In the ocean of socialization, we are looking for the value of existence like fish, and proving that we are a powerful person is a necessary condition for us to take the initiative in socializing. Not only does this make our communication smoother, but it also reminds the other person or people not to play tricks on us. So, in the face of the following two scenarios, let's explore everyone's feelings. Scene 1: Sitting face to face is a young woman wearing heavy makeup, and the first time you meet, you don't know anything about her background. When she casually put her bag on the table, the eye-catching LV logo instantly catches your eye. What was your first reaction at this moment?Will you be blown away by her high profile?Scene 2: The same similar woman, on the same occasion, except that she is holding a seemingly ordinary bag in her hand. However, will your heart be touched when she takes out a book that looks unfathomable from her bag, places it on the table, and begins to look at you intently?Does this book make you feel like she's unfathomable?The results of the survey showed that the woman in the first scene was not impressed, but felt that she was too ostentatious and lost her sense of awe. On the contrary, for the woman in the second scene, everyone generally feels that she is a little profound, and has a psychological tendency to tentative communication. 
In the logic of socialization, the high-class life needs to maintain its own status, neither can it leave this circle, nor can it be easily entered by others. They occupy the initiative and hold the lower classes. In the negotiation process, they always get a greater benefit. Therefore, everyone in a social situation needs to create a sense of condescension in the first place. And luxury was once the best tool for the upper class to create this condescending atmosphere, because the vast majority of people could not afford it. Brands such as Chanel and Hermès have now become the identity of the upper echelons of society, which is called conspicuous consumption. Those who wear watches worth hundreds of thousands often do so not to see the time, but to show their taste and status to others, thus keeping a certain distance from the masses. However, with the progress of society, luxury goods gradually lost their original mystique, and more and more people were able to afford them, even ordinary working-class people could barely reach them if they were frugal for a while. In addition, the purchase channels of luxury goods have also become more extensive, such as e-commerce, overseas shopping, **, etc. What was once a luxury is no longer a high-minded existence. The development of the Internet has brought about the rampant use of copycats and counterfeit goods, and many ordinary people will overdraw their ability to buy luxury goods in order to obtain more opportunities. As a result, today's streets are flooded with luxuries, and people are becoming more and more numb to them. Once upon a time, owning perfumes, big-name clothing, flying on planes, going on cruises, driving luxury cars, etc., were all things to brag about, but now these things have become fairly common and affordable for almost everyone. This also explains why there are fewer and fewer luxury cars on the street, because in the past, many people used luxury cars to prove their status, but later many people took out loans to buy luxury cars, resulting in people who really like to drive luxury cars no longer like to drive luxury cars.
Interestingly, when luxury goods and luxury cars can no longer distinguish between classes, a more up-to-date way has emerged, and that is cultural capital. This is a concept put forward by the French sociologist Pierre in the form of capital, and cultural capital is a new means for the people at the bottom of the upper class society in this era. I often say that the first half of China's economy solves material problems, and the second half of China's economy solves spiritual problems. 2023 is a watershed year between the first and second halves. When a part of society solves material satisfaction, their first need is to turn to spiritual satisfaction. We are entering a society where talking about capital is more expensive than brand-name bags, and those who have solved the material level have begun to develop life philosophy, social and other issues.
A few years ago, the famous American magazine Atlantic published an article in which it mentioned a striking phenomenon: in today's society, with the increasing availability of goods in the market, income groups tend to spend money on things that others can perceive, such as designer bags, clothes, mats, electronic products, etc. However, the majority of spending in the high-income group is spent on things that others are not aware of, such as fitness, exercise, reading, and paid knowledge. The article concludes by pointing out that in the age of materialism, it is no longer the earning capacity that determines how far a person can go, but how they spend it.
As the writer He Quanfeng said: ".The way a person spends his money determines the heights he can reach in the future. This sentence is full of meaning, and it reminds us of the importance of the concept of consumption. While the income level is rising, we need to think rationally and plan for consumption. We should spend our money on things that can improve our inner qualities, such as Xi study, fitness, travel, etc., rather than just pursuing external material comforts. Through this way of consumption, we can go further in the future and achieve higher goals in life. Therefore, we should establish a correct concept of consumption and know how to distribute income reasonably. Let's spend our money on something meaningful and build a solid foundation for our future.
