Trying to retain social standing by owning material possessions or keeping up with the Joneses is a losing battle. Even those who seem to have it all are probably still looking for wealth and status symbols.
Our sense of security is just momentary when we rely on material possessions or other people to strengthen our confidence. In the long run, nothing will ever make us happy or content, thus you’ll always need to spend money to keep that buyer high going.
According to PyschCentral, trying to keep up with the Joneses has a detrimental effect to our mental health and the more we do it, the more discontent we become with our own lives.
Here are some reasons to not compare your life to that of others or attempting to keep up with the Joneses.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side
It’s easy to feel envious of someone else’s life when you are on the other side. They could appear to have it all: a gorgeous house, expensive cars, designer clothes, and staff to maintain everything, including landscapers and housekeepers. However, the truth is that you don’t actually know what their financial status is. They can be drowning in debt from all of those worldly possessions.
Breeds discontentment
Comparing ourselves to others, whether it be in terms of social standing, financial status, job security, or family life, leads to mental unhappiness. We have no actual idea what is happening in the lives of others. It’s easy to assume that they are picture-perfect and compare how our lives simply don’t measure up to theirs. However, each family and person has their own problems.
You can never keep up with the Joneses
It is futile to make an effort to keep up with the Joneses. Someone will raise the bar even further every time you think you are getting near. The moment you get the newest gadget or device, a newer, cooler one is released. After remodeling your kitchen, a new style in homes replaces it, making your kitchen somewhat dated. Instead of deciding what you should do in order to keep up, focus your financial decisions on what you desire and can afford.
