Freebies! Good Deals! And What They Cost You Later…
wise stewardship of Stuff begins with wise decisions
Have you ever bought something that wasn’t quite what you wanted just because it was such a good deal, you couldn’t pass it up? Have you ever decided on the bigger model because it came with a free gadget, only to get it home and realize it doesn’t fit?
How many of us make buying decisions based on how much we can get or save instead of based on what we really want or need?
Don’t worry, you are not alone here. The science of marketing really knows how to play into our fears. The tendency to hoard things, to get it while we can and do it before somebody else does all play into the scarcity mentality that most of us have been conditioned with since before we could talk. These are all fear-based thoughts we need to become aware of if we want to achieve our RichLife.
When it comes to big-ticket items such as the homes we live in or the cars we drive, it’s all too easy to make the mistake of buying more than we really need.
As the saying goes, it’s far better to “own your possessions”
rather than to have “your possessions own you.”
Too much value placed on possessions alone is a one-way street to disappointment and lack of fulfillment. If you ask a person at the end of his life if he wished he’d purchased one more boat, or a bigger house, that’s not what’s usually at the top of their list.
Yet most people are thinking backwards
when it comes to prioritizing their assets.
Most people put money and things first, time and relationships last. What ends up suffering are your loved ones and your health, because you get worn out and tired.
The thing to remember here is that the more Stuff we own, the more our Time is required in their care and maintenance.
Ask yourself, how would you rather be spending your time? Price verses Cost must be considered when making purchasing decisions.
Ask yourself if the price you are paying now
is worth what it will cost you tomorrow.
You might be getting a good deal today, but step back and take a look at the bigger picture. This includes considering things such as:
· Maintenance such as oil changes and paint jobs
· Daily upkeep such as weed control and heating costs
· Repairs and the ordering of expensive parts and batteries
Wise stewardship of our Stuff dictates that the better care we take of our things, the better they will take care of us. The better stewards we are, the higher the quality and the more frequent the gifts become. In other words,
Good Stewardship Gives GOOD RETURN on your Investment!
This happens for a very practical reason: if one does nothing to care for material possessions, they are subject to the elements, to stagnation and general disrepair. Like an engine that never gets an oil change, the life of those possessions is significantly shortened.
A lot of people don’t consider caring for their things a priority.
They either don’t have the time to perform the maintenance work and so just keep buying new, or they simply don’t care. This second could be due to a lack of Energy, a symptom of needless drains as mentioned earlier. But worrying about what needs to be done often takes more energy than the actual job of just getting it done. Your stuff will last longer, too.
But sometimes, we really don’t have the time to keep up with maintenance issues at home, or we really did pack too much stuff. We then have two options:
1. hire someone to help us
2. down-size to something we can handle on our own
As it applies to our stuff, the quickest way to attract more of what you want
is to take care of what you already have.
Are you realizing maybe it’s time to downsize? What are some of the best purchasing decisions you didn’t make? I would love to hear it, because after all, we’re all in this crazy world together.
For more tips on how you can apply the principal of wise stewardship to your everyday life, get a copy of Beau’s newest book, The RichLife, 10 Investments forTrue Wealth at http://www.richlifeadvisors.com/the-book/
Beau Henderson is a financial advisor, author, coach, radio personality, and CEO of RichLife Advisors. He has helped over 3,000 clients to not just improve their relationship with money, but to live the life of their dreams.
Oh man, here we go. You followed behind me in my young adult life, didn't you? Raising two children and having the desire for them to have more than I had as the first child of five…they received TOO MUCH! Although I shopped in a very thrifty manner and shops I didn't really save money. Why? Even though I ran from blue light special to blue light special, I ended up with a basket full of clothes that a family with 12 kids couldn't use. I never learned my lesson that kids grow quickly and outgrow those darned good deals. Looking back, I wish I woulda been more cautious and only bought what they needed at the time and during a season. I wish I coulda invested all the wasted dollars that went out on "sale" items and into the garage sale for a dime on the dollar. I shoulda listened to my grandma and not spoiled my kids, because now there is a pattern and habit to help them break. Ah, but now there are the grand-babies…no more woulda, coulda, shoulda for this grammie! Thanks, Beau…beautiful article full of wisdom and tips for achieving that RichLife.
