The Rat Race: Stacking the Odds in Your Favour

We live in a consumerist environment. From a young age we are blasted with advertisements to buy more toys, drink the latest soda, and watch the most popular figure on TV. As we get older, this advertising doesn't go away, but rather it changes into new cars, new home renovations, and new vacations. Sure enough, time after time, we convince ourselves that this next purchase is going to be the one that make us happy and turns everything around. Before we know it, that new thing pops up, and we need it.

But what causes this circle? This perpetual buy and earn, buy and earn? Could it be the need to fit in with our friends? Not get left behind from our coworkers or neighbours? Or just to have that white picket life we were led to believe we will have when we grow up?

Imagine this cycle if all of a sudden we stopped consuming all the goods that aren't necessary. We would have more money to do the things we like. This means we would have to work less, meaning more time to do the things we like. By buying less, we already have the time and money to do what we want. Now what if we take this one step further. With less things, we could live in a smaller apartment and save even more. One day we can even downsize to one, or even no vehicle. Imagine what your cost of living would be in that scenario!

Now I'm not saying that selling your car and everything you own is going to make your life feel complete overnight, or get rid of that need to go buy something when that emptiness or anxiousness sets in. But maybe just moving in this direction one step at a time will make you a little happier one step at a time. And face it, if it doesn't, it will only help you save for that retirement so you can live the retired life a little bit sooner. So give it a go. See if you can cut down on those unnecessary purchases and keep more cash in your pocket. Let me know about your successes and attempts. Maybe there are areas I can save and simplify that I have overlooked.