Laura, as an American who lived in Sweden for 15 years, I know just what you're talking about here. But I would add something to the explanation of the thriftiness one encounters in Sweden: More than the history of wartime scarcity, I think it's the twin facts that Sweden is (a) ultimately a very Lutheran country, and (b) originally a very poor agricultural country.
The Lutheran heritage emphasizes taking individual responsibility and not engaging in acts like wanton wastefulness. And the rural, agricultural heritage emphasizes both thriftiness and independence—the sort of thing that prompts one to reuse teabags or resell old crockery. Even though today, Sweden is a very wealthy and atheistic nation, it was really not very long ago that it was a devout nation of very poor farmers, and culture changes more slowly than circumstances. So it doesn't seem so strange to me that even Swedes living in fancy apartments in Östermalm would sometimes behave as though wartime rationing were in effect.
Which, when you think about it, is actually pretty admirable, isn't it?
Thank you for this — such an interesting and perceptive comment. I hadn’t thought about the Lutheran influence, although I could probably tell you ten ways I feel it in my daily interactions with the Swedes! I am lucky enough to have a Swedish friend who knows everything so I am going to run your theory by him. Tack så mycket!
I have often thought about the notion of "responsible consumption". It is true that our economy depends on consumption. Yes, there is a lot of waste, but we are also the most prosperous nation in the world. Yet, we consume mindlessly. We have been conditioned to reach out for things that we don't really need, and that too in large quantities. Marketing works!
It is ironical to see garages that are packed with stuff that we don't use anymore. One of the fastest growing business is temporary storage spaces!
But that is how our economy works. It creates jobs, that produces more stuff, that leads to more consumption, and yes, more waste.
What if we could be more mindful about our needs and wants? We don't have to live with a mindset of scarcity. Just change the way we think about what it means to have a good life.
Yes! “Mindless” is the word. I am appalled now at how little thought I gave to the idea of waste. It is almost an American cultural exercise, a demonstration of plenty and an expression of confidence that there will be always be more. But I can’t figure out where it came from. Is it a post-war development or something older?
Post war. My parents grew up in the Depression in the South, and the Depression never left them. For the US, I would say post war advertising and the ability to mass manufacture goods. Also, the perception of success changed, especially with Hollywood and Television. Having lots of things = success.
I wonder if this attitude is prevalent across Continental Europe. When I lived in Belgium, I was surprised to discover young professionals basing their meal prep on supermarket coupons. In the US, it seems like the majority of their peers shop at Whole Foods and assume that coupons are for the Boomers.
Excellent question. I would think so. I also wonder if there’s any culture that rivals the U.S. for waste and excess. I doubt it, not even in the former great empires where there was plenty.
Finnish experience for comparison: I’m a lawyer, my ex is an MD, but we weren’t really rich or anything. Comfortable, yes. And every weekend, we would always, always, see what protein was on sale and in which supermarket first, then swing back to produce to get veggies that worked with the discount fish, meat, or poultry. It doesn’t seem rational to buy food at full price when you can find a deal. It seems something that people of bad character or no character at all would do. Our country was not only ravaged by WW2, there have been famines that killed sometimes double digit share of the population in the last 160 years
My experience moving to Portugal has been nearly identical! "It's in the air," as you said. I just found myself doing things without being told or giving much thought that wouldn't have crossed my mind in the U.S., or maybe they would sometimes, but the effort was just too much. It's effortless here to conserve, reuse, reduce, recycle, repair, etc. But here at least I don't have to walk on ice to get to our recycling bins, which are only about 500 m away from the house.
We also paid to haul away the near entirety of our belongings to donate to Goodwill when we left the U.S. in a hurry. And my grandparents were also from the Depression era and my parents born during WWII, so I picked up the habit of frugality. My wife has teased me on several occasions for my collection of little bottles of hotel shampoo and the like.
My Polish friend shared a folk song with me that they learned in English class when they were in grade school, and it struck me as one that needs to make a comeback!
This song could not be more perfect! 🤩 It will probably be in my head for a couple of days! And you and I continue on our path as spiritual twins, I see. Although I don’t know why I had to be the twin that went to the cold place while you went to the warm place. Life is unfair.
Laura, as an American who lived in Sweden for 15 years, I know just what you're talking about here. But I would add something to the explanation of the thriftiness one encounters in Sweden: More than the history of wartime scarcity, I think it's the twin facts that Sweden is (a) ultimately a very Lutheran country, and (b) originally a very poor agricultural country.
