| Do you have things like a bicycle, jetski, or swimming | | | | enough. What truly enjoyable things could you do with |
| pool that sit unused? Is it that you don't have time to | | | | that money if you had it now? You've got to be self |
| use them because you have to work so much just to | | | | aware and honest. |
| pay for them? Sometimes it seems like all the things | | | | Cash is king. The price may seem the same, but put |
| we own somehow own us. | | | | those things on a credit card and, with interest, you'll |
| The bad news is that it's often true. We have to | | | | pay a lot more. Cash means you have to save and |
| arrange our lives around our things. You get a new | | | | wait a little for things, but you can buy more and have |
| truck that can go anywhere, but you're too busy | | | | less stress. Credit cards provide the illusion of a richer |
| working to go there. Someone is out fishing while you | | | | life. Escaping debt gives you the reality. |
| are putting in overtime to pay for your fishing boat. | | | | Finally, learn to understand costs and benefits. A friend |
| You use your large-screen television a lot, but does it | | | | once came to the realization, using pen and paper, that |
| sufficiently reduce the debt-stress that came with it? | | | | his jetski cost him $300 for every hour he used it the |
| Break The Chains! | | | | first year. Loan interest, gas, insurance, depreciation, |
| The good news is that there's a better way. Actually, | | | | repairs, licenses - these things add up. And he thought |
| there are three better ways. First, know what you | | | | it was too expensive to pay $100 per day to rent one! |
| really value. Second, use cash instead of debt. Third, | | | | Consider the real costs of things, and look for a |
| learn how to look at costs and benefits. | | | | cheaper way, or at least make an honest decision that |
| Will you really enjoy that $2,000 mountain bicycle | | | | it's worth $300 per hour to you. |
| enough? Maybe. This isn't about right or wrong desires. | | | | Your things should be making your life better. If they |
| It's a question of truly seeing your own values. Think | | | | aren't, you need to start looking at them differently. |
| back to things you've bought but not used, or not used | | | | Don't let your things own you. Change your approach. |