First off, you need to understand: You are not alone.

The system is not set up for you to thrive as an individual. We are bombarded every minute with reasons to buy more, and that’s what we do. 

Monolithic companies buy and sell your personal information specifically so they can target ads at you, that eat at your psyche until you purchase what they want. And then they move on to the next thing.

But then when we do buy and end up in debt, we feel shame, guilt and isolation, and believe we are the only one with this problem, because no one talks about debt. 

Our culture is set up to reward those who spend money, as though there is some inherent higher value and worth in those who do. 

This type of social conditioning can lead to very bad outcomes.

So please remember, your value as a person and inherent self worth are not dependent on how much you spend or how much you have. You are not your things. 

If you relate to any of this, recognize, again, you are not alone and that 80% of Americans are in personal debt. As of 2017, the average American died with $62,000 worth of debt. 33% of Americans hold debt that is currently in collection, so they are truly under water. This is a national epidemic. 

Becoming aware of your spending patterns is a great first start.  Take a step back and listen to that little voice in your head that desires something new and just sit with it. Don’t act on it, but sit with it and then ask yourself, “What do I REALLY want right now?” The instant gratification of shopping may give you a hit of dopamine temporarily, but once you have the item in hand, that feeling wears off  almost immediately and then the desire builds for the next thing.

This is by design. Recognize that you are not the winner here, but that whomever you’re giving your money to is. And by doing that, you will forever stay in the system of being the one doing the borrowing instead of the lending, where you are not the capitalist, but the one capitalized upon.