Contentment Robbers

Someone recently told me that they were tired of being in debt and were ready to get their spending under control. But they still enjoyed spending money to pamper themselves. They were looking for inexpensive “luxury” ideas. I didn’t necessarily have specific luxury ideas to suggest, but what I’ve found over the past several years is that my idea of what constitutues a luxury has changed greatly.

When my husband and I started on a drastic debt-repayment plan 10 years ago, we had no extra money for anything but the absolute barest necessities for almost five years. I couldn’t even shop at thrift stores for clothes - that would’ve been too expensive for our severely limited budget. We learned to make things ourselves, accept hand-me-downs from friends and family, make do with what we had, or do without. It was either live like that or be forced into bankruptcy by our impatient and increasingly hostile creditors.

We chose to knuckle under and do what needed to be done - no matter how difficult - in order to pay off our creditors (mainly some huge hospital bills from three premature babies).

One of the first things I noticed when we started our debt repayment plan was the discontent that seemed to overtake me almost constantly. I started praying I’d discover where this discontent was coming from so I could overcome it and put it to rest. Well, it turned out for me, the main contentment robbers were:

1. Mail-order catalogs - The beautiful items in these catalogs were constant reminders of all the “wonderful” things I couldn’t afford. I overcame this particular contentment robber by tossing all catalogs directly into the recycling bin as soon as they arrived … without even glancing at them.
2. Shopping malls - I hadn’t realized how much “recreational shopping” breeds discontent. I started avoiding malls at all costs unless I had something specific I needed to buy, and even then, I only went in for the items on my list and then hurried back out before I got distracted by some new housewares store (my personal impulse buying weakness).
3. Commercial television Seeing all the latest and greatest constantly paraded before my eyes bred discontent. I turned off the TV except to watch videos from the library or PBS specials with my kids.
4. Women’s magazines - I canceled all my subscriptions. I didn’t have many magazines, but the pages of the ones I did collect showed perfect homes, beautiful clothes, pampering personal toiletries, etc., which caused me to suffer from what I considered almost a form of lust … maybe “greed” is another word for it?
5. Shopping channels / web sites - I’ve never actively watch shopping channels on TV, but I suppose they’re probably contentment robbers for many people. Also, certain “malls” and “shopping” areas on the Internet would serve as contentment robbers.

But probably the biggest surprise of all to me was the longer I practiced living frugally and simply, the more satisfied I was by the simpler pursuits.

We’re no longer in debt, although money’s still tight (being a single income family of five means money’s almost always tight). But I’m not discontent anymore. I have great satisfaction in knowing that our debts are “paid in full.” The accomplishment of paying off our debts is a great luxury in and of itself!

Plus, through the process of getting our finances in order, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the beauty and joy of life’s simpler pleasures. Shopping and acquiring new stuff holds little appeal for me anymore. Now I would much rather spend a day hiking a nature trail and picnicking in a meadow with my kids, than spending an expensive afternoon sauntering around the mall eating designer cinnamon rolls and sipping gourmet coffees.

But those weren’t always my priorities. And I can honestly say I’m much more content since my priorities and ideas of luxuries have changed.

Tags: budgeting, credit & debt, Deborah Taylor-Hough, finances, Women, World

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