Money Mistakes

I heard an interesting statement yesterday: “We need to stop buying things we don’t need, with money we haven’t earned, to impress people we don’t even like.”

All I could think of was “AMEN!”

I’ve always had some thoughts about money that were a little askew from others around me, so I generally keep my mouth shut when it comes to discussions of it. Mom always cautioned that you shouldn’t discuss money, sex, religion, or politics if you expect the conversation to stay polite. I would have to add sports to the list these days! J Anyway, that advice certainly isn’t necessary in a world where every other person “tweets” their every waking thought, and most people are never polite, so I may as well give you my two cents worth about money.

We spend too much and save too little.

We buy things we don’t really need because it makes us happy for a little while.

We buy things to make up for what we lack in feelings.

We buy things that make us feel like we belong to our little corner of society.

We buy things without planning to buy them.

We often spend money on our children when what they need us to spend is time.

We always have more money available to us than we think we do, if we are willing to sacrifice a little pride or inconvenience.

Our grandparents knew more about money management than we ever will.

I suppose I’ve been thinking about money lately because of the holidays. I hate to see what people do with their money during the holidays. I want to tell young parents not to spend so much on their children’s presents. They don’t need most of them. They won’t remember half of them. Put the money in a college fund. I want to tell people to remember that the elderly in their lives are probably yearning for companionship-not things. Many of them need food-not trinkets. I want to remind people that giving others things you can’t afford for yourself often leads to resentment. I want to tell everyone to stop and think before they spend, especially in the next few weeks. After all, we’re supposed to be celebrating Jesus, not greed.

Money mistakes- I’ve made as many as anyone. I'm trying to do better these days.

 

 

Comments

[Megan]

Just wanted you to know I read this post. (I check your blog everyday, but don't always have a chance to comment right away.)

I don't know that I have much to say about this besides thanks for sharing wisdom.

"We buy things we don’t really need because it makes us happy for a little while.

We buy things to make up for what we lack in feelings. "

Print that on my forehead. It makes me feel so good to buy something for someone. Especially for my kids. Especially to keep them safe from harm (mental and physical) and in my home. And just to see how much they love it.

[mary]

Nothing wrong with buying things to make other people happy unless it creates a financial or emotional problem for you. Some people become addicted to the "high" of the purchase itself and don't even use the object. I knew a woman with a closet full of dresses with tags on them.

[Deana Birks]

This is definitely a post to reread and think about. It gets to the point where people dread rather than anticipate Christmas because they know they can't afford most of the stuff they're about to buy for people they don't even like.

(Side note: when my grandmother died, we actually found an entire closet of dresses with tags on them that we never imagined she had. Clothing far more glamorous than she actually wore.)