Success Does Not Have To Lead To Excess

Success doesn’t have to lead excess.  Just because you may find yourself becoming more financially successful throughout your life, it doesn’t mean that you should dramatically change your lifestyle.  People who earn more generally spend more, and to a certain extent, that’s okay, but if you find yourself constantly trying to keep up with your peers, you may discover some negative surprises.

Just because your fellow colleague may eat out for lunch every day, drive a fancy car, and wear expensive clothing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they can afford to.  You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. They could be in debt up to their eyebrows for all you know.  What matters most is that you know what you can truly afford and spending accordingly.

Although you may be tempted to dramatically increase your standard of living with every pay increase, instead, I would suggest that you increase your savings.  By doing so, you will ensure a decent standard of living for your future, rather than spending everything today.  Make sure you live a little, though.  Don’t tuck everything away for your future, because no one knows just how long they will be here.

The key here is to save enough to enjoy your future, and the easiest way to do that is to start saving as soon as you start working.  Start small when you are young and as your income continues to increase, continuously increase the amount you are saving accordingly.  Find a standard of living that is comfortable for you that is well within your means and ignore what everyone else is doing.  Don’t worry if one of your friends appears to be wealthier than you or if he or she has all the latest gadgets and toys.  You are not defined by the stuff you have, anyway, and you should never fall into the trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Remember, success does not have to lead to an extravagant lifestyle.  Instead, make your life count by doing the things you enjoy and making a difference in your community.  Save enough for your retirement and other goals and always make sure to live well within your means.