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.
Sales Are The Devil’s Gift To Us
Most people are broke (even if they don’t look it) because they make many unnecessary purchases that lead them further into debt or decrease the income they could instead use to invest in their financial portfolios.
Many purchases are made to keep up appearances with friends, co-workers, neighbors, family, and people on TV or in everyday life.
What happens when you live in an affluent neighborhood?
You tend to spend similarly to your neighbors. If your neighbors drive nice, and you don’t, you’re more likely to buy a luxury vehicle to fit into the neighborly standards.
You tend to mimic the habits of those around you unless you’re highly disciplined, which most people aren’t.
Sales Are The Devil’s Gift To Us
Cyber Monday. Black Friday. Prime Day. President’s Day. And every other holiday is a setup to get you to spend more money to make companies rich and yourself poor.
When I was a child an adult told me that sales reveal the true price of an item. Non sale prices are just mark ups to see how much milk companies can squeeze out of you.
There are few benefits to shopping for sales unless you have money to blow and are on track in every area of your financial life.
Unfortunately, most aren’t on track financially but are on track to increasing their debt loads.
Sales have become so powerful that they will make people find money they don’t have to spend on items they don’t need that will only hurt them financially.
No matter how crazy or stupid we believe sales to be, they work, which is why companies continue to advertise them to us; they know they will capture some of our money.
Will it be your money?
A Benefit Of Minimalism
I rarely shop, and when I do, it’s exceptionally intentional. Practicing minimalism allows me to avoid sales, excessive shopping, and non-essential spending.
Minimalism allows me to save 50% or more of my income and prevents me from collecting stupid stuff that will never be capable of adding value to my life.
Because I practice minimalism, I maintain a relatively empty home, so I must avoid purchases. Purchases will only add to my environment, which is against minimalism.
The primary benefit of minimalism is that it allows you to keep more of what you earn. People who practice minimalism are usually not in debt and experience financial freedom because they live far below their means.
Instead of constantly buying stuff, they focus on attaining intentional experiences and assets.
If You’re In Debt, Take A Break From “Innocent” Window Shopping
Don’t act like you’re disciplined :)medium.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.