Badass vs Dumbass
Master your Financial Kung Fu to be one and not the other.
Go to Sifu’s Notebook for Why Keeping Up with the Joneses is a Trap: 10 Eye-Opening Reasons to Stop Now
Primer: Who are Sifu & Ronin
Episode 33: Ronin vs TikTok
Sifu: You look troubled, Ronin. Forget to charge your phone again?
Ronin: Ha! Just the opposite, boss. Phone’s working overtime, live streaming everyone’s brilliant lives on TikTok and Instagram. They’re in 5-star Euro resorts and enjoying epic fine dining at Michelin-star joints. Then there are others giving eye-opening reveals on their new whips. OMG, the gleam off of this girl’s new candy apple red supercar is to die for! Meanwhile, I’m over here like, “Hey, remember when I treated myself to a new Japanese tea cup?” It’s like the whole world is rich and I missed the memo.
Sifu: Ah, you’ve stumbled upon the lethal art of “keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s like trying to stare at Medusa – it’ll be the end of you. I warned you about that, didn’t I, #1?
Ronin: Yeah, but you didn’t tell me the Joneses are my age, not old rich peeps! How am I supposed to keep up when my fancy meal is anything other than KD?
Sifu: Let me enlighten you, Padawan. There are reasons you shouldn’t concern yourself with these things. Shall we begin?
1. Debt: The Hidden Monster
Sifu: The Joneses might seem to have it all, but beneath those shiny surfaces lurks the monster of debt.
Ronin: Huh? So, they’re not just rich; they’re rich in debt?
Sifu: Bingo! Their fancy car, enormous house, and lavish vacations are likely financed by maxed-out credit cards and loans they’ll be paying off for decades.
Ronin: Doh! Sounds like debtor’s prison to me.
Sifu: Yup, there will be few FIRE prospects if you live that way. You still want to retire early on your beachfront, correct #1?
Ronin: Oh yeah, baby! Target is always in sight.
2. Lifestyle Creep Will Ruin Your Finances
Sifu: Now, once you start upgrading everything in your life, lifestyle inflation sets in. Remember The Creep? What once felt like a treat becomes a necessity.
Ronin: Oh crap! That diabolical terror that comes into your life and never leaves!
Sifu: Exactly. It’s a trap. The more you spend, the less satisfied you become, and your financial goals slowly drift out of reach.
3. Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Sifu: Comparing yourself to others will only steal your joy, Ronin. Every time you compare yourself to the Joneses, you lose sight of what makes you content. Focus on your own journey, not theirs.
Ronin: So they’re stealing my joy? No dice! I don’t have much, but my happiness is not up for grabs.
4. Social Media is a Highlight Reel
Sifu: What you see on social media is only a highlight montage. You’re seeing their best moments, not their struggles.
Ronin: So, you’re saying their trip to Bora Bora didn’t include the part where their luggage was lost, they got sunburned, and fought half the time?
Sifu: Straight up. You don’t see the full picture. Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour.
Ronin: Hmmm. Think I’ll stick to my staycations and ultra chill sunburn-free afternoons in my perfectly good backyard.
5. Your Financial Goals are Unique
Sifu: What the Joneses want in life might not align with your goals, #1. Your path is different.
Ronin: True that. My goals include paying off my student loans and maybe getting a second cool tea cup.
Sifu: And that’s okay. Don’t sacrifice your financial stability just to impress others.
Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.
Will Rogers
6. Happiness Doesn’t Come from Stuff
Sifu: Happiness isn’t found in possessions. Material things give only temporary satisfaction.
Ronin: Tell that to my new phone. We were in love for a solid week.
Sifu: And now?
Ronin: We’re just friends.
Sifu: Hahaha. See? True happiness comes from relationships, purpose, and fulfillment, not things.
7. The Joneses Might Be Faking It
Sifu: The Joneses might be putting on a show. Many people live beyond their means to maintain an image. Don’t be fooled by their tricks.
Ronin: Hey, my life may be humble but at least it’s totally real. No fake shit.
8. You Risk Falling into the Consumer Trap
Sifu: The consumer trap is designed to keep you spending. The more you buy, the more you feel like you need.
Ronin: Sounds like the vicious cycle of “I bought a new couch, now I need a new coffee table to match, and suddenly I’m redoing the whole room!”
Sifu: Dead-on. Resist the urge. Simplicity brings clarity.
9. Financial Stress Will Take a Toll on Your Health
Sifu: Financial stress from trying to keep up with others can damage your mental and physical health.
Ronin: Stress? Hell no! My health is non-negotiable.
Sifu: Exactly. Avoiding this stress will help you live a healthier, more peaceful life.
10. You’re Giving Away Control Over Your Life
Sifu: When you try to keep up with others, you’re giving them control over your decisions and your life.
