Living on a Shoestring Budget: Learn to be Content

One of the greatest struggles we have in a materialistic culture is learning to be content. Advertisements bombard us with reasons why we should not be content with what we have and who we are. To be sexually attractive, we must drink this drink. (Actually, most people see confidence as one of the most attractive qualities about a person.) To be content, you have to drive this particular vehicle. (Actually, contentment is a choice not dependent upon material possessions.) Companies want our money so many of them lie to us to get us to buy their products. They have to convince us that our lives are not complete without their product.

But those of us who live on a shoestring budget would go into substantial debt if we listened to what the media has to say. Instead we can take control of our lives and learn to enjoy them without the ‘must haves’ of the advertisements.

I used to be told all the time to take time to smell the roses. Taking the time to do so means relaxing enough to do something that does not create money or advance our careers. It is a foolish thing in the eyes of consumerism, but a must for those wanting to be content. We must take time to be ourselves and relax and enjoy living. This distresses us and re-centers us to what is really important.

Taking time to smell the roses reminds us to use all of our senses and see the beauty in everything around us. It is easy to get so absorbed in jobs and problems that we miss the sights and sounds and smells that add such beauty to our world.

Really smelling the roses demands full attention as well. We live in a world that teaches us to be fragmented. People can watch T.V., talk on the phone, do homework, and play with the dog all at the same time. This is really unhealthy because it causes internal stress. We were created to be whole people who could give our full attention to those around us and to the things we are working on. Taking time to smell the roses is essentially reminding us to take time to be whole people.

Learning to be content, whole people teaches us what we need and what we do not need. We do not need another outfit to like ourselves. We already do like ourselves. We do not need that candy bar to still our boredom. We are already fascinated by the people, animals, and plants we see around us. What a difference it makes in our checkbooks when we stop buying things because we are discontent with our lives. Learn to be content. It is likely that you already have everything you need. It is just a matter of re-evaluating your needs.