You might be surprised at how much money you can save when you feel good about your situation, and what you are doing. Feeling content is actually a great way to save money, since it reduces your desire for shopping therapy.
Happy = Less Shopping Therapy
Working on your own happiness and contentment can actually help you save money, since you will be less inclined toward shopping therapy. Often, when we feel down, we go shopping. Buying things, whether it is part of the lifestyle inflation that helps as feel as though we are keeping up with others, or whether it’s about taking our minds of difficulties, can produce temporary feelings of satisfaction.
Unfortunately, when the temporary excitement of buying something new fades away, you are left feeling down — and with something that isn’t as exciting as you thought it was. This can lead to a repeat in the cycle.
Instead, look for ways to increase your happiness with your life, and by feeling content with what you have. When you are more satisfied with what you have, and when you look internally for feelings of self-satisfaction and contentment, you are less likely to look outward to material things. This saves you money since you won’t be trying to buy happiness.
Look for ways to be happier in your life. Eating right, exercise, spending time with your family, volunteering, and making time for you are all things that can help you feel better about yourself. When you are happier and healthier, there is less of a desire to go out and spend money. Develop more positive lifestyle habits, and you will be happier in your life, and save money.
Recognize What You Have
Another way you can save money by being content is through recognizing what you already have. What do you have in your life that you are grateful for? As you focus on what you already have, and are content with it, your desire to go out and spend money on more things is reduced. You can improve yourself and your finances by recognizing what you have.
Consider keeping a gratitude journal to remind you of what you are thankful for. Before you buy something, ask yourself if you really need it. Do you already have something similar in your home? Do you really need duplicates? Will you really use this item? Or do you have a more general use item that will do for a specific use item.
When you recognize what you already have, and take the time to be grateful for it, you suddenly realize that you don’t need more. Think about what’s important to you: Your health, your family, your friends. When you have these things, and recognize how much they mean to you, it’s easier to say no to frivolous and unnecessary spending on things that aren’t actually important to you.
As you learn to develop feelings of contentment with your situation and what you have, and as you develop your own set of priorities that don’t depend on buying what’s important to other people, you will find it easier to spend less money, and you will save more in the long run.
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This is a really helpful article at this time of the year when a person almost feels forced to buy things for family members. I like the idea of finding our own happiness first and of course keeping a gratitude journal is a wonderful way to keep track of what we already have and should be thankful for. In this world many of us have too much and I like the idea of not using shopping as therapy for the pain that might be lurking inside us during the holidays.