This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Are you addicted to feeling good and getting a hit of convenience?
Convenience, dopamine hits, stress, and moments of relief from life can rob you of financial independence, and financially strained people frequently dig themselves further into the holes they’ve existed in because of their addiction to feel better in the moment.
Examples
Spending to impress others.
Traveling too frequently on your dime.
Going out too frequently on your dime.
Buying things to feel better in the moment.
Impulse shopping for things that weren’t on the roadmap.
Eating out when you could eat in or didn’t prepare your meals.
Buying stuff for others when you know it will compromise you further.
Buying unnecessary things that you don’t need now and will never need.
Spending more than you should to impress others and make a statement.
Spending money when you’re in a compromised emotional and mental state.
People buy things when they’re stressed because it makes them feel better. People carry multiple subscriptions because it’s convenient. People eat out when they have food in the fridge (or don’t) because it’s easier and frequently feels and tastes better. People shop for things that lack substance when they don’t need it because it feels good to get a package or bring something back home that’s new.
We’re attracted to new things. We’re attracted to convenience. We’re attracted to anything that can bring us the tiniest bit of relief, and this desire and attraction (and for some – addiction), is what perpetuates a financially compromised situation.
If you want to escape the financial strain train and the debt you’re in, there is only one thing that will inevitably save you: financial discipline.
Without financial discipline, you will inevitably suffer and cause yourself a load of long-term financial regret.
Always think long-term.
In the short term, temporary pleasure and relief from pain and effort feel extraordinary; it’s intoxicating. And to know that you can acquire something with a piece of plastic on demand is even more intoxicating and liberating but also dangerous.
Why do some financially compromised people continue increasing their debt load with new cars or other hefty purchases? Because they’re not thinking long-term. Instead of a loaded bank account, they have a loaded plate of debt.
If you genuinely desire financial liberation, you must learn how to regulate your emotions and delay instant gratification.
Many of our purchases are emotional.
The house. The car. The new outfit. The new pair of shoes. The new iPhone. The new laptop. The new TV. The new luxury apartment. The new furnishings for the new home or apartment. The luxury trip. The luxury experience. The upgraded experiences. The incessant eating out.
All of it. It’s all emotionally driven.
Consistent emotional purchases will rob you of financial independence when you allow these purchases to prevent you from building long-term wealth.
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This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.