Great article Beau as always. I am originaaly from Europe and have groen up in a completely different atmosphere. My parents use to buy things that last, build homes that last and so forth. But, no matter how we manage our things and buy things, if it based on fear or lack it will disappear out of our life oe way or the other.
I grew up seeing my parents as wise spenders, but surely didn't educate me as "saver for the future." They didn't understand that. As raising my kids I always was wise in shopping and today I see myself the same way. My adult son thinks of me as "cheap" vs. wise. It's perception. Even shopping for the grandkids I buy things are rock amazing prices. When choosing online classes I try to see the investment, get a little slap happy at times and not make wrong choices. Talking about downsize, got plenty of kids shoes, new ones, and many other to downsize form as thought I was going to market on ebay and still dreaming of my "green" adventure in money. Great post Beau.
As I began to read this article I was sure you wrote it directly to ME! This is something so many are affected by…I do see as I get older that possessions mean less and less…If I don't get regular use or enjoyment out of it, it's gone! Fabulous article Beau!
Beau, This article hit home!!! That great deal often ends up being donated or in the box for the garage sale.
There is only so much "stuff" that you can own. At some point it becomes cumbersome to manage.
Think if we invested what we spend! That would be wise stewardship.
What a reminder of all the ‘good deals’ I thought I had bought only to have them still sitting in a closet. How many good deals I have thought I made only for it to cost me much more in the end???? Oh well, too late to regret, but instead have a resolve to make some changes.
PS. I love the photo in this post 🙂
Sharon Worsley
4 Diamond Leadership ™
http://www.sharonworsley.com/blog
WOW! Beau! I think you must have written this article just for me, seriously! LOL! I love bargains and believe it or not, most of my bargains are donated….so I don't feel that bad because someone gets use of them! I must admit, I am now more careful and really think about whether or not I really need it or is it just the high I get from shopping and finding a bargain! Great article and reminder…..
Love this… "The tendency to hoard things, to get it while we can and do it before somebody else does all play into the scarcity mentality that most of us have been conditioned with since before we could talk."
As I work with folks struggling to rebuild their lives or simplify their lives this one struggle comes up over and over again. We feel we have to hang on to everything, a relationship, job or literal 'things', out of our fear that better, bigger things won't come into our lives. Thank you for clarifying that we must have a completely different focus–a goal, a 'rich life' that we are building–to guide our acquiring and collecting…all with open hands for abundance to flow through us and on to others!
What a great article! How true that if we would stop to think about what our purchase may entail, I believe we would see a lot less people in a lot less trouble! Thanks for sharing!
I have had this discussion with my husband so many times. He is a shopaholic. You have no idea how many “deals” he has bought and he does not understand that it is not saving money if you did not need the item to begin with. He also has a habit of buying cheaper models to save money and then when the things break right away we have to go buy the better model anyway. I can’t get him to realize that in the long run the cheaper models cost us more money… so I have confiscated his bank card. LOL
I like wide open spaces, and although I too like a good bargain..I am always talking myself out of buying "stuff" because it will clutter up my spaces…I was on the road to giving my children all I didn't have growing up years ago….then I became a single mother and that taught me and them lessons that well serve us all today and they are both grown and out on their own:) Thanks for sharing!
Great post, Beau. Totally brings to mind my brother-in-law's basement storeroom, overloaded with "bargains" and "freebies" that they had no use for. While I am definitely a bargain hunter, I've learned to confine it to things I know I need and will use. I'm in a "no unnecessary stuff" mode these days and it sure feels good.
Great post ~ I love quality and when we take care of what we already have ~ we attract more good and quality stuff to us. Love your Blog Beau ~ have a wonderful day!
OK Beau, I think this article WINS as the BEST POST I've read all week! You packed so many little gold nuggets in there – our stuff takes up our energy – choose how you want to spend your energy – we are programmed with scarcity thinking that we have to become conscious of so we can beat it. – take care of and appreciate what you have is the way to get more – – GREAT job!
Beau, GREAT job! I am actually printing this article out so I can read and re-read it! Good info and great reminders! My husband and I down-sized a few years ago and follow principles outlined by Dave Ramsey ~ we are now debt-free except for our home, try to use cash for most purchases, and are giving, saving, and investing more than we thought possible. It is easy though, to 'fall off the wagon' from time to time, so your reminders are timely and helpful!
Great post. I would gladly pay for snake away and pest control than be encountered by snakes! Fear vs Cost!