The High Cost of Being Cool

“Until you make peace with who your are, you will never be content with what you have.”
~Doris Mortman

It is only fitting that this article is scheduled for Black Friday. Today is nationally recognized for its extreme consumerism. Often we find it under the guise of Christmas shopping, but get real.

As we have discussed before, contentment is an integral part of your financial plan. In our consumer-driven society, a simple-minded person could spend a lifetime looking for importance in all the wrong stores. But that product-sponsored importance is a unicorn. It is not obtainable.

Suppose you disagree with me on this point. If so, I challenge you to look at those with money – those with things. Their insecurities are no different. Their divorce rate is no different. More so, they are no more important. Skinny jeans and skinny ties might make you cool, but cool is temporary. Just ask Millie Vanillie (why I choose to pick on them, I have no idea).

So how does this concern our financial plans? The latest & greatest is freakin’ expensive. This year’s new model and this season’s new style will leave you with last century’s pocketbook. In short, I am talking about moderation.

I am not proposing that you should never have nice things, but I am proposing that you will never become wealthy chasing the unicorn. However, if you practice moderation now, some day you will be wealthy. When that day comes, you can (without guilt) choose to tickle your fancy. And that will be a marvelous day! But that day will never arrive if you don’t practice moderation today.