The Simple Things

This is the age to buy. The age of maximum property and minumum responsibility. This is the time when a 21-year-old can, and is nearly expected to, drive a brand new car, move into their own house (a big one, too), and fill that house with designer furniture. Those who have those things seem more domestic. They seem more organized and responsible because of what they have. They seem settled down and grown-up. There's just one gaping problem with this: debt. Tons and tons of debt. The prophet has warned us against unnecessary debt, and people aren't listening. The young adults of our society are very greedy. They see what their parents have, and they see the way to get it all, right now. They don't realize what kind of sacrifices their parents had to make in order to eventually get some of these things. They only see the appealing ads and the things other people around them have. They need to prove that they are equals.

Grow up.

Stuff won't make you happy, and debt hanging over your head certainly won't make you happy. I get it-- if you can afford nice new things, power to you. If you're smart with your money and you are one of the handful of people in this country who don't have debt, but a little savings stached away, go for it. I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about everyone else.

Yes, the prophet has made two exceptions to the debt thing, saying that it is allowable to go into some debt for education and some for a house. The education thing is obvious. Tuition is expensive and most people don't have the immediate means of affording it. Pay it off quickly. Pay it off as you go. The house thing though, has been misunderstood. He didn't mean, "Everyone, run out and buy a house now because you can!" and he didn't mean that loads of debt for the fancy house on the hill is acceptable. He simply meant that almost no one has the kind of cash where they can go and buy a house straight-up, and so a bit of debt on that front is acceptable, as long as the house matches your needs and your ability to pay it off.

My point is that you can be happy-- in fact, happier-- without all the stuff.

Gavin and I are the proud owner of a humble, nearly-falling-apart little car. It runs decently well. It even has working heater and AC. All the seat belts work and the insurance on it is very low. It's nothing fancy, but it does the job well. We rent out a two-bedroom apartment that we feel is very spacious (it was a rip-off deal). It has ugly floors and uglier wall paper and we're not allowed to put any holes in the walls. It's filled with second-hand furniture that was all either bought for dirt cheap at yard sales and stuff, or second-hand gifts from family. It's not top grade, but it definitely works. We buy off-brand food and don't go out too eat too much. I cook with a ghetto stove and a Wal-Mart mixer. And do you know what the interesting thing is?

We are comfortable.
We are happy.
We have no debt. None.

It's so nice to look at our bank account and see that the small amount accumulating in it from Gavin's hard work and our compromised frugality is ours. Completely ours. We don't owe anyone anything, and that is a priceless feeling. We know we can afford to buy a car when the time comes, and pay it off quickly. We have excellent credit. We realize it's going to be years before we get into our own house, and we're fine with that. We wouldn't expect anything sooner. We live simply, we take things one step at a time, and we are happy.