--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle." description: "\"I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.\" — Barbara Kruger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png" --- # I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle. ![“I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.” quote by Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png) > “I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.” [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques consumer culture by distinguishing authentic living from materialistic identity. **In simple terms:** Live authentically, not superficially. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal values over status symbols. Themes consumerism authenticity identity art Mood thoughtful provocative Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - daily life - shopping habits - self‑expression Key Concepts critical theory social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How do you define a lifestyle versus a life? - What pressures push you toward consumerism? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be hard to maintain in a consumerist world. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Living life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-life/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not an overly material person. Sure, I like certain comforts in life. But buying a lot of 'things' doesn't produce happiness for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mansueto/i-m-not-an-overly-material-person-sure-i-like-certain-comforts-in/) [Joe Mansueto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mansueto/) > [I'm not just buying a car... I'm buying a lifestyle!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-johnston/i-m-not-just-buying-a-car-i-m-buying-a-lifestyle/) [Lynn Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-johnston/) > [People are buying my life when they're buying those records. I hate to sound bigheaded or something, but that's the reality of it. Suddenly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/people-are-buying-my-life-when-they-re-buying-those-records-i-hate-to/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Perhaps the most extraordinary characteristic of current America is the attempt to reduce life to buying and selling. Life is not love unless love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-the-most-extraordinary-characteristic-of-current-america-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man I'm just living my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/man-i-m-just-living-my-life/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [I couldnt imagine living my life with another name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-postlethwaite/i-couldnt-imagine-living-my-life-with-another-name/) [Pete Postlethwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-postlethwaite/) > [They can crack jokes. They can sit back and analyze and criticize and make all the fun they want. But I'm living my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/they-can-crack-jokes-they-can-sit-back-and-analyze-and-criticize-and/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [Live your life so that when youre old, you never have to let the person you became fantasize about the person you were capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/live-your-life-so-that-when-youre-old-you-never-have-to-let-the/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [You talk about me as much as you'd like, but if I'm living my life then you don't exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeahman/you-talk-about-me-as-much-as-you-d-like-but-if-i-m-living-my-life/) Yeahman > [“- How can I know that I am living my life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/how-can-i-know-that-i-am-living-my-life/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I'm just moving with the flow, living my life as I sing and create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/i-m-just-moving-with-the-flow-living-my-life-as-i-sing-and-create/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [I'm just living my life. I'm incredibly disciplined and I work incredibly hard. I show up for things on time, I do my homework,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/i-m-just-living-my-life-i-m-incredibly-disciplined-and-i-work/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [What am I doing with my life am I living it or am I just going to some hum drum job that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/what-am-i-doing-with-my-life-am-i-living-it-or-am-i-just-going-to/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [I would just love to work in films for the rest of my life. I don't care about famous or about being anything like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/i-would-just-love-to-work-in-films-for-the-rest-of-my-life-i-don-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just living my life till I die...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mixer/just-living-my-life-till-i-die/) Willie Mixer ## More by Barbara Kruger > [I have frequently said, and I will repeat again, in the manner of any well-meaning seriality, that I'm interested in mixing the ingratiation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-have-frequently-said-and-i-will-repeat-again-in-the-manner-of-any/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I'm trying to deal with ideas about histories, fame, hearsay, and how public identities are constructed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-trying-to-deal-with-ideas-about-histories-fame-hearsay-and-how/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I like suggesting that ‘we are slaves to the objects around us,’ that ‘plenty should be enough,’ or that the ‘buyer should beware,’ within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-like-suggesting-that-we-are-slaves-to-the-objects-around-us-that/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Money talks. It makes art. It determines what food we eat, whether we are cured or die, and what shoes we wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/money-talks-it-makes-art-it-determines-what-food-we-eat-whether-we/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [It's good to keep in mind that prominence is always a mix of hard work, eloquence in your practice, good timing and fortuitous social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/it-s-good-to-keep-in-mind-that-prominence-is-always-a-mix-of-hard/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Direct address has been a consistent tactic in my work, regardless of the medium that I'm working in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/direct-address-has-been-a-consistent-tactic-in-my-work-regardless-of/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Prominence is cool, but when the delusion kicks in it can be a drag. Especially if you choose to surround yourself with friends and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/prominence-is-cool-but-when-the-delusion-kicks-in-it-can-be-a-drag/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I want people to be drawn into the space of the work. And a lot of people are like me in that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-want-people-to-be-drawn-into-the-space-of-the-work-and-a-lot-of/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [“Your comfort is my silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/your-comfort-is-my-silence/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I believe that who we are, and consequently the work that we make, whether we're visual artists or writers or journalists or filmmakers, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-believe-that-who-we-are-and-consequently-the-work-that-we-make/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Love is something you fall into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/love-is-something-you-fall-into/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Memory is your image of perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/memory-is-your-image-of-perfection/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I mean, making art is about objectifying your experience of the world, transforming the flow of moments into something visual, or textual, or musical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-mean-making-art-is-about-objectifying-your-experience-of-the-world/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Do you know why language manifests itself the way it does in my work? It's because I understand short attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/do-you-know-why-language-manifests-itself-the-way-it-does-in-my-work/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [Art is as heavy as sorrow, as light as a breeze, as bright as an idea, as pretty as a picture, as funny as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/art-is-as-heavy-as-sorrow-as-light-as-a-breeze-as-bright-as-an-idea/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) [Explore all 91 Barbara Kruger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) ## More Buying quotes > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) Will Advise > [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) [Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Kruger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9d/barbara-kruger-7415_buying_i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyl_425804.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm living my life, not buying a lifestyle.” — Barbara Kruger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Kruger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm living my life, not buying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-m-living-my-life-not-buying-a-lifestyle/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```