As the summer winds down, our attention now turns to school
and the buying frenzy that ensues with this annual event. Last year’s inventory, it seems, is obsolete,
not worthy of using, wearing or mentioning. The closet is bare and all the personal
devices we own are now obsolete. Of
course, this is not true. Some clothing
needs replacing, perhaps, and a new laptop is in order, maybe.
We live in a modern society driven by incessant advertising
and a consumer mentality. No matter
where we go, the media is always there reminding us that who we are or what we have is
simply not good enough. Something newer,
bolder and more up-to-date is waiting for us. We’ll be happier when we make
the change. The euphoria of the purchase
is short lived, however. We finally realize that our life is still the same but now the money
is gone for the needs of a family pet, household bill or groceries. We cannot afford it- now. We just spent a lot of money on a few things
that, at the time, seemed very important.
We assess the inventory for the start of a new school
year-for us and our children. Little boys, naturally, outgrow their clothing more quickly
than little girls. Clothing becomes
discoloured, worn, in need of repair. If
we have spent $200 in a two hour spree on an incredible array of stuff for
school, remember one thing, can we earn the same amount of money in the time we
took to spend it? Naturally, the answer
is no for many of us, myself included. It
is, therefore, incumbent upon us to be very careful to save in other places, cutting
down on unnecessary spending in readiness for the next big spree. We must not spend our future and our children’s
future in order to satisfy a primal need now. Nothing, absolutely nothing, we could ever buy is worth placing
ourselves in financial jeopardy - ever!
As a teen in the late sixties, I fell in love with a pair of
expensive leather patchwork shoes while ‘window’ shopping in downtown Toronto, during a
break from class. Those shoes made an impression on me, instantly. But, I could not afford them. I was a full time student and had worked during
the summer saving most of the money for my school expenses - Ryerson tuition, textbooks,
subway fare, and other incidental costs. Part time jobs were few to non- existent. Living at home helped greatly to reduce the costs
associated with a post secondary education. Shoes were not a priority. So I did the smart thing: I would visit these
shoes at the store, akin to visiting animals at the zoo. Eventually these ‘visits’ helped erase the
image of those shoes from my mind. It is amazing how a
simple, disciplined act can change a habit that is habitual! ... The shoes were
a want, not a need... Other things were a priority. Shoes were not!
Not giving in to buying impulses saves us money, tenfold. We begin to establish a pattern of looking, not
buying, whenever we go shopping, gaining insights into our shopping behaviour
and understanding the repetitive nature of the shopping experience... It never
ends... Be ever so careful when you part with your hard earned money. The marketing machine is relentless in protecting
its bottom line. Make sure you are doing
the same.
Back to school can be an exciting time. It occurs every year for
many of us, for a period of time. Then
reality sets in, changing some or all the rules of the game. Be ready with a sound budget that allows for
life’s surprises. If you missed out on a
bargain, you were not meant to have it. There
is tomorrow. You will be fine. The time spent not buying is a cathartic
experience. It reminds us that our
closet is full and our personal devices, O.K. - for now, anyway.
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