Treat: anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment (dictionary.reference.com)
As I make my excursion further into the minimalist lifestyle, I realize how much is wasted throughout the course of our lives. Today I make the correlation between a treat and waste. Isnt it interesting that the average mentality assumes that a treat is expensive. Why shouldn't it? Madison Avenue is paid huge sums of money to ingrain in us exactly what we need to think. When it comes to 'treats' we are taught to think of extravagance.
The above definition does a terrific job capturing the essence of what I am referring to. It is something, either an item or an action, that affords a particular pleasure. One other caveat that I would add to this is that it must be something that is different from the norm. Watching the same program on a weekly basis is not a treat since it is something that is part of the normal routine.
While I considered this subject, what first struck me is how people turn what should be a treat into a regular activity. For example, eating out should be an activity that is done as a treat. Instead, most people find themselves doing this a few times a week (or more). Therefore, the treat is lost since it is part of the normal pattern.
A second idea that came to me is that the treat does not have to hit a certain dollar amount. The definition above fails to contain the words expensive, costly, or regal. Certainly a treat could be those things but it not necessarily. That led me to conclude that one needs to alter the what he or she thinks about a treat.
Why do I mention all of this? My reasoning is simple if you understand Freedomquest. Most people live the slavery existence because they have no control over their finances. The average person earns over $1M in his or her lifetime yet have little to show for it at retirement. You would think that with this type of money earned, one could put away 10% which is $100,000 if the person earned no interest. However, most fall short of this.
What happens to all that money? One of the biggest problems is people 'treat' themselves all too often. When this occurs, income that could be invested is squandered. An example is the outlook of spas. We all saw the commercials where we are told to treat ourselves to a nice day at the spa. "Pampering" is what it is called. After all we deserve it.
My question is what does this pampering cost? $100? $200? $500? Honestly I have no idea but I know it can easily run into hundreds of dollars. And what do we get for this pampering? Obviously the person feels really good after (until he/she has to pay the credit card bill). That is the benefit. Therefore, it was all worthwhile.
Which brings me to my next question: how does this person feel 3 or 4 days later? In most instances, I presume that relaxed feeling is gone. Life has taken over. The money is spent yet the person feels the same as always. The treat was fleeting.
And that is the very point about treats...they are fleeting. The enjoyment or pleasure is only temporary. Whether it is a nice dinner, a day at the spa, or concert tickets, the net result is the same. The sensations felt in the moment dwindle as the next few days pass. Usually within a week, if it takes that long, the enjoyment of the treat is completely gone. So, why do we pay huge sums of money to give ourselves a treat. That is like a dieter giving him or herself a treat by eating an entire box of chocolates. Not very sensible is it?
Therefore, a major shift that needs to be made is to 'minimize' your treats. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars on something that is fleeting, make your purchases less costly. If you are going out to dinner, do not spend $50 a plate on something that will ultimately end up in the sewer system. I can attest that a dinner that costs a fraction of that amount ends up in the same place. Expensive treats simply do not make sense.
The minimalist mindset applies to every area of your life. Trying to cut corners only ends up costing you. If freedom is your ultimate goal, be sure you are truly committed to taking the action that will get you there. Looking at the world through minimalist eyes will assist you in taking the proper action. This is how important the mindset truly it.
The above definition does a terrific job capturing the essence of what I am referring to. It is something, either an item or an action, that affords a particular pleasure. One other caveat that I would add to this is that it must be something that is different from the norm. Watching the same program on a weekly basis is not a treat since it is something that is part of the normal routine.
While I considered this subject, what first struck me is how people turn what should be a treat into a regular activity. For example, eating out should be an activity that is done as a treat. Instead, most people find themselves doing this a few times a week (or more). Therefore, the treat is lost since it is part of the normal pattern.
A second idea that came to me is that the treat does not have to hit a certain dollar amount. The definition above fails to contain the words expensive, costly, or regal. Certainly a treat could be those things but it not necessarily. That led me to conclude that one needs to alter the what he or she thinks about a treat.
Why do I mention all of this? My reasoning is simple if you understand Freedomquest. Most people live the slavery existence because they have no control over their finances. The average person earns over $1M in his or her lifetime yet have little to show for it at retirement. You would think that with this type of money earned, one could put away 10% which is $100,000 if the person earned no interest. However, most fall short of this.
What happens to all that money? One of the biggest problems is people 'treat' themselves all too often. When this occurs, income that could be invested is squandered. An example is the outlook of spas. We all saw the commercials where we are told to treat ourselves to a nice day at the spa. "Pampering" is what it is called. After all we deserve it.
My question is what does this pampering cost? $100? $200? $500? Honestly I have no idea but I know it can easily run into hundreds of dollars. And what do we get for this pampering? Obviously the person feels really good after (until he/she has to pay the credit card bill). That is the benefit. Therefore, it was all worthwhile.
Which brings me to my next question: how does this person feel 3 or 4 days later? In most instances, I presume that relaxed feeling is gone. Life has taken over. The money is spent yet the person feels the same as always. The treat was fleeting.
And that is the very point about treats...they are fleeting. The enjoyment or pleasure is only temporary. Whether it is a nice dinner, a day at the spa, or concert tickets, the net result is the same. The sensations felt in the moment dwindle as the next few days pass. Usually within a week, if it takes that long, the enjoyment of the treat is completely gone. So, why do we pay huge sums of money to give ourselves a treat. That is like a dieter giving him or herself a treat by eating an entire box of chocolates. Not very sensible is it?
Therefore, a major shift that needs to be made is to 'minimize' your treats. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars on something that is fleeting, make your purchases less costly. If you are going out to dinner, do not spend $50 a plate on something that will ultimately end up in the sewer system. I can attest that a dinner that costs a fraction of that amount ends up in the same place. Expensive treats simply do not make sense.
The minimalist mindset applies to every area of your life. Trying to cut corners only ends up costing you. If freedom is your ultimate goal, be sure you are truly committed to taking the action that will get you there. Looking at the world through minimalist eyes will assist you in taking the proper action. This is how important the mindset truly it.
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