This society is like a huge consumer square, where everyone chooses their own consumption objects. However, the people in this square are divided into two very different consumer groups: the poor and the rich. The poor, who seem to be more keen on consuming "face". In order to satisfy their vanity, they do not hesitate to invest their money in those seemingly glamorous consumer goods. Just like what a netizen experienced, he took a fancy to a ** expensive cosmetics in the mall, and in order not to embarrass himself in front of the shopping guide, he swiped his card to buy it. However, such "face" consumption cost him a lot, almost exhausting his living expenses for a month. And the rich, they pay more attention to the consumption of "chairs". They know that only by allowing their wealth to continue to appreciate can they truly have freedom and security. They know how to make their fortunes snowball bigger and bigger, not just settle for superficial vanity. First, the poor consume face. Writer Li Jun once said in the Fortune District**The so-called face consumption is to buy vanity and highlight the irrational consumption of one's own initiative. In life, the more people who have no money, the more they take their faces too seriously, and as a result, they unconsciously fall into the trap of face consumption. This is also confirmed by the concept of conspicuous consumption proposed by the economist Van Chamberlain. He believes that many people consume in spite of their own conditions, in order to satisfy their desire to show off, trying to get the affirmation and praise of others, and make themselves faceless. However, this conspicuous consumption will eventually turn into a black hole that devours money, making you poorer and poorer. On the big stage of this society, the consumption choices of the poor and the rich are like two torrents, each flowing in different directions. The poor consume for the sake of face, while the rich choose the chair where their wealth continues to rise. This is perhaps one of the most cruel truths of this society.
The writer Gan Yi has a cousin who works in a factory, and although the salary is not high, he is very generous. Every time he received his salary, he called his friends, first went to have a big meal, and then went to KTV for a night. In the compliment of others, half of the money earned in a month is spent. Not only that, he was wearing famous brands all over his body, and once Gan Yi saw him holding the most ** Apple mobile phone in his hand, so he asked him Didn't you just change your mobile phone?Unexpectedly, he proudly said that the phone had been lost a long time ago, Apple was out of **, everyone changed it, and I was embarrassed to go out to meet people if I didn't change it!Besides, I pay in installments, so I don't have to pay much at once. Because of his good face, my cousin spent money so lavishly, and finally owed more than 100,000 foreign debts. There is an article in "Time Journal" that if a person decorates his face excessively, he will drag down his life. Face can be infinitely inflated, but human wealth is limited. When you use limited money to chase the illusory face, your hard-earned money will be squeezed out little by little by all kinds of comparisons and vanity. Over time, your finances will be overdrawn, making it difficult for you to turn back from poverty before you do. 
Second, the rich consume the lizi. Writer Zhang Meng once talked about his concept of consumption. He told about his experience: I was born in science and engineering, and I am not solid in literature and history, in order to improve my knowledge structure, I spent more than 100,000 yuan a few years ago to sign up for a history class at the Guanghua School of Management of Peking University. During that time, I also signed up for various famous courses at Peking University. A lot of money is invested in exchange for a broad horizon and a more professional humanistic quality. Later, in order to learn the latest concept of Xi management, I signed up for the Shenzhen International Philanthropy Research Institute. In the two years of study Xi I spent nearly 200,000 yuan, including tuition. Eventually, these investments became the nutrients for my growth, and I was able to successfully start my own business in addition to collaboration. **People say coolly, people who are willing to pay for the future and pattern, and who are willing to pay for output and growth can struggle for at least ten years less!In this world, money is a good thing. Only by using money as a tool to serve oneself and allowing oneself to continue to increase one's value can the owner live a true face.
Zuckerberg, the tech mogul who appears in a simple T-shirt and jeans all year round, sees almost all material expenses as unnecessary. However, he is not stingy when it comes to fitness, and even hires a personal trainer with a high salary to help him build a strong body. He sees the gym as his playground and never gets tired of it. Similarly, Bill Gates, a legend in the tech world, has been driving his used car for more than a decade. However, he was never stingy in his access to information and knowledge. He does not miss every issue of The Economist, and spends a lot of money on subscribing to a large number of journals and magazines every year. He understands that investing in himself is the real smart thing to do.
