People spend too much money. At least in America they do. We are a nation in love with debt. We love to buy things on credit because it seem to cost no money. We figure we can always pay for it later when we have that mythical better paying job that never seems to materialize.
The people who are the most in debt seem to be the people who can least afford it or who hate their jobs the most. Maybe spending money they don't have makes these people feel better about themselves? I'm not sure but whatever it is I've never really understood it.
But don't these people realize what spending the money they earned actually means? Think about it. You earn your money by working at a job. Whether it is sititng in front of a computer all day or flipping burgers you are paid to spend time doing something when you would probably rather be doing something else. Now lets say you earn $10/hour. Now you decide you need to treat yourself so you go buy a brand new pair of shoes that cost you $80. You just speant 8 hours of your life earning that pair of shoes. For most people that is one day of their lives. You are basically equating that pair of shoes to be worth one day of you sitting in front of the computer bored out of your mine. Was it really worth it?
I'm not saying don't buy things that make you happy. By all means, spend all your money on whatever you want. Next time you want to complain about your job though, remember, at least you have those nice pair of shoes.
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2 comments:
Unfortunately, advertising does a good job of convincing people that their life will be that much cooler if they buy $100 sneakers, or clothes made by rappers, or cars that hug curves tightly. For many, living outside their means is the onle way to give the perception that they are in a higher station in life than they actually are.
Credit card companies prey on the uninformed and peniless. They send them (literally) blank checks and promise an end to debt and easy access to Plasma TVs.
People are always responsible for managing their finances properly, so I'm not suggesting that people are irreparably stupid and should be saved from themselves. However, I do wish that personal finance courses be required in high schools for graduation.
"For many, living outside their means is the onle way to give the perception that they are in a higher station in life than they actually are."
well said jennifer. interestingly, this is what i am writing my thesis on.
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