An Impressionistic Perspective Into Minimalism
Today, I had the opportunity of reading this post by @nathanmars and I thought to myself, what is probably synonymous with people who are into Crypto? Are they big money spenders, what's their personal finance activities like? Are they big money spenders as proportional to how big they're holding, building or even staking and if you look at your life currently, then your guess will be as good as mine.
In reality, I don't know what I'll call myself. I'm definitely not a maximalist, but at the same time, I won't totally say I'm a minimalist. I'm, however, surrounded by people who have a trickling means of income but unlimited or instantiate desires to live life beyond the capacity of their pockets, nevertheless when I look at myself, I find myself to be the direct opposite, always spending on exactly what I need and spending rather averagely even when I could actually afford more.
Fueling The "Ego" Need
In Nigeria, for example, it is believed that the higher you earn, your spending should automatically skyrocket as a proof that you're actually doing well and making money. This is how people get to exhibit their ego. There's this need to showcase the difference in hierarchy, it brings a sense of satisfaction and there are so many ways that it can be done.
You might be thrilled,
People for example can shop in a rather expensive place, just to inaudibly communicate their financial depth. Now, it might be that these needs to communicate their depth is born out of outwardly trying to impress the people around them and not because they're truly rich. It's quite easy to use this means to create a deceptive scenario or belief. Due to the fact that I live in a financial environment where being truly wealthy is about flamboyancy, it's very easy to swindling people into establishing a particular belief.
Realistic Or Impressionistic?
One thing about having money truly is that it takes away one's desires to crave what money can not buy. What does this mean?. Money in itself brings a depth of fulfillment, you see people who truly have the means to afford anything they want, at least to an understandable level, are often satisfied with just having that money, putting it into more purposeful yield opportunities and letting it build, add up or even appreciate.
You see, most people buy what they don't need, to simply complement for what they cannot afford.
For example, so many people crave to own expensive cars, (these cravings aren't backed up by any purchasing power whatsoever) now, they do not aim to grow a business or establish a stream of income, they just build their "wants" on unrealistic expectations, making it difficult to equate their cravings to a logical standpoint. So to complement for not actually owning the car they want, they can order expensive car rentals, take pictures in them with them, generating massive likes on social media and hence create a fake impression that they're doing well.
Most people own what they own to simply create an impression. It's like having cards that are virtually not usable on splinterlands but keeping them for the collection power they bring. This might be a vague comparison, but it actually conveys the point. While I won't call myself a minimalist, I sure like to be intentional, precise and astute when it comes to how I spend. This is because the goal is to take care of my needs, but actually grow a financial standing slowly beyond my spending.
How many people spend beyond their means?
This is a question that actually describe the financial state of a person. You see, a lot of people shy away from asking themselves this question, because it tends to unbalance their beliefs. Sometimes people defend themselves by saying that they're the owners of their money, and they can spend it how they see fit. But then it's just trying to mask for financially irresponsible they've been. Now, a lot of people know what it means to be truly wealthy, but their spending often proves otherwise, this is why you have people choosing to war or drive (literally) their net worth around, creating a ripple effect of competition, where there should be none.
To Be honest
It's very good to spend, you don't get the realistic impression that you truly have money when you do not actually spend. Exchanging one's money for comfort is not bad at all, what's worse is trying to spend far beyond your means to create an impression that you actually have money. To me, minimalism is slightly different in practice and definition, while I basically like to be comfortable, I do this to a basic level where it's evident that I'm still a struggling and hustling guy striving to achieve an aim.
Progress to me is a process, one truly does not get there because we always need to constantly grind. Owning a television, or a car or a fancy house to me is a "need" and not a "want" and this is because the primary purpose would be that it'll get me entertained, I'll save cost on transportation by owning my own car, and I'll save the massive cost of rentals if I probably own a house. The mindset behind the ownership is what proves to you if you have a minimalist tendency or not.