In one of the lines I once heard, there was this one that won my heart: ". .People who can spend money will know how to invest in themselves. "To truly invest in yourself is not to put money into a place to show off, but to invest in something that can generate new value. Improve your job skills and you'll get more opportunities;Reading books will broaden your horizons;Spending money for something truly worthwhile, you're investing in the future.
Third, the way you consume determines your level!In this "Consumer Business", Pound Bov pointed outWe should learn to spend money effectively, not ineffectively. He stressed that some items start to depreciate once purchased, such as branded clothing, mobile phones, etc., and spending money effectively means investing in economic behaviors that have room for added value. In this world, spending money to improve yourself is always the most effective behavior. The writer Lianyue once had a reader named Jiaqiong, who had to make a living outside before graduating from junior high school. In the beginning, he washed dishes, swept the floor, and served dishes in restaurants, and his monthly salary was only 700 yuan. Many migrant workers like him are reluctant to spend their money after receiving it, but he is eager to study. So, he saved money for snacks and went to the stall to buy some books to read. Two years later, he used his savings to sign up for the ** college entrance examination and graduated successfully. After graduating, he successfully applied for a job in a large hotel, and was quickly promoted due to his academic qualifications and ability. Today, he is the hotel's senior manager, and his salary and package have risen several levels.
This story teaches us that it is very important to improve our abilities and qualities by spending money effectively. Through reading and Xi, Jiaqiong not only improved her ability and quality, but also changed her destiny. His success story also shows that spending money to improve oneself is one of the most effective behaviors. Therefore, we should learn to make wise choices when spending our money and invest in those things that have room for appreciation. This will not only help us improve our abilities and qualities, but also give us better opportunities for development in our future careers.
Li Ka-shing once saidThe value of money is not in the amount of money, but in how it is used wisely. Spending money on things that improve yourself will eventually reap great rewards and benefits. Hu Shi once told in the article that his father died at an early age, the family was poor, and his mother lived a careful life, but his mother was surprisingly generous when it came to his study. At that time, he was studying in a private school, and he needed to give silver dollars to his teacher every year. Usually a student will give two yuan, but the mother gave six yuan in the first year, and the number increases every year from the second year. The mother only made one request to the teacher: for every word read, one word should be spokenFor every sentence you read, you need to say a sentence. Although a lot of money was spent, this Hu Shi laid a solid foundation for becoming a big name in the academic world in the future. Many times, money is spent on **, and achievements are generated in **!
Putting money on your face is only a short-term gratification, but it can cause long-term pain in the future. Only by investing money in the arms of self-improvement can we continue to grow and reap a steady stream of gains. The attitude of money shows your level. Spend money on self-improvement and let yourself continue to increase in value, and your life will become richer and richer. There is a concept in economics called consumption upgrading, which refers to more rational consumption choices and more reasonable consumption structure, which ultimately promotes a more prosperous economy. For individuals, upgrading the concept of consumption determines whether they will be poor or rich in the future. Give up face consumption, put more money on self-investment, constantly enrich your senses, expand your knowledge horizons, and cultivate your professional skills, you will be more valuable in the future. However, there is a premise here, that only those who have solved material problems are qualified to talk about spirituality. Imagine a party where you talk to two young ladies. One of the ladies was holding a bag that looked quite ordinary, but she was actually concerned about *** problems, and could even come up with a book to foresee the fate of the United States. The second lady's bag looks like a famous brand, but she cares about all kinds of entertainment gossip and what to eat every day. Obviously, the first lady has a much greater magnitude of wealth than the second lady. What level of wealth people are concerned about. What kind of cognitive level is what kind of talking point, a person's status jumps on the paper in an instant, this is cultural capital!
