Just Don’t Buy Stuff

You have to laugh sometimes when mainstream comedy pokes fun at American’s weaknesses like obesity, bankruptcy and porn. All of these behaviors are caused by our excessiveness of wanted more, more, more. Our media engine and consumer product companies force feed us with ads saying we aren’t good enough, smart enough or sexy enough, and then show us how buying their product will fix it. A little chocolate will help us feel divine, a new car will help us feel sexy and our bodacious video buddies will help us feel at the top of the mountain.

The problem is you can’t feed a spiritual void with a materialistic fix.

People are having trouble saying no to the things that are bad for them and yes to the things that are good for them. It is so simple that if I were to write a book, it could only be 1 page long and say STOP BUYING STUFF!

In fact, that is exactly what Saturday Night Live did last night. I have been watching this show since the 6th grade and still laugh out loud at their ironic comedy. They ran a fake infomercial for a free get out of debt guide called “Stop Buying Stuff You Can’t Afford.” The announcer kept trying to explain to the middle aged naïve couple that if you want to get out of debt you have to stop buying things you don’t have the money for, that you haven’t saved for, etc. The couple just kept quizzically staring at him saying I don’t get it. I can’t buy things if I don’t have the money in the bank? That just doesn’t make any sense … that is how you get out of debt? What about credit cards, can’t I use those?

Apparently Americans aren’t the only country with a troubling IQ score when it comes to financial intelligence. England also has a negative savings rate in their country and not surprising a similar advertising barrage to America. I learned how familiar their problems were when I hosted the pilot for a TV show in London called, Live Your Life at Half the Price, and served as the Dr. Phil for money relationships.

If people could actually live their lives like a 50% off sale, then they wouldn’t have all these financial problems. They would have the money they need to leave the jobs they hate, and from what I hear most American’s hate their jobs. How can that be? Life is too short to work most every day doing something you can’t stand.

If people had more cash they could leave bad relationships that are holding them back from greatness. Money empowerment would give people opportunity to develop more life skills. Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you freedom. The freedom to live the life you want, when you want, doing what you want, with who you want. If that sounds appealing then read my free eBook, Live Your Life at Half the Price and visit the Ms.Money Savings Corner.

And – oh – yeah – STOP BUYING STUFF!