You look out the window of your home each night after
dinner, staring across the street at your neighbors. You
long for their fancy cars, their manicured lawns, and even
the vacations they seem to take several times a year.
You’re not alone.
I often look out my window, too — staring at the gorgeous
homes and cars — wondering how they manage to pay for
them. After all, we live in the same neighborhood, our kids
go to the same schools, and their salaries aren’t that much
more than ours.
There are several reasons that our neighbors can afford so
many of the things we would love to have, but could never
fathom splurging on:
Your perception may be skewed. You see fancy cars in the
driveway, and you can almost feel the trim lawns under
your toes. You watch work crews constantly going in and
out as they work on awesome remodeling projects inside.
Yet, none of this means that your neighbors are wealthier
than you are.
Just because YOU see them as more affluent doesn’t mean
they ARE.
You’re only able to see the surface of their spending; you
have no idea what’s happening underneath.
While you choose to consistently save money for your kids'
education, and for your retirement they could be spending
these “excess funds” on their cars and homes. They might
be making the shallow choice to spend their money on
what people can see, while you’re spending your money on
the life you want to live, both today and tomorrow . You’ve
chosen to pay for peace of mind.
It’s how your neighbors allocate their income that makes
them seem richer than they are.
While your neighbors’ salaries might be slightly higher than
yours, it likely isn’t enough to justify their massive leap in
spending. Fringe benefits, however, can greatly widen the
gap. They could be receiving perks like.... http://feelgoodstuffs..com/2014/08/7-reasons-your-neighbors-have-more.html?m=1