I don't own much, but as long as my needs are met, I don't think too much about material things. I like my TV, stereo and computer. It would be nice to have more money and a few more things, but I am not unhappy with my situation. Back in my days of living close to poverty, life was hard. Substandard housing, cheap unhealthy food, clothing bought at secondhand stores, living on a strict budget. But the hardest thing about being poor was the ridicule, insults and ostracism from better off people. I worked at jobs with people who treated me with hostility for wearing cheap clothes and living in a high crime neighborhood, got called "white trash."

Anyone affected by materialism, I am willing to help your well being. I'll take your car, furniture, electronics and computers at no cost, so you can be happy !!!! Or you can send all your stuff to Goodwill ????

There's something to be said to live a humble life.

You know what cures most rational people of materialism?

Homelessness.

I like Marx's explaination. Materialism (as used here) conflates social values (the values between people) with economic values to the point that the value of economic success is considered a highly desirable social value. Marx calls it commodity fetishism, an apt term.

There is of course one irony here, which is that the big spenders tend to make things cheaper to buy, and that helps those who are happy on low incomes afford the few things they do need more easily.