Recently, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed,
and I came across two very different perspectives that got me thinking about
how I see the world. The reality is that we all have what is called worldview -
a way in which we order our lives, then make decisions about how to live. Most
of the time, our worldview is socially constructed by years of experiences and
observations. We take in a variety of messages from many different sources, and
they all contribute to the way in which we order our days.
So, what did I see on Facebook that got me thinking?
Take a minute to read these quotes. How do they sit with you? What do you like
about them, and what do you disagree with?
"Life is short. Time is fast. No replay. No rewind. So
enjoy every moment as it comes." -- Dr. Meg Meeker
“Don’t let anyone convince you to buy things you don’t need.
Develop power over purchase and learn to say no.” -- Dave Ramsey
In the context of our financial lives, both quotes have very
strong messages. The first tells me that I should spend whatever money I need
to so that I can enjoy the moment. Just yesterday, after lunch with a good
friend of mine, I stumbled into a kids’ store with my son. I had no intention of
buying anything (first mistake right there), yet somehow ended up walking out
of the store with $26 worth of toys. Why did I do this? The same reason as any
father probably would - ecause of the momentary joy I got from seeing his
smiling face with a new dump truck and puzzle. A la the first quote, I was
living for the moment.
The second quote evokes another part of me - the financial
planner, the one who wants to master money. It reminds me that I should be
saving, not spending. It reinforces the idea that, while I do want to
experience joy today, I also want to have the resources to be able to enjoy 30
years from now. Once in the store, I decided I was just going to get a puzzle,
but then I saw the huge dump truck with a simple sign that said $15, and I
thought, “Wow, what a good deal.” Mind you, my son already has a large dump
truck, yet I fell for it. Whoever put that $15 sales tag on the truck convinced
me that it was a good deal.
Here is the reality, and we all know this but often lose
sight of it: everyday, we are given hundreds (if not thousands) of buying
messages and opportunities. While I am a fan of personal responsibility, we
must always realize we are working against a strong head wind when it comes to
saying no to impulse purchases. We are not absolved of our responsibility for our
decision making, but we also must remember that it is a bit more complex than just
saying no.
Ultimately, reconciling the desire to enjoy today (i.e.
spend) with not buying things you don't need is an ongoing process in the
development of my own worldview. As we move through life, we are constantly
bombarded with messages about what to think, how to think, and when to think
it. The challenge for your financial life is to become increasingly aware of
your deepest values and to make decisions from that place. We have to live in
the mindframe that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, but there is a pretty good
chance that it will come. Finding the balance in your life between joy today
and joy many years from now is much more of a fine art than an exact
science.
Feel free to give me a call to talk more at 980-275-1627.
Ed Coambs
Edited by Reena Arora of Arora Media, connect on Facebook
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