After you make the purchase, then what?
Many people put so much energy into pursuing things and tend not to think past the purchase.
Once they attain the things, they experience an emptiness and roll right into the next set of desires.
It’s an endless and vicious cycle mentally, emotionally, and financially.
Some people end up with a mountain of credit card debt, multiple car notes, too much house to afford to pay every month, and storage units, garages, and houses full of stuff they never use or only use once.
Why Do You Want What You Want?
And what happens when you get what you want?
Most people don’t want financial freedom; they would rather have everything depicting it.
It looks better to drive a nice car than a used car with money in the bank.
Living in a massive home but barely having money in the bank looks better than residing in a smaller or more modest home.
It looks better to live above your means and struggle than to live within your means and have peace of mind.
Many of our desires are programmed by societal messaging.
For most of our lives, we’re taught to desire three primary things:
The career
The house
The car
Without these things, you supposedly have little to no status.
Unfortunately, too many people never take the time to mull over these programmed desires.
Do I want the luxury house or car because I genuinely love it or because it’s expected?
Everything must be questioned—especially our desires. Because our desires are frequently not our own.
Materialism CAN Be The Enemy To Building Wealth
Nothing is wrong with wanting to buy things, but if you can’t afford them, you’re only hurting yourself in the process.
But not only should you consider how buying things affects your bank account, but you should consider the intentions behind it.
People lease cars so they can upgrade every few years.
People upgrade their phones every year, but for what? The features aren’t distinguishable enough to notice a significant difference.
People are addicted to maintaining the latest and greatest as if they will find fulfillment in some form in having the best, but it’s impossible to do so.
Things can never bring fulfillment, and you get off track when you tirelessly pursue these things.
Minimalism Isn’t Second Nature
More is better.
Less is bad.
Empty is weird.
Low key is odd.
We should all be aiming to obtain more, right?
According to society, this is sound logic.
But it doesn’t make much sense.
When you look beyond all the things, you will quickly learn there is more to life than the accumulation of things.
But minimalism isn’t second nature — especially in American culture.
Review Your Desires
Make a list of everything you want. Now ask yourself, why do I want this? Do I need this? How often will I use it? What is the intention behind this desire? Who am I without this? Am I okay if I don’t obtain this desire?
This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Not all information will be accurate. Consult a financial professional before making any significant financial decisions.