The Lutheran heritage emphasizes taking individual responsibility and not engaging in acts like wanton wastefulness. And the rural, agricultural heritage emphasizes both thriftiness and independence—the sort of thing that prompts one to reuse teabags or resell old crockery. Even though today, Sweden is a very wealthy and atheistic nation, it was really not very long ago that it was a devout nation of very poor farmers, and culture changes more slowly than circumstances. So it doesn't seem so strange to me that even Swedes living in fancy apartments in Östermalm would sometimes behave as though wartime rationing were in effect.
Which, when you think about it, is actually pretty admirable, isn't it?
Thank you for this — such an interesting and perceptive comment. I hadn’t thought about the Lutheran influence, although I could probably tell you ten ways I feel it in my daily interactions with the Swedes! I am lucky enough to have a Swedish friend who knows everything so I am going to run your theory by him. Tack så mycket!
I have often thought about the notion of "responsible consumption". It is true that our economy depends on consumption. Yes, there is a lot of waste, but we are also the most prosperous nation in the world. Yet, we consume mindlessly. We have been conditioned to reach out for things that we don't really need, and that too in large quantities. Marketing works!
It is ironical to see garages that are packed with stuff that we don't use anymore. One of the fastest growing business is temporary storage spaces!
But that is how our economy works. It creates jobs, that produces more stuff, that leads to more consumption, and yes, more waste.
What if we could be more mindful about our needs and wants? We don't have to live with a mindset of scarcity. Just change the way we think about what it means to have a good life.
Yes! “Mindless” is the word. I am appalled now at how little thought I gave to the idea of waste. It is almost an American cultural exercise, a demonstration of plenty and an expression of confidence that there will be always be more. But I can’t figure out where it came from. Is it a post-war development or something older?
Post war. My parents grew up in the Depression in the South, and the Depression never left them. For the US, I would say post war advertising and the ability to mass manufacture goods. Also, the perception of success changed, especially with Hollywood and Television. Having lots of things = success.
I wonder if this attitude is prevalent across Continental Europe. When I lived in Belgium, I was surprised to discover young professionals basing their meal prep on supermarket coupons. In the US, it seems like the majority of their peers shop at Whole Foods and assume that coupons are for the Boomers.
Excellent question. I would think so. I also wonder if there’s any culture that rivals the U.S. for waste and excess. I doubt it, not even in the former great empires where there was plenty.
Finnish experience for comparison: I’m a lawyer, my ex is an MD, but we weren’t really rich or anything. Comfortable, yes. And every weekend, we would always, always, see what protein was on sale and in which supermarket first, then swing back to produce to get veggies that worked with the discount fish, meat, or poultry. It doesn’t seem rational to buy food at full price when you can find a deal. It seems something that people of bad character or no character at all would do. Our country was not only ravaged by WW2, there have been famines that killed sometimes double digit share of the population in the last 160 years
Yes. That’s the kind of lived experience that puts grooves in the brain.
My experience moving to Portugal has been nearly identical! "It's in the air," as you said. I just found myself doing things without being told or giving much thought that wouldn't have crossed my mind in the U.S., or maybe they would sometimes, but the effort was just too much. It's effortless here to conserve, reuse, reduce, recycle, repair, etc. But here at least I don't have to walk on ice to get to our recycling bins, which are only about 500 m away from the house.
We also paid to haul away the near entirety of our belongings to donate to Goodwill when we left the U.S. in a hurry. And my grandparents were also from the Depression era and my parents born during WWII, so I picked up the habit of frugality. My wife has teased me on several occasions for my collection of little bottles of hotel shampoo and the like.
My Polish friend shared a folk song with me that they learned in English class when they were in grade school, and it struck me as one that needs to make a comeback!
https://youtu.be/5vOXoAisMRg?si=n-5uO7u8qZ5nsYU-
This song could not be more perfect! 🤩 It will probably be in my head for a couple of days! And you and I continue on our path as spiritual twins, I see. Although I don’t know why I had to be the twin that went to the cold place while you went to the warm place. Life is unfair.
Hahah! Come visit Portugal and I'll show you around. It's quite hot in July and August!
I can only guess based on my Swedish Grandparents born in the 1800s, plus family and friends still in Sweden today.
--aware (some might call it mindful)
--factual (some might call it intellectual)
--decency (in action)
A small country. A small population.
Practical. Intelligent.
I'm so grateful for it (after being stuck in the States). ❤️
And I meant to add...
With my own Swedish family, at least, no matter the age or value, items continue to be valued and well cared for.
You need just enough, not excess.
Choices are intentional.