Most people spend too much money on things they don't need. It is easy to be happier and more fortunate if you leave the consumer society.
Let's face it: most people spend too much money on things they don't need. The more money we make, the more we are willing to spend. This endless materialistic cycle creates confusion for people about the use of the words “need” and “want”.
For example: "I need a large screen TV for my home theater." Or: "I need new shoes for my outfit."
The pursuit of material success is often the root cause of midlife crisis.
A recent study by the University of California, Berkeley found that people who are motivated primarily by love for their jobs become less satisfied when they get more money.
The first step in getting out of the trap of materialism is to recognize the difference between “need” and “want”.
We need food, clothing, shelter, transportation, education, and technology to help us do our jobs. We also need separate medicines to treat ourselves or our children in case of illness.
We don't need hundreds of cable TV channels, new luxury cars, hundreds of square meters of living space in luxury homes, expensive ski resorts and smartphones that already think for us.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to possess these things. But it's important to understand that these things won't make you happy on their own. And they are often just links in the chain that binds us to jobs that we hate.
Often times, those people who make the transition to their professional dream end up making more money in the long run. However, in the short term, income tends to decline. It may even disappear for a period of time.
As a rule, the first two years of a career - particularly one motivated by professional passion - cause financial difficulties. Correctly adjusting your lifestyle and your attitude towards it is critical in relegating money to the background in pursuit of your dream.
The amazing thing is, once you learn to live more humble, it becomes a habit. The peace of mind that comes from ignoring materialism in defining success usually leads to a broader and deeper sense of happiness.
Correct attitude to money
So, now we understand that pursuing our professional dream requires significant adjustments in our attitude towards financial and material comfort. Now let's take a closer look at the details.
What makes you and your family from those people who consume and spend as much as they earn, to those who respect money and do not waste it?
The trick is that you need to pay attention to all your expenses, both large and small. None of your expenses should be missed.
People who want to quit their job in pursuit of their professional dreams face two main issues: getting enough money to finance their hobby early on, and changing their spending habits.
Getting the right amount of money can be a huge challenge, depending on your financial resources. Savings, deposits, securities, real estate, jewelry are potential sources of capital to support your family during this transition period.
Some of these options may sound harsh to you, but if you've decided that your only chance for happiness is to pursue your professional dream, then doing so won't weaken you.
Look at each element of your daily expenses and ask yourself if you really need what you are buying.
Make an effort to appreciate everything you do and you will be very surprised at the amount of money you can save.
