The Need For More...

The word Gluttony by definition is: "The over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste"

Today many people spend their entire lives in a constant state of accumulation. The majority of any income received every month is spent on the latest outfit, newest cellphone,or nicest car. Why do people do this? Because the media tells us to...

At any given moment, on any given television channel, or internet website, someone is pitching something to somebody. Few people today are able to resist the urge to spend their money on something they probably don't need.

We fall for it the majority of the time because we are an image driven culture. We see excess all around us on shows like "Cribs" and we too want our own little piece of Heaven on Earth. Whether we really need what we're buying is not a factor in our thought process, If we can afford it we get it, If we can't afford it we buy it on credit and that's the problem. If we take into account what caused this Recession in the first place, we will see at it's core, the greed of lending companies that exploited the ignorance of home buyers. They played on our "Need for More" by approving mortgage loans for people who normally would not qualify for it. These people, rather than using the common sense God gave them to wait until they could actually afford a new home said "Yes" instead of asking "How". They wanted "The American Dream" so bad that they didn't care to ask the necessary questions before signing on the dotted line.

Then there is the issue with people already in debt over their heads. Why? because of the need for more. There are people like Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman, that have been telling us for years to "slow down" and "cut back"when it comes to spending, but the reality was that no one was listening. It's funny now how the same people who were living beyond their means are now shouting about spending less, the reality is the money that was flowing like water is gone. In my own life I know people who look and smell like money. They drive the best cars and own the biggest houses but can't explain how they are doing it during these times. These are the types of individuals you should be cautious around. They are more than likely engaged in some form of illegal activity and that is what's financing their habit.

Look at the "Enron's" or "Madoff's" that pop up on the news every few years, people will say "how could this happen" but the truth is, there are thousands more like them walking the streets today. We need to smarten up and get educated on money. You don't have to be a Harvard M.B.A. or have Allen Greenspan on speed dial to do it. There are thousands of resources on the internet and at your local library to keep you in the loop.

Not to sound self serving, but I'm one of those people that doesn't replace anything until it breaks. The laptop I'm typing on now is an older model Dell that I mainly use for writing, and surfing on the go when my wife and I travel. For me it doesn't make sense to buy a brand new computer because this laptop handles anything I throw at it, plus it looks new because I take care of it. We rarely buy new when we shop because a lot of times, used products work just as well. That does not mean however that we never buy brand new, it just has to make sense to us collectively. Believe it or not I have a sweater in my closet today that I still wear from the 5th grade. Mind you my body matured at a faster rate than most kids my age at that time so even though it was a little large back then, it fits perfectly today. It may be the material, but there is not a tear or a thread missing and it looks just as good today as when my parents bought it for me over 16 years ago.

We have to become more self-aware and ask ourselves why it is that we want the latest and greatest stuff when it comes out. For some, they never had a lot growing up so subconsciously this is the time to play catchup. Or it could be an impulse that tells you that in order to seen in a positive light you have to be "fresh to death". I myself have been guilty in the past of living beyond my means to keep up a certain image but after some re-evaluation and several hundred bill collection calls later I learned my lesson. If this current economic environment tell us anything the overall theme is "less is best". If we continue down this path we run the risk of the extinction of our way of life as we know it. Stores and other businesses are closing down at an alarming rate, credit is drying up, and people are suffering right now.

If you are currently employed you should keep discretionary spending to a minimum. I'm not saying you should not enjoy your hard earned money, but just exercise some restraint on that 50 inch plasma television or "Macbook Air" purchase if you are still living with in debt or thinking about getting married. Most experts say you should have about 6-8 months worth or all known expenses saved up in the bank before even thinking about making any kind of large purchases. If you are unemployed don't live life on credit, that is the worst thing you can do right now. There are lots of things you can do to make the most out of your free time. Now is a great opportunity to use this "extended vacation" that you are on as a time to correct those bad habits that put you in a bind in the first place. If you are on any type of government assistance like unemployment insurance consider yourself blessed. Check all your monthly expenses and cut back any way you can, and do not take on any new debt. Let your service providers know your situation, don't allow yourself to be prideful, communication is the key, they understand that we are in a recession and they're willing to work with you through this period but you need to let them what your situation is and a time line on for getting back on your feet.

There is a guy whose blog I read a lot he is "New York Times Best Selling Author" Ramit Sethi he poses the question bluntly, "Would you rather be Sexy or Rich?" I understand what he means, in context he is asking the question, What do you put the most emphasis on? If its looking like you have achieved wealth when you really don't have it, you're setting yourself up for disaster. Use the examples of the millions of people suffering today because of bad financial decisions. The Bible says "Warning comes before destruction" Start right now laying the necessary groundwork and get fiscally educated so you can truly live life on your terms and not be a slave to debt.