We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
White picket fence, 2500 sq ft house, $100k annual salary, big family, huge backyard, and the latest and greatest gadgets. Sounds like a dream come true – right? Nope. This image is engraved into us from the time we’re just babies. I can recall vividly the television shows I watched where families had “struck gold” by achieving this American dream. I still have this mental picture in my head of what the “perfect” home should be based on what others tell us. It’s time to face reality though – the American Dream is more like an American Nightmare.
Realistically, a $100k annual salary might seem like the best thing ever, but when you combine that with a $3,000+ mortgage payment each month, expenses to make sure the home is in tip top shape, numerous car payments, food for a large family, and countless dollars spent on new electronics – that $100k salary isn’t going to stretch very far. Next thing you know you’re thousands of dollars in debt because you’re trying to keep up with your neighbors.
Want to know what my American Dream is? It’s a home under 500 sq ft, bills less than $1,000 each month, and totally DEBT FREE! I don’t need the latest gadgets, in fact I’m still sporting my two year old iPhone, an iPad 2, a 24″ TV I’ve had for 6 years, and a radio system that is 12 years old. In fact, I held on to my Zune until it finally kicked the bucket – I was in no rush to upgrade my music player then and I’m in no rush to upgrade to the iPhone 6 now. You know why? Going about purchases with careful planning and thought gave me time to save up the money to buy these items with cash, rather than credit, saving me hundreds of dollars in the long run.
Don’t get me wrong – I do have some debt, but not nearly as much as I would have if I was chasing what everyone else told me was the American “Dream.” The debt I do have is manageable, and I plan on having what little remains paid off in the next 2 years (tops) with the exception of my home. In the end, the message is clear – it’s time we take back our wallets and start shaping our own dreams. So who’s with me on transforming this American Dream into something else?
Blessings,
Aly
What is your “American Dream”? Let us know on Facebook, or connect with us on our NEW and IMPROVED Twitter account.
For tips on how to begin your decluttering journey, you can Start Here, or snag a copy of the 30 Day Challenge (our Minimalism and Decluttering eBook).
Purchase Your Copy on.... Amazon | Nook | Smashwords | MIS Store
Subscribe to our RSS feed to receive our updates regularly. Find us on Facebook or Twitter to connect with us and with others.
