Spending: Right Or Wrong

I’m not a financial advisor and this episode is NOT about money management. It’s about spending money. To be even more specific, it’s not about the money we have to spend but the money we spend because we want to.

A lot of us like to indulge in Starbucks coffee. Most of us want to look sharp and spend small fortunes on trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories. Personal care is not far behind: mani-pedis, and yes, hair cost money, too.

We follow the motto of Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City: “I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet.”

Not surprisingly, many live paycheck to paycheck, and struggle.

Did you ever stop to think about how you spend your money and why you spend it the way you do? It may be worth a moment of your time. Why? Because there are two different ways to use money. One is to keep up; the other is to invest in yourself. Most of us are guilty of spending money on keeping up.

“Too many people spend money to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.” Will Rogers

Keeping up with others, with trends, or with your moods is a bottomless pit. If you continue “keeping up”, you’ll likely stay broke forever.

Why is so important to you to keep up? This isn’t high school anymore! You are an adult now and you have likely figured out already that uniqueness has more value than uniformity. Think of the artists you like: are they like everybody around you or somewhat odd, original, and unique? Yes, it’s the somewhat odd that’s attractive. Give it a thought! You are spending all the money on worthless fast fashion to match the crowd, not to develop your personal style. Is it really your goal today?

Spending money on your priorities is different. Since the priorities are yours, there is no competition, no one to impress, and no one to keep up with. Spending on health, including dental health, wellness, staying in shape, eating healthy, and learning is smart.
Helping a friend in financial need or supporting financially a cause close to your heart is good. Having extra money in the bank is not bad either.

Now imagine the “end of the world” which happens on a varying scale, every then and again, in the form of a devastating tornado, earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, etc. Imagine you survived. Just you. Without your belongings. What would you have at such a moment? Would your essentials survive unscathed?

If you spent your money on keeping up, a disaster would leave you devastated. You’d have nothing of value. You’d have to start the whole process of accumulating and competing anew.

If you invested in yourself and your relationships, even if a disaster should befall you, you could afford to keep your cool. Should you lose everything, you’d still be healthy, slim and trim, have great teeth, diplomas and skills that guarantee your self-reliance under any circumstances. You’d still have friends you’ve seen through hard times who value you, and some hard cash in the bank. Starting over wouldn’t be scary. Nothing could strip you of your value.

“Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.” James W. Frick

The problem with small choices and small indulgences is that they add up. Eventually, you, your life, and your future become the sum of those small choices.

Make your coffee yourself and every time you do, put $3 in your piggy bank… Buy two quality garments a year, treat them well, store them well, and you’ll build a top-notch wardrobe plus a personal style. (Fill in the blanks with thrift store finds.)

Investing in yourself, your network, and your values, produces short-term and long-term dividends.

Make a conscious decision on what matters to you and this time, put yourself ahead of the crowd you’re trying to keep up with. Eventually, you’ll become the person others want to emulate.

To the question of whether spending money is right or wrong, it is the HOW you spend it that makes it either right or wrong.

 

#Spending #RightOrWrong #Spirituality #HumanistChurch #HolisticChurch #HolisticChurchPodcast #HumanistHolisticChurch

 

 

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