Inspiring Thoughts

Beauty always promises, but never gives anything.
~Simone Weil

Images of beauty constantly surround us. Attractive actors and actresses entertain us on television and in the movie theatres. Beautiful homes catch our eye as we drive through town. We envy the shiny new vehicle that our neighbor just purchased. These beautiful people often become our role models while the fancy cars and stunningly decorated homes serve as our definition of beauty. In fact, we may even have acquired a lot of our debt because of our repeated efforts to beautify our lives.

You may now understand that paying off debt does require some sacrifices. Because buying beautiful items may not be an option at this time, this may depress you or make you long for a lifestyle in which you were able to indulge in nice things with the swipe of a card.
It may be normal to experience these feelings, especially if you recently enrolled in a debt settlement program. As time goes by, you may begin to prioritize your expenses and distinguish the difference between needs and wants. When you recall some of the previous purchases that you made on credit, you may realize how frivolous they were. Your closet may be overflowing with trendy clothes that were out of style by the next season. That shiny new car eventually depreciates or breaks down. You bought a living room set during a "No Interest for Five Years" sale and a year later you are tired of looking at the color.

As you work towards paying down your debt, you may not be able to buy new items on a whim, but you can still occasionally pamper yourself as long as it does not stray too far from your spending plan. You may also consider less expensive alternatives or use creativity to breathe new life into the items that you already have. For example, plant some inexpensive and readily-available annual flowers to beautify the exterior of your home this summer. Find colorful fabric to cover and disguise the color of the couch. Visit secondhand shops to find unique furniture treasures that you can paint or refinish. All of these projects can involve the entire family.
Speaking of family, consider activities that are easy on the wallet. For example, host a family board game night, designate one day each week when the family goes out for ice cream, or plan a bicycle ride at a local park. Ten years from now, parents and children are more likely to cherish these experiences than that shopping spree to buy a new summer wardrobe. In other words, find ways to experience life’s beauty without spending a fortune.