I love the feel of a new phone in my hands, but not as much as the feel of money in my wallet.

So recently I was logging on to all of my accounts to pay my monthly bills and I got the most fantastic message from my cell phone carrier. I’m eligible for an upgrade to my phone! Naturally I clicked on the link which directed me to a page filled with all the latest and greatest cell phones. Apple, Samsung, Google, you name it! This ones got the best camera on a cell phone ever! That ones got a stylus! That one can recognize my face!

Then reality set in. I’m sitting here looking at all these new phones on my phone that works just fine. The pictures I have on my phone right now look fine. I don’t care if my phone can recognize my face. Most importantly though, I’m not paying anything to keep the phone I have right now.

I mean I haven’t even used have the features that the phone I have right now can do. Why on earth would I spend more money to buy a phone that can do more stuff that I will ever need?

This whole thing got me thinking. How many people spend money they don’t have because of flashy and trivial advertising? I mean you already streamed countless hours on that TV that still works just fine. Will a curved TV really improve your life that much? You already had the time of your life taking your kids on family road trips in that truck that still runs like a champ. Will a brand new truck with a 500 dollar a month payment really improve your life?

For me, the answer to these questions is a strong NO! Yeah, I love the feel of a new phone in my hand, but not as much as I love the feel of money in my wallet. I love the look of those new 6.7 Ford diesels but I love my 2002 7.3 F350. My truck works great. Plus, because of the year I’m not spending the extra money on exhaust and emission work and I dont have to buy diesel exhaust fluid. I drive 4 miles to work so any money I would save in gas would quickly be eaten up by that massive truck payment if I got a new truck.

I guess what I’m saying is I want my reader to be financially strong. Just because you can buy something new doesn’t mean you should buy something new.

It took me a long time to develop the mentality of gaining more joy from contributing to my 401K and IRA than buying the latest and greatest. I get joy by the thought that I wont have to work forever. That I wont be solely relying on Social Security (If its even going to be there by the time I retire, but that is a discussion for another time).

Once again, thanks for reading. Please feel free to like, comment and share.