Live Metanoia

The title of this post might not be what you think it is. If you guessed I’m about to talk about money, then look at you knowing your bible verses! That’s right, I’m covering the green stuff that gets us things, what we work ourselves to the bone for, what the government over taxes us on. 

I’ll be honest. I fell into America’s great ideal of consumerism. It’s not something I’m proud of, but I honestly believe I’ve been brainwashed to do so. From birth we are taught to buy, buy, buy. That having an astonishing amount of crap will make us content and happy. That hey, ‘if you can’t afford it now, charge it to that credit card and pay on it until you die!’. I’ve bought stuff I didn’t really need, or things I thought I needed and then three weeks later, nope don’t need it, never used it. I absolutley hate that. It’s something I’m constantly working on to not do- boredom shop, panic purchase, little snacks here and there, etc. I tell myself before I buy something now, do I realllyyyyyy need it? Most of the time, no I really don’t.  

After the realization that I have a plethora of clutter in my home, I’ve gone into a clean it, sell it, donate it, or just get rid of it frenzy. I’ve put items up for sale on social media and I’m planning on having a garage sale. I’m donating items I don’t think I will need and throwing stuff away. It’s crazy how many objects people accumulate over time. I can’t imagine having children with the way people buy now of days. The sheer amount of stuff children get throughout the year blows my mind. Holiday gifts, birthday gifts, random gifts, clothes because they are constantly growing, etc. It’s bananas. Then, after the holidays and birthdays, these children play with their toys for what? A week? A month? Next these toys or games cease to excite them any longer, and sit in a cluttered room to become junk or broken when they are inevitably stepped on. 

So. Much. Useless. Consuming. Things.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we do this to our children? Isn’t buying everything kids desire also teach them to look for happiness in material things? What about the concept of working to earn the thing you want? I don’t know, I’m not a parent. However, what I do know is that perception of fleeting happiness is also what adults suffer from. 

‘If I buy this, it will make me happy!’. 

No. No it really won’t. 

Social media doesn’t make it any easier either. Ad’s on Facebook, shops on Instagram, Amazon daily deals, it’s everywhere, all the time and telling you to spend what you have on what you don’t need. Those ads are all connected as well. Showing up in random places. If you search for something on Google, BAM, it’s on Facebook the next time you refresh your page. I’m so tired of blocking ads.

I have recently been looking into my finances with the hope of being debt free very soon. I don’t think it’s unattainable, but the lifestyle change it requires you to cultivate is one I am not comfortable with but leaning to do anyway. Learning to live within your means is a lot harder than one would think. 

The real throat-punch life lesson I learned in my early twenties, is that things cost a lot more than you would think, and when you grow up and are out of your parents’ house you realize how much bills and food costs. Which, by the way was not a class they taught when I was in high school or a lecture I could have taken in college. No one teaches you about taxes, finances, and debt. No one tells you that banks trick you with low interest rates, but only for a certain amount of months. No one shows you the break down that over time, you pay more if you barrow or charge, and that the value of cars immediately drop when they are driven off the lot, so why are you paying for a new car? 

Sometimes I feel like I didn’t learn these things quick enough, and now I feel behind.

Let me clarify, I am not struggling financially at this time. I can afford my bills, my home, and food on the table. Let’s not jump to crazy conclusions as you read this. But do I have some credit card debt I wish I didn’t have? You betcha. Do I wish I had more of cushion in my savings? Oh, yes. Am I attempting to take steps to build wealth? Well, kinda?

Right now, I am working through Dave Ramsey’s Seven Baby Steps. These steps are to help you get out of debt and build wealth. Dave Ramey is a money genius who authored the book, Total Money Makeover and many more. He is a financial guru, and I am attempting to learn the basics in not acquiring anymore debt and becoming financially free. I recommend you google his seven steps or read his book or check out his Instagram. It can only benefit you in the long run. I wish I had started this in my early twenties, but really it’s better late than never.

I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but I read a finance article that for American’s, money is one of our biggest stressors. We stress about bills and debt and the housing market. We stress about how expensive food is and gas for our expensive cars. All of this is based around us not knowing how to live within our means and accumulating too much debt! Just imagine how less stressed we would be if we weren’t constantly paying on something. This is another lie told to us. That we are to pay out everything we purchase, long term and with interest. That is a load of crap! Think of how much easier it would be to save your money up and buy that one item you have been longing for instead of paying on it for twelve to eighteen months! (For me it’s the new iphone 12 pro. I want that sucker bad, but guess who’s saving up for it instead of paying installments? Oh, it’s me.)

We have to think of a different way. A way out of this money game that capitalism and consumerism has been playing us since forever. It’s time to start making smart, money moves to live a less stressed, more free life. I challenge you, go to your closets, look through your children’s rooms, peek in the garage. What can you get rid of? What can you sell and get a return on? Look through your bank account. What are you spending that’s adding up? Sonic happy hour drinks everyday add up. Monthly subscriptions to crap you don’t need add up. What can you cut back on now, and get out of debt sooner, that you can enjoy later? 

We can live a happier, more content life with less stuff and enjoy actual experiences. We just have to wade through all of our crap first.

My journey continues,

Kaycee