But I have one habit that makes me want to spend more money. It’s a practice – something I do almost every day – that convinces me that my current lifestyle isn’t good enough. It’s reading.
Yes, reading makes me want to spend more.
I avoid watching TV, not only to avoid commercials, but also to avoid images and expectations – of the Real Housewivesof the Kardashiansof the Bachelor party – which makes me think that those luxury digs are normal basic standards.
But I’m a sucker for reading magazines. I read everything I can get my hands on. I love them.
The more magazines I read, the more dissatisfied I am with my life.
Decorating magazines makes me realize that my life is devoid of granite countertops. Fashion magazines make me think about my subpar wardrobe. Travel magazines make me want to buy a plane ticket right away. Even practical magazines for working mothers (I told you I’ve read everything!) make me realize that I’m not planning dinner parties well enough.
The strange thing is that my purchasing impulses change based on which magazine I have in my hands at the time. As I read a huge pile of magazines on Saturday, I feel my desires changing as I move from title to title.
One minute I’m thinking about how my wine glasses aren’t very elegant. The next minute I’m wondering if we can build a gazebo in the backyard.
The solution? Give up magazines altogether (haha! not likely!) or focus on titles that reinforce what I want. That’s a tricky wording – which is what I want – but I’m not editing it because it succinctly expresses my point. Our reading material creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Learn about the kind of life you hope to build, and soon you will build it.
That’s why I read magazines about money, entrepreneurship and motivation – not because they’re the first titles that catch my attention (my attention goes straight to celebrity gossip), but because it illustrates the kind of titles I like. heap will catch my attention along the way.
What should I do if I can’t resist a great fashion or home renovation magazine? I choose the one that targets a budget-conscious readership, not the one that targets luxury brand advertisers.
Photo credit: Karen Horton
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