There Are Zero Rewards For Being Materialistic
How to elevate your financial position through minimalism
The average person lugs around a ton of sh*t that isn’t providing them much short-term or long-term value.
Throughout the years, I have maintained a low archive of things that belong to me.
And I continuously go through my stuff each year to ensure I’m not over-collecting items.
Since I maintain less stuff, I have more freedom. I can move in an instant. I never have to buy storage, I think clearly in my home, and my house doesn’t get messy easily, saving me time on cleaning.
What I Don’t Have
I don’t have financial obligations that would restrain me to one place.
I don’t have subscriptions or memberships I can’t live without.
I don’t have a car note.
I don’t have debt.
What I Do Have
A one-year emergency fund.
Low-cost-living situation.
Few possessions.
Investments.
The Storage Example
Where does all of this leave me? In a healthy financial situation. Like many people, I can move freely and am not bogged down with obligations or financial responsibilities.
“Americans have garages, but there are no cars in them. They fill them with stuff.”
If you have a storage unit, how often are you using the stuff there?
Mostly, we never use the stuff in storage closets or units. It’s wasteful of our resources.
The Car Note Example
I was reading one of Rocco Pendola’s articles about how so many people are bogged down with expensive car notes, which is 100% true.
Though my first car note about a decade ago was $245 a month, it was technically not the best financial decision for me then, so I rushed to pay it off in three years versus six years.
I’m still driving that car today; I rarely have problems with it, and it’s paid off.
It doesn’t get any better than that. Will I get a new car? Yes, eventually, when the time is right.
What’s The Ultimate Reward For Materialism?
What is the ultimate reward for having the car, the house, the lifestyle, the fashion, the trips, the recognition, and the social media flexes if it only leads you further into debt?
Furthermore, what is the point of that if your only goal is to show it off?
Nothing.
Empty pursuits lead you nowhere.
Is there anything wrong with the accumulation of stuff? No.
But there is something wrong when your desires lead you into financial bankruptcy.
Show me your bank account, not your car, not your house, and not your closet.
Most people have little to show themselves in cash, investments, or real estate.
What does your portfolio look like?
Are you more proud of the stuff you’ve accumulated or the wealth you’ve built?
For most people, the answer to this question is the stuff they’ve accumulated.
What’s The Ultimate Reward For Minimalism?
Freedom.
When you have less, less owns you.
You have more opportunities to move freely. You’re not overly focused on income goals either because your standard of living is so cheap.
Instead, you can focus on doing meaningful work, ultimately leading to wealth-building.