Finances

FINANCES
Sheri Smith
March 31, 2016

Imagine you are living a simple life. Basic cable, beat-up car and entry level job. Your basement apartment has one window, a leaky toilet and a thermostat controlled by your neighbours upstairs. The bills are just being paid, and signing for anything with a credit card is a pipe dream.

You think, "If only I could get ahead, I would be happy."

Now, imagine ten years later when you are living a less simple life. Big screen TV's with three tiered cable, brand new shiny SUV and a promotion at work. Your enormous house with double-paned windows, three bathrooms and a thermostat you control for your tenant in the basement. The credit card debt is crushing you, but you know that if you can just close one more deal, you will finally be happy.

And now, think about the guy you meet each morning while waiting in line for coffee at McDonalds. The one who taps you on the shoulder and offers his coffee stamp, just to take your mind off whatever it is that is causing you the frown. Chances are, he has no home, cable, car or job. Yet he seems pretty happy.

Welcome to the Hedonic Treadmill.

You can check out my Blog at https://bedlamandbliss.wordpress.com/blog/