Image Affluence
Posted on | June 28, 2010 | 4 Comments
What do people see when they look at you? What image are you trying to portray?
A lot of folks negotiate themselves into a financial cul-de-sac by trying to look affluent (image affluence). We want to belong to the clique and club of the happening crowd. To truly belong, you need to drive the right car, live in the right neighborhood, wear the right clothes, shop in the right place, send your children to the right school, vacation at the right locations, sport the right wristwatch, use the right phone, the list is endless
By the time it all adds up, tons of money that would have been used to start a new business, save for retirement or invested is sunk into image laundering, trying to look richer than you really are
The worst culprit is the automobile. This is a mobile status symbol. When Henry Ford pioneered mass produced automobiles, what he had in mind was a machine that takes you from point A to point B in safety and comfort. The automobile now represents so many other things, chief among them, your status in the society, you financial prowess, your personality, your outlook etc. Riding the right car is not enough, it has to be the current year model. If the model of your car ends up in a used cars dealership, it means it is time to trade in yours for the current model.
A friend of mine bought his wife a brand new SUV. For months the lady left the SUV parked at home while she moved about in her old reliable car. I later found out she is waiting for a new wardrobe to go with the jeep.
The car you drive also determines your wardrobe. You cannot dress like a secretary and step out majestically from a Lamborghini, you may be mistaken for the valet. Your watch, shoes and accessories have to match the image of affluence you are trying to portray.
The neighborhood we live is the next major culprit. Where you live determines your spending and consumption pattern. It determines what type of car you feel comfortable in, which school you send your children, where you shop, where you go for vacation (if you are current with what the Joneses are up to), and so many other things. Like the automobile, it also tells the world how affluent you are.
|
|
The picture you send out to the world as to how affluent you are determines your consumption pattern. This is the main reason why salary increases will never be enough. As pay rises, consumption rises also, as we step up in the luxury class of cars and neighborhoods. Basically we spend more without making progress. We simply sink in more money to show the world that we are stepping up in life. We throw out our old reliable and still functioning stuff to buy more classy ones to show the world we are now more affluent.
The saddest aspect of image affluence is that being image affluent does not make you rich. You look rich, spend as if you are rich, but you know you are living a lie. Your spouse and banker know your dark secret. You are now more broke than before, having swept all your savings to sustain your new improved image. Some folks considered poor have a better cash flow. It is very common to find a proud owner of a latest model SUV seeking for a loan or bail out from a “less affluent” or cash rich friend who drives a second hand car.
If you have a dream of financial freedom, you have to delay your gratification, hold onto your cash, and channel it into your business, savings or investment. There is nothing wrong in living in the lap of luxury. There is everything wrong in using your capital (or income) to fund your luxury lifestyle rather than using your profit or proceeds from your investment. The key difference is, one is now and not sustainable, while the other is later and ever increasing. The keyword is – delayed gratification.
Christians know that Jesus, though rich became poor for a purpose and a season. If you want to be truly rich and free financially, you may want to follow in his steps…
|
|
|
Related posts:
Comments
4 Responses to “Image Affluence”
Leave a Reply
Latest Posts
Newsletter Subscription
Categories
Popular Posts
Sorry. No data so far.
June 28th, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Arlt, Usiere Uko. Usiere Uko said: Image Affluence: No related posts. No related posts. http://bit.ly/boMrlV [...]
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:03 am
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
August 2nd, 2010 @ 2:02 am
do u have a twitter
August 5th, 2010 @ 11:00 am
Follow me on twitter @ twitter.com/usiere