Fancy cars, big houses, luxury vacations… no matter where you turn, you can see how money influences of us. From things we can’t have to things someone has more of, it’s almost dizzying trying to sort it all out. No matter where we turn our heads, another advertisement draws us in and programs us to want. And as we set our course through society, the confluence of temptation of needs and wants breeds an unhealthy obsession with money.
We talk about it at parties, at the office and even at home. It becomes a topic that we can not disassociate from. Do you have enough to buy those new shoes? Will you have enough for retirement? Can you afford to go out and have a few beers? Whether you like to admit it or not, you are constantly forced to make decisions that continue to feed the fire. You become a hamster on a wheel.
To be honest, I don’t think we can stop, at least not completely. But there are actions we can take to lessen our obsession:
Be frugal: Getting a hold on your day to day finances can give you the first step to mental stability, as it becomes easier to take a moment to reflect rather than feeling pressured to react because you are in the hole. Start to look at living within your means, as your monthly expenses should never exceed your after tax income. Soon after, execute operation “Cheap Living” to harness additional savings in order to pay off credit cards and build an emergency savings account. The closer we are to being frugal, the more we are able to appreciate what we have.
Have an investment plan with a clear path. Money obsession often comes from our fear of not having the resources to help us for our retirement. Will we be working at Wal-Mart when we are 65 or playing golf? Statistically speaking, we will be working at Wal-Mart. Part of people’s obsession also comes from simply not addressing the possibility. Let me be clear. You will not win the lotto, inherit money or die before you want to retire. You will need to develop a plan to save your money and invest your money. By changing this one step to improve the course of your life, you will most certainly ease your fear, and thus your obsession with money.
Better your education. This is a hard one to tackle. Education is not cheap, nor does is guarantee you that you will earn more. However, the odds are in your favor to make more money over time. But making more money is not necessary going to compensate for your obsession with money. In fact, it may actually exacerbate it. On the other hand, should you seek education for the purpose of improving what you do to the point where you enjoy your new pursuit, you may find yourself focusing less on the monetary distractions of life and more on the meaning of how you want to spend your life.
Focus on a goal or hobby. This is along the same lines as described above. Once you take yourself out of the money equation by focusing your interest or skill on something you enjoy, then you stop focusing on such distractions.
Live in the moment. Living in the moment also stops you from obsessing about money. You are not trying to actively solve problems or worry or harp on issues. You are just looking at now and appreciating the moment. Finding the secret to happiness may not come naturally, but I was just reading an article in Psychology Today where they explain by living in the moment, you are able to enjoy life as it comes.
“Cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the present bestows a host of benefits. Mindfulness reduces stress, boosts immune functioning, reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, and helps patients cope with cancer. By alleviating stress, spending a few minutes a day actively focusing on living in the moment reduces the risk of heart disease”
– The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment, Psychology Today, Nov/Dec 2008
Two Roads Diverge…
While following all 5 ideas will help alleviate an obsession with money, a path still remains for you to choose. You are left with a decision to either live as you have, continuing to obsess over money each day for the rest of your life, or you can use these suggestions to help improve your financial and emotional life. How do you want to live?
2 responses so far ↓
1 horlic // Mar 30, 2009 at
Good post!!
horlics last blog post..????????????????? - ?????????
2 Cheaplee // Apr 3, 2009 at
Well, I would like to do more, but I have made this a member supported site. There is a heck of a lot of good information, especially for investing. But since I don’t run ads, member’s support through small donations makes this happen. I will do more posts if I raise enough for hosting costs for the next year. It is up to the user community!!!
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