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.
If you have to compromise your finances for a purchase, keep it moving
When you’re trying to make a purchase, work for something you don’t need, such as a car, a house, a new phone, a pair of shoes, a new outfit, voluntary cosmetic surgery, a vacation, and anything else that is not necessary take a step back.
When you’ve made a purchase and feel regret, immediately look at your bank account, or wonder how you will pay a bill on time, take a step back.
If you have to borrow money to make an unnecessary purchase, leave that purchase alone.
Purchases should never feel forced or compromise your financial situation.
Purchases should also not lead you further into debt or take you from a positive net worth to a negative one – unless it’s a good business move.
The Addiction To Materialism And Appearances
A common situation that arises amongst people addicted to materialism and making appearances is they force many of their purchases.
An old friend used to consistently apply for loans because they constantly made purchases that compromised their financial situation.
Instead of changing their behaviors, they kept changing the person or entity they sought a personal loan from.
At a certain point, you exhaust your friends, loan companies, and credit card companies because you’re up to your limit with debt and financial favors.
Just because a minimum payment tends to be smaller doesn’t make it manageable. Furthermore, multiple minimum payments can quickly become overbearing, hard to manage, and not an efficient use of your money.
Before you make a purchase, ensure you’re not compromising your:
Money allocated for bills
Investment strategy
Future savings
Debt load
If you want to buy something you don’t need, but can’t reasonably afford without hurting yourself in the process, wait!
When did waiting become so complicated?
People used to use layaway, which allowed them to pay for something in advance slowly.
Now people have credit cards and don’t want to wait to buy anything.
They want it as soon as possible to feel the surge in temporary endorphins.
But we all know that waiting for anything always feels 150% better – especially when finally attaining your desire doesn’t have any negative consequences.
For some reason, people are more willing to deal with negative consequences than they’re willing to experience their desires without them.
Humans tend to get emotional around desires, which is fine as long as you remain in control and don’t allow your emotions to control you.
If you feel any negative emotion before making a purchase, this is your intuition telling you something. Learn to listen to your intuition regarding your finances – not your impulses.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.