fortune.
It’s not just limited to bags. It’s everything: shoes, watches, jewellery, sunglasses, lighters (if you smoke), phones, cosmetics.
It’s not only the women. Men too. Them with their five-figure Swiss watches, their diamond-studded cuff links, the same European branded wallets, or man bags, pens with the black-white rounded star logo…
How Can We Afford It?
However, the value of these purchases is not necessarily aligned with the salary of the buyer. It’s not unheard of for someone with a modest salary to splurge on a bag that costs one to three months of his or her salary.
The ability and readiness to spend a few months of salary on an accessory is also enabled by the fact that most young people live with their parents until they get married. This helps them cut down their living expenses.
My First Job
My first job after graduation was in Singapore, doing sales in the financial industry. I think that in this environment, the combination of these three elements — sales + financial industry + Asia — is the ideal incubator for promoting shopping, cultivating overconsumption.
One of the entrenched beliefs of a salesperson, particularly if you work in the financial sector, is that your dressing reflects your success. If you dress well, and can afford designer brands, it means that you are successful in what you do. In turn, this implies that the products and services you are selling must be bona fide.
Here I was, a fresh graduate who had landed a sales position in the financial industry in Singapore. I was not the top salesperson, but I earned a decent living. Perhaps it was due to peer influence. Or, perhaps it was just to confirm to myself that I made it, or to demonstrate to my family my achievements. If you ask a psychologist, he might say that I was just trying to fill up an emotional void with things.
I Am Not A Shopaholic
I did not stay in the sales position for a long time, but the penchant for designer goods did not stop. It continued and worsened as my career progressed. I am not saying that I was a shopaholic, at least not like Rebecca Bloomwood, the shopaholic journalist portrayed in Sophie Kinsella’s books. Now I can see the sceptical look on your face. You must be questioning whether an alcoholic would ever admit having an alcohol problem. My problem was definitely not as bad as that of Rebecca Bloomwood, but I am admitting that I was just throwing money away.
When I got a bonus, I would reward myself with a nice French-branded bag. When I got bored, I would go shopping, buying a bag that cost half of my monthly salary. At the end of the month, when I received money, I would treat myself to a shopping spree and a body spa treatment. Not forgetting that I would attend regular sessions of facial spa, manicure and pedicure.
Turning Points
First Turning Point: Bored in Hong Kong
In February 2012, I moved to Hong Kong from Singapore for work, still in the financial industry. In this new city, my shopping appetite, if you can believe it, got bigger. I believe the main reason might be that I was bored, being in a new city with no friends.
Second Turning Point: Trail Shoes Instead of Designer Bags
Ten months after I arrived in Hong Kong, I discovered running, specifically trail running. I bet you must be surprised to hear that there are trails in Hong Kong. After all, Hong Kong is generally known for being a financial hub in Asia, and also for having one of the busiest ports in the world. To cut a long story short, I fell in love with the sport, and I devoted my entire life outside work to it.
Guess what, my adoption of trail running coincided with the gradual weaning from designer brands. Instead of buying luxurious, superfluous items, my expenditure was on trail running equipment, items required for participation in ultra-distance mountainous races that would ensure my safety, gear meant to help me run faster, paraphernalia that would minimise my discomfort during these arduous physical challenges. Occasionally, only occasionally, accessories that would make me look like a pro-runner.
Third Turning Point: Quitting Finance for Good
Two years after I arrived in Hong Kong, I decided to quit the company and leave the financial industry for good. And I quit without a job. I was fortunate to find another job soon after, completely unrelated to finance. It was a job helping out a small company with organising trail running events and managing its trail running magazine. The new job was not as well-paid, but I did not have to wake up every morning, dreading going to the office and facing my colleagues and clients.
Another cool thing about this job was that I could work from home. With a job like this, the luxurious leather bags, high-heel shoes, office wear, and cosmetics were packed and pushed away to the deepest corner of the wardrobe. I was in running shoes and clothes all day!
Third Turning Point: Leaving Hong Kong With Too Many Bags
By that time, I had already spent 12 years in the financial industry, in Singapore and Hong Kong. You can imagine how many bags, pairs of shoes, and clothes I had amassed in these 12 years. When I had to leave Hong Kong for France, I found myself with loads of shoes, bags, and office apparel. I am ashamed to say that I hardly used some of these items, and a few still had the price tags on them.
In the end, I managed to sell some of the bags, and threw away most of the high-heel shoes. I kept a few pairs, with the thought that I might need them for work interviews in France. Honestly, I really couldn’t imagine subjecting my feet ever again to those torture contraptions. As for the remaining bags that I took with me to France, they are actually sitting in their dust bags. In fact, I haven’t even used them for the last four years in France.
The Momentary Pleasure of Shopping
As you can see with my recent purchase of the microphone, I have not completely vanquished the shopping devil in me. I continue with the running in France. In addition, with the new hobbies I have picked up since I arrived in France, like cycling and my recent podcasting project, there are always reasons, seemingly valid, for getting more stuff. However, I have to say that my materialist indulgence has definitely dropped by a big notch.
With age comes maturity. You come to understand that possessions do not necessarily grant you happiness. Based on my personal experience, the acquisition of superfluous items usually provides only a momentary pleasure: the unwrapping of the package, taking the item out of the box, and the first time trying out the item. This form of pleasure does not last. You would need to continue with more shopping to capture this transient pleasure again. Well, for me, this will be impossible based on my teacher’s salary!