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Money and possessions are a means to an end
Monday, 14 November 2005
We live in a materialistic society. Often, it can seem like the only measure of a person's worth is the number and quality of goods they possess.
Certainly, owning nice things can contribute to your well-being. There's nothing fun about being broke.
Sometimes, though, we seem to lose track of just why we're accumulating all this stuff. A big house, a fancy car, an expensive holiday or a new boat are all great to have. But keep in perspective what these things are costing you.
If you're spending eighty hours a week in the office to pay for an oversize house that you only sleep in, that's not exactly a good bargain. If you work for a whole year to pay for a car that only offers you marginally more actual benefit that one costing one-fifth the price, then you're ripping yourself off.
It's nice to own possessions, in other words, but be careful your possessions don't end up owning you.
The easy debt on offer these days can make this problem even worse. I've lost count of the number of times I've spoken to couples who both work ridiculous hours in order to pay for their so-called "lifestyle". They get themselves up to their eyeballs in debt, spend every waking moment either worrying about how their going to pay it all off, or working to do so, and have almost no time to enjoy the spoils of their effort.
Possessions are nice to have, but their value is nothing compared to your most valuable asset - your time on this Earth. We're only healthy, young and alive for a very short period. Giving up an excessive amount of this time for a fancy car or a big house is the equivalent of selling your soul.
These deals becomes even stupider when the main benefit gained is to impress someone else or make them jealous.
If I said to you "give me one year of your life and I promise to be impressed", you'd tell me where to go. Yet millions of people make exactly that deal in buying an expensive car in the hope of seeming more important in the eyes of their neighbors.
Splurging on unaffordable luxury can become addictive. Once you become used to having those fancy things, you'll need them more than ever. It's best to wait until you can easily afford something, or not have it at all.
Your money and possessions are a means to an end. You should accumulate them to make yourself more happy. If you're sacrificing your happiness in return for them, then you're cheating yourself.
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