A sad truth about many people we know

A few days ago, I came across a picture on Facebook that had the following caption:

"We buy stuff we don't need -- with money we don't have -- to impress people we don't like."

Perhaps you can name a few people in your life -- whether at work or at the gym -- who do precisely that. Maybe that person has been you from time to time.

The sad reality is that people often become so hung up on the things they perceive as missing in their lives that they lose sight of everything they already have. In many cases, this results from direct comparisons to people in their circle, thus igniting the urge to "Keep up with the Joneses."

As I've said before, there's nothing wrong with indulging yourself every so often. Eat at that fancy restaurant you've been wanting to try. Buy yourself that expensive pair of shoes you say online. You work hard for your money; if you have the means, why not?

I take issue, however, with people who have to have the latest and greatest of everything -- even if it means running up their credit cards in the process. I'm talking about those who need to have, say, the newest iPhone, Samsung flat screen TV, or Coach purse to come out even though they bought one a month ago that is still in pristine condition.

There's a difference between splurging when you can afford something and doing it only to match or best your peers.

Unfortunately, these people may realize late in life that experiences -- not material items -- are what truly make us happy. Such experiences can encompass anything from summer trips to the Bahamas with family to scubadiving and fishing expeditions with your closest buddies.

Whereas material products wear and tear over time, experiences produce wonderful memories we can treasure our entire lives.

And being sad or anxious isn't a good excuse for engaging in reckless behavior. Maxing out your credit cards just to be able to say you have the same watch as your neighbor is as irresponsible as drinking and driving and gorging on fast food for a month. "Retail therapy" will surely come back to haunt you.

Being a savvy consumer entails spending responsibly -- buying things in moderation and differentiating between needs and wants.

The only person you should worry about impressing is yourself, and you can do that by achieving goals that may not involve opening the checkbook, like losing weight, being promoted, or spending more time with family.

It's no use trying to impress someone who may not be in your life a year from now -- and whose opinion of you should never supersede your own.

Instead, embrace what makes you unique. Live each day with great relish. Focus on building and savoring unforgettable experiences rather than buying junk that, in the end, does little to enhance your life.

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