Racine Journal Times, WorkLife Section, September 16, 2007

I'll take a baloney sandwich

As one who has always enjoyed observing human nature and good food, there have been a few times when the combination of the two made me stop in my tracks.  Take the time, for instance, when I had the pleasure of an invitation for dinner at a pastor’s home while on a Habitat for Humanity trip in Armenia.  The hospitality my dinner companions and I received was indescribable.  Just picture a dinner table so overflowing with delicious food that the parade of additional dishes making their way from the kitchen had to be stacked two-high because there was no more room on the table.  The abundance of food, laughter, song and engaging conversation that night is one of my most cherished memories.

Another time food plus human nature made an impression on me was when, as a waitress many years ago, I served a family man a pricey meal.  How we got on the subject I don’t recall, but he confessed that, despite his income never being higher, he wasn’t really happy.  I quickly asked, “Why?” with a shocked expression.

He explained that he would rather have a baloney sandwich in the park with his family any day than to eat a steak dinner alone in a fancy restaurant.

That statement made a huge impression on me, as it’s not something you typically hear in a super-size-me society.  That family man taught me an important lesson that day:  Sometimes, less is more.

Time to 'Soak up the Sun'

The sentiment expressed by that husband and father strikes at the heart of the work-life balance that an increasing number of American workers are requesting.  Companies are slowly giving in, but only with reluctance due to a tight labor market.  A similar and important element, which is helpful to achieving greater success with your personal finances, is what’s driving this shift:  Contentment.

Sheryl Crow touched on this with “Soak up the Sun”:

My friend…..

I can’t afford his gas

So I’m stuck here watching TV

I don’t have digital

I don’t have diddly squat

It’s not having what you want

It’s wanting what you’ve got

Someone once made a quip that Webster’s should change the definition of money to “not enough.”  Do you, like many, find yourself thinking, ‘I don’t have enough money.  I’ll never have enough money.  Everyone has more money than me.  Those people have more than their fair share of money. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.’?

If so, you’ve got a lot of company.  That club is bursting at the seams, but that doesn’t mean you have to belong to it.  As Groucho Marx said, “Please accept my resignation.  I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.” In other words, you don’t have to join a mode of thinking that doesn’t serve you well.

Is it wrong to want more out of life?  Absolutely not.  From a pure economic standpoint, wanting more, along with the money it creates, is what makes the world go ‘round.  But when the gap between what you want and what you have (or believe you can have) is as wide as the Grand Canyon, seeds of destructive behavior get an extra dose of fertilizer.  As history has shown us, discontentment at the extreme is at the root of more than one war, overthrown government and genocide.

The impact of contentment

But extreme situations don’t brew overnight.  It takes time to percolate, and invariably begins at the most personal level – with individuals and families.  And it’s not about the gap between the rich and the poor.  People can be content with a little or discontent with a lot.  I’ve seen destructive behavior exhibited by deca-millionaires, meaning their net worth exceeds $10 million, because what they have will never be enough.  On the flip side, I’ve seen well-balanced behavior by some who will never have more than a fraction of those deca-milllionaires. 

Why does the level of contentment one has regarding money and material possessions matter so much?  It matters because the very thing that holds so many folks back from what they want (i.e., contentment) is the feeling of lack – a hard thing to shake.  Those who manage to release that attitude open up a world of possibilities and greater satisfaction with life.

Meet one family that's proud to call itself "cheap"

One family has figured out a way to make the “less is more” philosophy work for them.  Steve and Annette Economides proudly dub themselves, “America's Cheapest Family.”  Their book, “America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money:  Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams,” explains how their family of seven manages (and happily, I might add) to live on $35,000 per year.

The Economides family has managed to do what most Americans consider impossible, and they are doing it with dignity.  Their methods may not work for everyone, as it requires a lot of discipline, planning and courage to shun the status quo.  These folks are downright content with second hand clothing, furniture and soon-to-be-expired meat. 

What’s most remarkable is that not only did this family find the courage to resist a way of life that doesn’t serve them well, but they went further and consciously created their lives the way they want it to be and found their bliss.  And that is absolutely priceless.

By the way, baloney with a bit of lettuce on buttered, wheat toast is divine.

Michelle Ouzounian, CMFC, is the founder and President of Verity Investment Counsel, Inc. (www.verityinvcounsel.com), a fee-only, independent registered investment advisory firm in Racine. Michelle can be reached at 262-898-8400, or m.ouzounian@verityinvcounsel.com.

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