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My name is @Josediccus, a young Nigerian entrepreneur who is a Vlogger, A Psychologist, Poet, Sports Writer/Analyst & Personal Finance Coach. I'm using my contents as a process to create shared meaning as well as create expressions through which people on/off hive can relate. I believe content is a process to be enjoyed and relished and I'm up for any collaborations in my field stated above. Cheers
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Hmmmm! Amazing.. for sure all you said are really true fact. Most people don't think like this most times especially for the youths of this current time they are striving to own luxuries of big cars not thinking of the aftermath. Will you be able to maintain it because getting the car isn't the issue but the maintenance...and also you talked about building a house. Yeah it's a good thing if peradventure you have to money in you purse it saves the stress of paying for rents.. thanks for sharing.
Well, I sincerly believe that spending hugely to maintain or reduce futuristic costs is well worth it. So I'll consider owning a house and a car within that range
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Yeah I am not saying that shouldn't be owned cus it's a priority also. But getting a care in place of a house when you know you can't maintain is absurd
I like how you spread out one thought into different angles and explain them extensively, showing how well-read you are. Makes you seem like a wise sage. It's attractive.
Whenever I complain about not wanting to spend because of my goals ahead, my brother reminds me that I have to live until then. What's the point of saving for the future when you can give yourself just a little happiness today? It's not a call to spend extravagantly, but just to give yourself comfort until you reach your goals.
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Well, thank you, I'll try to say that I've had quite a lot of experience and inasmuch as we don't want to live ostentatiously we also want to live comfortably. I use to maintain some subconscious check to remind me when I'm going too thin or too wild, at the end of the day, it's all about being a " living" balance.
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Yeah, creating a balance is important
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I am not sure the Splinterlands collection power example to be that relevant. After all, going to higher ranks gives you more DEC and more chest so long as you can fight your way to that rank. In the case you don't use the card, you could always sell it and buy cards to increase your card levels (also increasing collection power).
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Well I definitely felt it could be relevant, but then, thanks for clarifying to me, it's use cases.
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I don't want to consider my self as anything but I believe in proper money management and plan.
No amount of pressure should make you spend anyhow but spend on what really matters.
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Well people likes to categorise themselves as something just for reference purposes, helps them totally understand what they are. I agree with you. Not saying one is anything is actually good because you have and need to maintain a balance to some extent.
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Spending more than you have or want is always about ego, no matter how people want to put it. But it's like running on a hamster wheel, it can never stop as you enter the competition game. Someone else is always going to have more.
Sometimes people defend themselves by saying that they're the owners of their money, and they can spend it how they see fit. But then it's just trying to mask for financially irresponsible they've been.
Sweet denial. Rarely would someone admit that they are in financial slum because of their own fault. Reaching top bottom can be an awakening experience though
It's true, sometimes people are in denial of their financial situation brought about by their inability to forestall discipline. In reality not a lot of people want to admit that living beyond their means is their fault, they say it's their money and they can spend it in whatever way they want.
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I strive towards becoming as minimalistic as I can. I realize that I want more experiences rather than spending years from my life paying for a car or a branded piece of jeans.
A bathroom, a room, a bed, a kitchen.....is all you need. Not even the richest man from the planet would need more than a toilet lol. Poor people who build houses or take upon a mortgage for a house with 4 bathrooms are paying with years from their lives.
I don't want to be like this.
Your post is a good reminder
I get your point of view. I strive hard to maintain a balance because sometimes we don't need to much to be happy except the basics, wanting too much is why people spend a lot on things that they might not need. While I believe luxury is okay, sometimes seeking luxury at all cost is often foolhardy. Like you said, even the richest people would not need more then a toilet, except it's all these huge spenders who spend for bragging rights alone.
Yes. A self check once in a while is good in order to see if the ego is taking order
But this is the trick here only that it should come with balance from time to time.
I find this a sad place to be. Having to live life for the validation of another that might truly not care.
Lol... I call it a reality check.
Truly, everything is birthed from the mind. Before I carry out reckless spending or splurge on a 'want' item, I ask myself Why? It always helps me either swipe that card or put that card right back in my purse where it should be.
Beautifully articulated write-up @josediccus.