One reason, I am convinced, we overspend and overbuy is because we expect too much from our purchases.
In a world of instant abs, one-day delivery, and get-rich-quick schemes, we often look for change outside ourselves.
We are told this product or that gadget will solve our problems. That our next purchase will be the solution we’ve been looking for all along.
Additionally, it is much easier to write a check, swipe a card, or click-to-ship than it is to suffer through the hard work of changing ourselves.
As a result, we are quick to believe the lie that we can buy change we desire.
I’ve never been a particularly organized person. And I’ve lived most of my life working to overcome my procrastination tendencies. As you can imagine, I have searched for the perfect purchase (daily planner) to overcome these two tendencies.
When I was in college, I bought the school-recommended assignment notebook to keep me from waiting until the last minute. It didn’t work. The final week of every semester was still spent up late finishing papers and cramming for tests.
When I got my first job, I tried numerous different planners to keep me on track. My boss used a Franklin Covey Daily Planner and I thought he looked pretty cool with it. So I bought one. I loved using that planner… for about 2 weeks. But I quickly slipped back into my old habits of disorganization and procrastination.
Soon after that, I bought a Palm Pilot hoping the electronic device would change my habits and tendencies. It did not.
A new planner did not change my life.
Now, I’m not saying that a planner can’t be helpful. But I am saying that it alone was not going to bring about the change I desired for my life. It was going to take much more work than that.
Change in my life was only going to come when I began to focus on habits and motivations and sought out lasting solutions and accountability. This is the formula for lasting life change—and it can not be circumvented by items at a department store.
I wonder how many purchases we make in life because we believe the purchase alone will bring about the change we desire:
- The exercise bike in the corner we thought would make us fit.
- The juicer in the pantry we thought would make us eat healthy.
- The cookbook in the cupboard we thought would make us lose weight.
- The boat in the driveway we thought would bring our family closer together.
- The hobby we thought we’d pursue.
- The clothes we thought we’d wear.
- The books we thought we’d read.
- The side hustle we thought would make us rich.
There is a fine line I’m trying to walk here. Planners are not bad, exercise bikes are not unnecessary, and not every juicer goes unused.
Sometimes these items are valuable tools. But if we fall into the trap of believing buying something new is going to magically transform us, we are mistaken.
Life change is more difficult than that. It most often begins on the inside, not at a store.
Further reading:
Rissa says
What a great read! This article is making me rethink how I am doing things personally. I do believe in simplicity for a more healthy life… Mentally.
Can’t wait to read more!
Hotel / Penginapan Shane Josa Resort Batu Karas - Pangandaran says
You actually make it seem so easy along with your
presentation however I in finding this matter too be actually something which I think I might
by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and ver vast for me.
I’m taking a look forward for your next put up, I’ll try to get
the cling of it!
Pippa says
I loved this article and have shared it on my page about living a more eco lifestyle.
This has been the biggest change to my attitude to spending – why do I want to buy xyz thing, is it to fit in with other people, or because it’s an aspiration towards the life I want?
Since I quit my regular job to live a more self sufficient and low waste life, and to spend more time with the people I care about, my spending habits have changed dramatically.
Thank you for writing this and sharing it with everyone.
laura ann says
I use a two year day planner for various appointments and write down lunch appointments w/ out of town friends. I am retired and use an inexpensive Office Depot planner that fits in purse. Take it to Dr appts to make follow up appt. to write in the time. Husband uses one on his phone. It is easy to lose appt cards and miss appts.
Lori Mercer says
Of course now my fantasy self wants to know what planner you are currently using ;)
Connie says
Great article. This really hit home with me, not so much with gadgets, but I have so many books on organizing. I spend too much time reading about it and not enough doing the actual work. Thanks for the motivation. It’s just what I needed to read today.
Diane says
Connie, I too have purchased and read so many books and have a new stack from the library. Definitely paralysis by analysis. Am I searching for a magic answer or the right words that resonate with me? I so want to just get on with it and not focus so much time and energy on reading about it, thinking about it, and obsessing about it. I’ve been working on it but need to pick up the pace.
Nancy says
Great article, and so true in my life as well!
Bianca says
This was spot on for me, thank you for sharing.
Charity Iriene Raga Tabio says
This is a great article.
When I was little, watching home shopping tv, I used to say, if only we have that juicer, food processor, we will be healthy…
I have that now and never really used it.
If only I have that Hip Hop Abs and Winsor Pilates DVD, I would have a fit body.
I have the DVD but not the fit body.
If only I have this book or program, my life would be so much better,
well I bought the books I wanted to have, yet I never really had the time to open and read them…
It isn’t something you buy…
it starts from the inside….
thank you for sharing…
Nire says
The cleaning supplies won’t clean for me. The skinny jeans won’t make me skinny. The new bedding won’t make me make the bed.
Wise words, “the change isn’t found in a store”.
Angela says
Nire, I love your take on the article.
Best wishes,
Angela