Keeping up with the Joneses:

Neighbors come in all shapes and sizes. There are the cat-loving elderly women neighbors who wander around outside barefoot and sing to themselves. There are picture perfect young families, with yards littered with bicycles and toys. There are even snobby types with perfectly manicured lawns and brand new vehicles. No matter what type you have, you may have been tempted to “Keep up with the Jones.”

This expression has been around for quite awhile. It just means that you try to keep up the facade of having the same quality of life that your neighbors do. If they buy a new car, you buy a newer car. If you see them adding a backyard deck; well, you get the idea.

Keeping up with the Joneses is a footstep on the path to financial disaster. It is inconceivable that you should be able to always have the newest, best, and highest priced item. It is even more inconceivable that you should run out and buy these items just because your neighbor did!

To remedy this situation, stop comparing! Ignore their new car, or freshly bedded flowers. Instead focus on your finances. Think of what you are saving by NOT buying a new car or re-landscaping your lawn. By refocusing your mind on the positives, you can readjust your thinking and change your outlook regarding your neighbor. By opting not to “Keep up with the Joneses,” you are opting to live a life with less debt, and quite a bit less stress.

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