Why are we becoming more and more materialistic?

Only you can change the way you are, noone can do it for you. Personally, I don't hunger for the latest mobile phone, and am happy with what I've got. Some societies have this kind of benevolent feeling, though the USA has attempted to export this belief that money is the measure of a persons worth. According to the bible (not that I take that particular book too seriously) the 'love of money is the root of all evil', so I don't think this is a new ethos.

I was caught up in this race at one point. I was a successful manager then became an area manager and with all this was a single mom. I guess one day I took a look at what I was really doing for my children besides buying them everything they wanted. I left before 6am and didn't get home usually until after 6pm. They got to eat any where they wanted because I would pick it up for them on my way home. Once I finally decided that money couldn't buy everything I quit. It was a huge step and many thought I was stupid for doing it but I arranged to start a job to work from my home that would pay the bills. What I found funny was my daughters asking me if this meant I would bake cookies. I had bought them everything and all they really wanted was for me to bake cookies. Now does that tell you where priorities really should be? Not everyone can do what I did but I think we as parents need to stop and look at what we are doing and then make the choice that is best for our children.

One thing I tell people as I'm trying to get them to see this point is to ask them how many hrs did they have to work to buy that hundred dollar sweater, it seems to at least make them think. I've been trying to organize one of those pacts where a group of people swear off buying things for a year, I think that once they do it for one year they might realize how ridiculous chasing that new shiny object is and how much more quality free time they had without.