Any way to help curb materialism?

[Red]

My fiancee and I are *decent* with our money, I'd say I'm much more laid back / frugal than she is, however. I'll be completely happy living in my own house, no matter what size... and driving whatever car, no matter how nice, as long as I'm happy. She on the other hand, likes to buy what she is comfortable paying, which usually isn't the best decision.

For example, we both got caught up in things when we were 19 and went out and bought two new 2002 Honda Civics. As you all know, because I never shut up about, I sold my Civic for $12k and bought a used car for almost half the price, and it still has a warranty. While we both understand the basics of income/debt/interest/investments, we're trying hard to pay off credit card we also accrued the past 4-5 years. The credit card debt and the fact that I've matured into a person who really doesn't give a fvck how much other people are trying to keep up with the Joneses, my fiancee still lives by the motto "never settle in life" and wants to work hard to accumulate nice material items... like being able to purchase the largest home she can afford, the nicest car, send her kids to the nicest school, etc.

Should I get Millionaire Next Door from the library and ask her to read the book? As well as reading it myself? Thanks.

 

[GasX]

she wants to work hard to accumulate nice material items

nothing wrong with that. You just need to enlighten her on the wisdom of frugal living and its payoff of helping you afford what you want...

 

[minendo]

Take a trip to the local soup kitchen/homeless shelter. Find out how some of those people really ended up there.

 

[StageLeft]

That book is awesome. Highly recommended. For me it turned me from a credit card using idiot to somebody with better financial sense than 80-90% of the population (which you'll have after reading only the first chapter, since most people don't have the first clue).

 

[ggavinmoss]

Is this the same girl that wanted more excitement?

There's nothing like the repo man taking your car to get the juices flowin'...

-geoff

 

[LordJezo]

Urm..

a few days ago she was your exfiance..

??

 

[StageLeft]

my fiancee still lives by the motto "never settle in life" and wants to work hard to accumulate nice material items... like being able to purchase the largest home she can afford, the nicest car, send her kids to the nicest school, etc.

That's fine, and goals I share. But, I bet that she goes about it the same way everybody else does, and that's the wrong way. When people try to keep up with the joneses early on, those people find themselves getting into debt, and thusly begins a life of spending other people's money. As you know when you borrow money you pay a penalty on it, so with that debt that the majority of the population has, they are constantly having their debtors skim off the top.

Most people have a lot of debt. Better people (financially) have little debt and little savings/investments. Better people yet have no debt (BTW debt on a house doesn't count since the house's equity is greater than the debt) and savings/investments.

If a person starts life being thrifty and frugal to a prudent degree they will not only have no consumer debt, but more importantly have the spare funds to invest. Then later on when the joneses and everyone else trying to keep up with the joneses are still middle of the line, and have lots of consumer debt (like most of the population), that person who underspent at the beginning will have surpassed them significantly.

 

[Shockwave]

Your girl can read?!
Man, where can I get that update for my girl?? Is it free, or do I have to pay for the software?

 

[minendo]

She on the other hand, likes to buy what she is comfortable paying, which usually isn't the best decision.

How much does she save? How much does she spend on rent, electricity, living costs?

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: LordJezo
Urm..

a few days ago she was your exfiance..

??

Well hes crazier than you used to be Jezo.........