January 12, 2026

Once a Status Symbol, Now Just Expensive Trash

I recently found myself cleaning out a storage bin in my basement, one I had not opened in at least a decade. Inside were things I once considered real luxuries. Items I saved for, protected, and even showed off a little. As I picked them up one by one, it hit me how quickly “valuable” can turn into “worthless,” at least in any practical sense. What once felt premium now feels outdated, impractical, or even laughable.

Twenty years ago, luxury was often tied to physical ownership. If you had the object, you had the status. Take DVDs, for example. I remember proudly displaying rows of boxed movie sets. They were not cheap, and special editions felt especially indulgent. Today, they sit unused because streaming made them obsolete. Not only are they worthless to resell, they take up space and collect dust. The same thing happened with CD collections. I once believed my carefully organized CDs were an investment in my taste and identity. Now, most cars do not even have CD players.

Then there are electronics that once felt impossibly advanced. I remember buying a high end digital camera that cost hundreds of dollars. It came with a bulky case, multiple memory cards, and a charger that only worked for that model. At the time, it felt like a professional tool. Today, my phone takes better photos without any extra effort. That camera is now useless, and resale value is practically zero.

Flat screen TVs are another painful reminder. When plasma and early LCD TVs hit the market, they were a status symbol. I remember paying what felt like a small fortune for one, justifying the cost because it was “future proof.” Now, that TV would struggle to sell at a garage sale. It is heavy, low resolution by today’s standards, and inefficient. Technology did not just improve, it erased the value of what came before.

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Luxury phones from the early smartphone era fall into the same category. I once treated my phone like a prized possession. I bought cases, accessories, and extended warranties. Today, that device would not even support modern apps or security updates. It is essentially electronic waste, despite once being a major purchase.

Even clothing was not spared. I remember designer handbags and logo heavy accessories that were all about signaling success. Some of them were expensive, fragile, and trendy. Now, many feel dated, impractical, or cheaply made compared to modern alternatives. Fast fashion and changing tastes stripped them of their perceived prestige.

What surprises me most is how much emotional weight these items carried. They represented achievement, comfort, and sometimes stability. Looking back, the value was never really in the object. It was in what it symbolized at that moment in my life. Security, progress, and the feeling that I was keeping up.

Today, luxury feels different. Experiences matter more than objects. Convenience beats ownership. Flexibility beats permanence. The things I once protected so carefully are now reminders of how quickly the definition of “worth it” changes.

Cleaning out that bin was humbling. It reminded me that most luxury items are only luxurious for a moment in time. Eventually, they either adapt, or they become clutter. And now, when I consider buying something expensive, I ask myself a simple question. Will this still matter to me when the next storage bin gets opened?

Until next time -
Jeanie @ Gopher Update