Ronin: Whuuut? I ain’t no puppet, bro. Yeah, I’d rather be the boss of my own broke self than a puppet to the Joneses.
Sifu: Exactly, #1. Take charge of your own life, your own decisions, and your own happiness.
Ronin: That’s it. I’m sick of it. I’m taking charge of my life again. No more being pulled around like a dumb dog on a leash. Fuck that!
Sifu: Welcome back to your life, #1. And, it’s a wonderful life – don’t dilute it with fake online bullshit.
Ronin: Word up! I’m back, baby!
Sifu’s Notebook
Why Keeping Up with the Joneses is a Trap: 10 Eye-Opening Reasons to Stop Now
In a world of Instagram feeds, TikTok trends, and luxurious vacation selfies, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. Everyone seems to be living their best life, and it’s tempting to join the race of “keeping up with the Joneses.” But here’s a reality check: keeping up with the Joneses can lead you down a slippery financial slope. What looks like success on the outside often hides a much more complex story. Here are 10 reasons why you shouldn’t keep up with the Joneses and what’s really going on behind the scenes.
1. Debt: The Hidden Monster
The Joneses may look like they have it all—luxury cars, designer clothes, and lavish vacations—but what you don’t see is the mountain of debt many people are carrying. Credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages can pile up behind those shiny facades. You may be trying to match their lifestyle without realizing they’re swimming in debt.
Reality Check: Don’t let appearances fool you. People often finance their lifestyles through loans they struggle to pay off.
2. Lifestyle Creep Will Ruin Your Finances
As your income increases, it’s natural to want to upgrade your lifestyle. New gadgets, nicer cars, and bigger homes suddenly seem within reach. But this “lifestyle creep” is a trap. The more you spend, the more you’ll need to earn just to keep up with your new standard of living.
Reality Check: Focus on living below your means, not inflating your lifestyle to match someone else’s.
3. Comparison is the Thief of Joy
The moment you start comparing your life to others, you lose focus on what truly makes you happy. Instead of appreciating what you have, you’re always looking at what you don’t have.
Reality Check: Gratitude for your own achievements and possessions is a far more fulfilling path than trying to outdo others.
4. Social Media is a Highlight Reel
What you see on social media is not real life. People post their best moments, not their struggles. That idyllic beach vacation? It may have maxed out their credit card. The new car? It could be leased with payments they can barely afford.
Reality Check: Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel.
5. Your Financial Goals are Unique
You may have long-term goals, like financial independence or early retirement, that are much more important than owning the latest gadget. Keeping up
with the Joneses can derail your progress toward achieving those goals. By constantly trying to match someone else’s lifestyle, you’re diverting money away from your own future and long-term dreams.
Reality Check: Focus on your financial goals, whether it’s saving for retirement, paying off debt, or investing in your future. The Joneses won’t be there to cover your bills in the end.
6. Happiness Doesn’t Come from Stuff
The shiny new car, the designer clothes, the fancy vacations—they may give a temporary high, but they won’t bring lasting happiness. Studies show that experiences, relationships, and personal achievements provide more enduring happiness than material possessions.
Reality Check: Rather than spending money to chase fleeting happiness, invest in meaningful experiences and relationships that bring lasting joy.
7. The Joneses Might Be Faking It
Here’s the thing—those Joneses you’re trying so hard to keep up with? They might be pretending. Maybe they’re leasing that luxury car, living paycheck to paycheck, or relying on credit to maintain their lavish lifestyle. Just because they look successful doesn’t mean they’re financially stable.
Reality Check: People often stretch their finances to project a certain image. Don’t assume that their outward appearance reflects true wealth or financial security.
8. You Risk Falling into the Consumer Trap
Consumerism thrives on making you feel like you need the latest and greatest to be happy. The more you try to keep up with the Joneses, the more you’ll fall into this trap of constantly upgrading and buying things you don’t actually need. The result? Clutter, buyer’s remorse, and financial stress.
Reality Check: The key to breaking the cycle is understanding that you don’t need every new product or luxury item. Learn to differentiate between needs and wants.
9. Financial Stress Will Take a Toll on Your Health
Trying to keep up with others financially can cause significant stress, which can lead to anxiety, sleepless nights, and even physical health issues. Worrying about how you’ll pay off debt or afford your next big purchase can eat away at your peace of mind.
Reality Check: Living within your means and prioritizing financial stability will do wonders for your mental and physical well-being. Stressing over finances is not worth the temporary satisfaction of “keeping up.”
10. You’re Giving Away Control Over Your Life
When you’re constantly trying to match someone else’s lifestyle, you’re no longer in control of your own life. You’re letting external influences dictate how you spend your money, where you live, and what you buy. In short, you’re giving away your financial freedom and autonomy.
Reality Check: True financial freedom comes from living life on your own terms, not according to someone else’s standards.
