Simple Living: Watch What You Buy

You are a spend-a-holic?

Before you quickly stand up and say “no way”… let me explain.

Do you ever get urges to go shopping? To buy something new? To buy SOMETHING? Maybe that urge is there every few weeks, months, or maybe even every day.

How do you feel when you buy something? Do you feel almost a sense of pride? A sense of accomplishment? Or do you tend to walk away questioning whether that was the best way to spend your money? Maybe leaving with a little bit of guilt?

I personally think it is so easy to get caught up in the consumerism mentality of our culture. You hear about a friend buying something new and to them, it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, if that must be the case, then you obviously have to do the same and feel the same way, right? What we often fail to see, is that what one person sees as a need, may not be your classification of “needed items”. So why buy into the idea? Why buy into the idea that if you have “this” certain item, you will be happy?

I look around our home and think “it would be nice to have a brand new _____ ” I look at our dressers and they are literally falling apart. But they still hold our clothes. We are choosing to not spend our money on new ones, when we could. Our car has many miles on it and doesn’t always sound the healthiest, but we do not owe any money on it and it gets us from A to B. We are choosing to not buy a new one (though cars are a tad more expensive than dressers…)

It is all about choices. What one person thinks as important, may not be important to you. But watch yourself. Don’t be lured into thinking how others think. Watch what you buy. Watch yourself in the checkout lane. Why do you think they cram the shelves with items (random at that!) of things that are cheap, but in reality, are a complete scam? You can buy a pack of gum, almost for the same price as a sleeve of gum. Magazines – if you see one that interests you, just make a trip to your local library!

Be careful. Think about WHY you buy something. Everything that goes into a bag to take home, make sure it has a purpose and a meaningful purpose. Not a “just because” purchase. Not a “just because” you feel like spending money. Not a “just because” you are trying to relieve stress.

Watch what you buy.