In the future of social life, the books you read, the topics you talk about, and your unique insights are like signals that are emitted and only people at the same level can pick up these signals and build a deep connection with you. In this era, it is no longer simple luxuries or material wealth that proves our level, but often those things that are intangible and difficult to imitate. Tangible things are easy to copy, but intangible things are difficult to imitate. Socializing is a skill, and next time you can try to put this book on the table. Of course, you don't have to read this book from beginning to end, just carry it with you to boost your aura and energy level. Before we explore further, don't forget to follow and click on Little Leader, we will continue to reveal more truths about money, and wish you a swift rise to financial freedom!Familiarity is the best social tool, and it is also the best tool to enhance a person's temperament and energy. In any era, the rich need to put a label on themselves in order to maintain their position in society, and they can neither leave this circle nor let others break into this circle casually. Recently, there are 100,000 riotous money doors on the Internet in the United States, and this article on the topic of conspicuous consumption has ended, and now it is the era of invisible consumption, the article talks about such a thing, the elite class in the United States no longer uses luxury goods to show off their wealth, they have a more advanced way. The article cites economists' interpretations of conspicuous consumption. People use material consumption as a measure of social status and status, such as the use of symbols that were once seen as high society in Europe. However, now this time has passed. Instead of proving their worth by flaunting material things, the elite pursues a higher level of consumption. They focus on intangible things, such as knowledge, culture, art, and so on. These are the things that really represent their identity and status. 
Yachts and holiday villas with a full set of intelligent security systems were once the standard for the wealthy in Europe, Europe and the United States. In today's country, it seems that women's special leather Hermes Birkin bags, men's Mercedes-Benz S-Class and white-glove drivers are regarded as symbols of wealth and status. The silverware in the living room back then, the Birkin bag in the cloakroom today, and the S 600 in the garage all express the same meaning, I am a rich man, and they all belong to the conspicuous consumer goods in Veblen's theory, but why is it said that this conspicuous consumption has ended in American society now?The 20th century's large-scale production economies, massive outsourcing of manufacturing to China, the ubiquitous Made in China label, and the development of new markets for cheap labor and raw materials made a hard-to-find luxury item an easy commodity to obtain.
In the United States, some ordinary Gucci Findi bags and leather shoes are piled up on the shelves like cabbage and radishes when they are on sale. Or head to the outlets, which are popular with Chinese tourists, and which display affordable brand-name goods all year round. American college girls can buy iPhones without having to borrow. Not because they're richer or smarter, it's just that iPhones come with a $299 down payment plus $40 a month. The policy of paying off the full amount within a year is easy to obtain, not only can you take out a loan to buy an Apple mobile phone, but also the leasing program of a high-end vehicle worth more than 100,000 US dollars also gives ordinary people the opportunity to drive a good car.
My American colleague owns a Range Rover and after a down payment of $2,000, he only has to pay $800 a month for three years. In the meantime, he has the option to pay off the remaining $50,000 to take ownership of the Land Rover. Alternatively, he may choose to return it to the dealer at the end of the lease period. This is the so-called democratization of consumption, which, however, clearly undermines the particularity. At a time when most of the middle class and business class were able to buy designer bags and high-end cars, and could afford to pay for a vacation to Europe or a cruise to the Bahamas, the elite were uneasy. They desperately need careful means to assert their advantage. Before discussing the new means of the elite, let's get to the bottom of the question: who exactly is the elite at the top of the pyramid of American society?According to the 2007 survey, the New York Times concludes that the top 1% of American society is an annual income of $380,000. But if you are calculated by assets, you need to have at least $8.4 million in assets to enter this class. According to 2015 data, an annual income of $600,000 is required in New York. To be among the 1% of cities, it needs to reach $550,000 in Sanban and $520,000 in Boston. They are doctors, group lawyers, and hedge managers. From 2007 to 2017, the consumption Xi of this group of people changed significantly during this decade. The data shows that the American business class spends significantly less money on material things, while the average middle class remains stable. So where did the elites spend all their money?
