Want to get an objective look at your priorities? Take a look at your bank statement. If you’re like most people you have a finite and easily discernable amount of money to spend each month. So what do you spend it on? If you spend your money on one particular thing, it makes that amount unavailable to spend on other things. Over time then, your spending habits give a clear and objective picture of your priorities.
To get a good feel for your priorities, take a good look at your checkbook or credit card statements. Remind yourself of the things you’ve paid for over the last few months. Pay particular attention to the discretionary items — things you didn’t absolutely have to have, but you bought because you wanted to. What was it about each of these things that appealed to you? Did you buy them with the expectation of solving a particular problem, or in hopes of enjoying a certain kind of pleasure, or did you make some purchases mainly out of curiosity. Which of the products lived up to, or exceeded, your expectations? Is there anything that you don’t really need, that you still would very much like to purchase if you had enough money? Why do you want it? How will it bring enjoyment to you?
Money certainly isn’t everything, and yet in the world today it is an important thing. It is the primary way we exchange material value. So what things do you value? And, more importantly, are the priorities with which you live on a day-to-day basis consistent with the inner values you hold dear? A look at your bank statement will provide a lot of good food for thought.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In