Hey Everyone, I wanted to check what members here felt about jewelry and how they decided what their limits/desires were - if affordability wasn't an issue but you rarely use it -(NRI alert). I am in that in between place in my head - where I see some designs , I love them, I want them, there is nothing stopping me from having them. But there is also a logical/practical part of me thats like - really.. whats the point of this hoarding? Some friends of mine - go for it if they have the budget to spare - their logic is that if it makes you happy then do it. Why deny yourself the small joys. Some will only buy if there is an occasion - maybe it serves as a memory. Some think its something they want to pass on to next generation. All good reasons. But I still have very mixed thoughts....
I have not bought any gold or precious jewelry for myself other than a few small pieces I got with my first salary. The only “real” jewels I have are what were gifted by my parents and grandparents. It is all sleeping soundly in mom’s locker in India and TBH I don’t even recall most of the items now. Since I don’t have a locker in the US I only have very minimum pieces with me and I rarely use even those. I do love earrings and I have a collection of handmade pieces from local artisans that are not very expensive. I buy every now and then when something catches my eye. I have a daughter and niece to pass things on to if they are interested, but who knows what they will like.
You like them. You can afford them. You buy them. Do not fret about how many, or whether you'd wear it often. All these considerations are somewhat selfish, putting yourself at the center of your universe. Think of the poor father, mother, husband, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, and even MiL (who has money to spend on you, but you resist temptations), and even the poorer shop keeper, jeweller, and all the other poor sods in the business channel to get that piece of whatever it is on your face, neck, wherever else. Be kind to everyone, be unselfish, and go with what your heart wants.
My gold jewelry are those from my marriage and later what hubby bought for me. I am not into gold, but love the oxidised jhumkas, silk thread and metal ones... Have a decent collection since college days and offlate gave away some to my cousin ans friends.... There are days when i love to wear a jhumka and there are days when i love a small stud . It is ok to buy things once in a while for yourself and pamper yourself,if you can afford it.... Sometimes we forget that we are important too.
Not just gold or jewelry. I have a feeling that some or most of us NRIs have issues with spending money on our wants (not needs). I recently managed to finally spend some money on good quality outer wear and related stuff. It feels good to wear them but a niggling feeling of "wasting" money persists. Before Covid started, I met up with two old friends who had been my co-workers a while back. I and another women were desi and the third woman is of Chinese origin. We were talking about how we refresh or update our wardrobe. My friend and I realized we mostly wear things till they wear out. : ) Our Chinese friend said she gives away bags of clothes every few months or at least once a year. : )
