Uncle Sam says... You really should join the Army.
Has a similar scenario ever happened to you?
Uncle Sam says... You really should join the Army.
Has a similar scenario ever happened to you?
You go into the hair cutting place and are prepared to pay the few dollars it takes to get a haircut. “You know,” says the stylist while he has you captive under the shampoo, “You really should use a product that isn’t full of wax and doesn’t strip your hair.” He (or she) then proceeds to tell you why your 99 cent a bottle shampoo-plus-conditioner from Wal-Mart really is of the devil, and why your PARTICULAR hair type really needs this kind of treatment, which is really the only responsible product for your hair. You should also buy a different type of hair dryer and brushes, because it’s really just basic hygiene, and by the way, they just happen to sell it all in their salon.
Or maybe you go to a pet store, and casually mention that you want a bowl, food, and leash for the dog you inherited from your neighbors when they moved to Florida without poor Fifi. ”Yes,” says their resident pet specialist, “but you really should consider getting a small cage as well, if you are new to dog ownership. And that cheap dog food is really terrible for their health– you really should get them something with proper nutrition. And you really should consider basic grooming needs, like a brush and clippers, as well as thinking about these books for first-time dog owners to help you adjust to the new member of your family. And if you really want to get their attention while training, you should consider some of these special treats as well.”
You really should have an extra mini-tube of toothpaste for when out-of-town guests come stay; so many forget and get their large tubes confiscated at airport security.
You really should get athletic shoes that are properly fitted in a boutique store instead of just grabbing whatever’s on sale at your favorite shoe warehouse store. It will give you proper posture and help you avoid injury.
You really should replace all your incandescent bulbs with the compact flourescent ones, or even the LCD variety. It will save you money in the long run and it’s better for the environment.
You really should build your house with the higher-grade windows. They will keep down your energy costs over time.
You should buy American.
You should eat organic.
You should buy a bike.
You really should… you really should.
The thing is, so many of these things could actually be right. Doesn’t the doctor know more about health than I do? Doesn’t my contractor know more about building a house and selecting materials than I do? Doesn’t the vet know more about my dog, even if it DOES seem a little silly to me to get the shoulder-height bowl instead of the basic aluminum one, to give him better posture?
I’m not talking about neccessities, like groceries and health insurance and rent. I’m talking about all the experts that are out there that recommend exactly how to take care of one particular area of your life– and often recommending spending much more than you originally intended. If we added up every single little thing that we “really should” do as recommended by professionals, we probably couldn’t afford it, no matter what one’s income bracket. Should I buy the complete makeup line that suits my skintone and covers me from morning till night? Should I get that pillow that gives me better posture in my sleep, letting me rest better at night so I can work better in the day? Should I really spend as much on a wedding present as it cost the bride and groom spend to host me as their guest? Should I? Should I eat green eggs and ham? Yes, I should, Sam-I-Am!
I don’t know if you’ve caught on yet, but real life doesn’t always let us do all the things we “should” do with our money. Sometimes, it’s because we’re doing things we “shouldn’t” do. You shouldn’t smoke. You shouldn’t buy that dress when you have two more like it at home. You shouldn’t buy that piece of furniture that really doesn’t fit in your house. But sometimes we need our “shouldn’ts” too, and even if we cut them all out, there still wouldn’t be enough money to cover all the “shoulds”. Ultimately, we have to sort out what’s important to us… and what isn’t.
So what should we do?
First of all, we have to use our brains here. No Spending Fairy is going to come in with some sort of magic equation that solves our spending quandaries. (”You should listen to your doctor, but not your real estate agent! You should not buy clothes, except on your birthday! Presto, problem solved!” *spending fairy disappears in puff of smoke*) If you CAN afford to take the advice of every salesman that comes your way, by all means, go right ahead. But if you can’t, then listen to their expertise, and then go do your own research and make your own decisions. Do you really need the warranty on the camera like the girl suggested? Do you really need the entire set of knives that the guy was saying you should get? Or do you just need the camera, and the knife? Do you really want to skimp out on your work wardrobe when you’re up for promotion? Should you really get the book recommended by Oprah that they don’t have in the library? Does your kid really need the materials her teacher suggested? Or can she get by with last years’ supplies?
Everybody else is right, of course. After all, they’re the experts.
But maybe you’re an expert, too, at deciding whose words and suggestions are most important in your life and your spending, and which are not.
You should think about that.
