The Temptation of Spending

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie
makes life a wonderful journey. 

            I may be over-generalising, but truth be told, everyone loves money. Children need money to get what they want, and adults think that money is pleasure, power and pride without realising that at the other end of the spectrum, there are other three Ps - pain, pressure and problems. The human mind can easily be controlled by the temptation of spending and satisfying cravings and insatiable yearnings.

            It is a sorry situation in our country when last week's New Sunday Times unleashed the reality of young people suffering from bankruptcy with the number of those declared bankrupt increasing each year. 

            Bankruptcy is the result of people obsessed with leading a lavish lifestyle. Instead of being aware of the importance of saving for old age, they believe they should live while they are young. That means spending time, energy and money on both the necessary and unnecessary. After all, for some people, “You Only Live Once”.

            With many youngsters being crazy about automobiles, it is not surprising that vehicle purchase is the main reason of bankruptcy. The desire to own a car they cannot afford pushes them to make loans that make them happy for a while, but will haunt them forever. Such people fail to foresee the music they will face.

            Many young people are also easily convinced by the sweet words of promoters and businessmen. Some may be able to resist the seduction, but the young, naïve and immature may be trapped by manipulative strategies used by people whose main objective is to make a profit.

            In this modern era, it is worrying what Generation Y perceives and defines as an ideal life. Some think that their lives will not be complete until they receive attention that comes from belongings. They would rather make their dreams of living a life of glamour and glitz come true than to think about their future that cracks little by little as they indulge themselves. This will not only affect the lives of the spenders but also the ones under their care.

            It is important for the young to manage their finances wisely. They need to think rationally without being easily influenced by others. Even when many choose the road that leads to luxurious lives, they should consider the one less travelled.

            Sometimes, it is better to “leave it” than to “take it”.

Courtesy of New Sunday Times

26 April 2015