In places where you can't see it, such as in education, where the top 1% spend 6% of their annual household income on education, it's like a fierce battle for money and knowledge. The average middle-class household spends only 1% of their annual household income on education, and since 1996, the education expenditure of the top 1% has increased by 35 times, while the average middle class is standing still. Imagine that the tuition fee for private elementary schools in the United States is as high as $10,000 a year, and the tuition fees for private high schools are as high as $15,000 a year, which is definitely more than most brand-name handbags. Spending on education is clearly not conspicuous consumption, it is invisible, long-term, but also the most expensive. For the average middle class, this is undoubtedly a mountain that cannot be climbed. However, outside the classroom, the difference between those rich second generation and children from ordinary families is like an invisible chasm. Wealthy families can hire personal trainers for their children, offering a variety of hobbies and opportunities to travel overseas. This experience and insight has undoubtedly provided them with a valuable advantage in their academic Xi. For example, the aristocratic high school in the affluent area of North Carolina has indoor gymnasiums, theaters, swimming pools, tennis courts, football fields, baseball fields and other facilities, and the students here not only have excellent appearance, but also have a gentle and polite upbringing, which is also a reflection of good education. The application process for prestigious American schools such as Harvard and Yale is like an elite race, with students being assessed not only for their academic performance, but also for their family background and past experience. Those children who have received a good education from an early age have a clear advantage in this competition. During this period, the difference between the wealthy classes surfaced, and that was the division between the local tyrants and the elite. Luxury houses, famous cars, huge assets, these are not decisive factors, the key is the cultivation of future generations. Some of America's most famous families have graduated from prestigious schools and have even set up family education** to ensure that the fine traditions are passed on from generation to generation. Recently, a piece of news has attracted widespread attention: Jing Qing's son has enrolled in Hong Kong's Baoshan Kindergarten, which has an annual tuition fee of 140,000 yuan and is known as the "Harvard of kindergartens". The background of the students here is extraordinary, including the daughter of former Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung, the daughter of diving queen Fu Mingxia, and the daughter of the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family, Xu Ziqi, etc. In recent years, in various reality shows, we were surprised to find that Huang Wen's daughter Huang Duoduo is fluent in English, and Wang Zhong's son William and younger brother's English proficiency can be called brick and stone. Huang Lei's daughter attends Beijing Private Huijia School, and Wang Zhonglei's son attends Dulwich College Beijing. It is said that Faye Wong's two daughters also attend this school. In addition, Ma Yili's daughter, her imprisoned daughter, and Deng Chao's son all study at Shanghai Soong Ching Ling International Kindergarten. In order for her daughter to go to Hong Kong for an interview, someone specially bought a school district house, which is like a realistic version of the TV series "Tiger Mom and Cat Dad". Some people complain that it is difficult to counterattack, but when this society is occupied by such a group of people, there is really no chance. Fortunately, at this moment, we also have the opportunity to try to recall another event. In recent years, the live broadcast industry has been booming, and many online female anchors have gained a lot in this wave. Many of them, with little education or mediocre family conditions, have suddenly become wealthy, and most of them have spent energy and money on buying clothes, trying to dress themselves up as ladies and noblewomen, as if they have risen to the upper echelons of society. However, have they really achieved a class climb?I heard that one of them had a female anchor who invested all the money she earned from her live broadcast into studying in the UK. In my opinion, she is the most likely person among them to truly achieve class ascension, because she understands and comprehends what the fundamental gap between classes is. 
Wang Shuo said of his daughter: ".I don't want her to succeed, what is success?Isn't it just to make a sum of money and let ** know?"The ultimate core of a quality education may not be to teach you how to successfully climb to the top, but how to finally become a person in this field who realizes your personal ideals and is valuable to others at the same time. Of course, those who can do this have also succeeded. The more powerful the person fights, because he is surrounded by such people. Even the prerequisite for spiritual freedom is financial freedom and freedom of movement. The more unmotivated people are, the lazier they are, because when you are a frog at the bottom of the well, you look at me and I look at you, it's all about the same, and I feel that life is quite good!Therefore, the truth of this world is sometimes quite cruel, but it is also quite inspiring. Whether it is Chinese or foreign, it turns out that so many people who are richer than you are still working harder than you from generation to generation. Ah, follow me, I just know the truth about taking you to unlock more money. All aspects of society