Seriously, STOP 7

America is a capitalistic society that thrives on material possessions to determine status. We want that shiny foreign car, and expensive jewelry. We want to be dressed in the nicest things, and eat the best food. We want to be part of the elite. But really we can’t keep up with the Joneses, and we need to take a lesson from those who don’t try to. Most of us need to Seriously, STOP buying things we can’t afford.

There is a population of people in America who are intelligent, rich, privileged, and have multiple homes to vacation in. This does not apply to most of us though. Most of us middle class working Americans are just scraping by. And many of us are going to lose our grip if we don’t start spending.

There have been numerous specials lately on the spending of money, and how people don’t NEED a manicure and pedicure, or Starbucks, or a $200 pair of jeans, or an SUV. There have been specials showing people who bought a $500,000 home with no savings in case they lost their job. We keep seeing bankruptcy and foreclosures. So when does it stop? When do people realize they can’t afford the way they are living?

If the recession we are in stays on the track it is on, many of us are in some real trouble. We need to start talking to our frugal friend to get some advice, which will start with the simple things. If we don’t have the money we should eat out, do unnecessary grooming, bye new cars or homes, shop for things we don’t need or go on vacations. Those are all fun things to do, but we are digging ourselves into a hole. We need to ask, is this something I NEED?

When I was a child my mother answered this question for me a lot. I would want a new bike, and she would tell me I had one. I would want a new Barbie, and she would say I had 10. I would want a candy bar, and she would tell me we would have dinner soon. Where did this voice go and why can’t I find it for myself? The time has come to find the voice and listen!

My mother once said to me, “I don’t have a money tree growing in the back yard.” I think we all need to remember that money trees don’t exist, so we all need to seriously, stop spending without thinking.