My brother just bought a new car.  I’m actually slightly jealous but that is just some superficial social conditioning I’m sure — you know, cuz now he has a nicer car than me therefore my natural reaction is to want to buy a new car for myself.  Gotta keep up with the Joneses, or at least the advertising companies want you to.  That would actually be counterproductive to my goals at the moment, though.  Or maybe I should say my goal, singular.  My goal is saving money.  Why?  Because I’ve recently become paranoid about future stability.  What if I lose my job?  It’s not that I live paycheck to paycheck, but in this economy you never know when you’ll be able to find a job if you need to.  What do they say, you should have a minimum of 6 months’ worth of expenses saved up in an emergency fund?  I have that, but is that really enough?  Aren’t there people who have been out of work longer than that?

Here’s what would happen if I bought a new car:

First I would be excited.  The new car smell.  Feeling like a boss when you drive anywhere (as if other drivers even care what kind of car you drive).  You look at it and think “yeah, that’s mine.”

Then I would be like “ugh.  Gotta make that car payment.”  Every month would be a reminder that I just spent money.  Did I need to spend that money?  And don’t forget the about the cheap car insurance available from Kansas Agents I would also have to buy.  I have a perfectly fine car right now.  The only reason to get a new car would be because I want things.  Why?  To feel better about myself?  Nonsense.  The entire purpose of advertising is to make you feel like you’re not good enough without the product being advertised.  I am good enough, darn it.  I’m awesome.

Finally would be acceptance.  Not buyer’s remorse, but more like that morose feeling of being stuck with a payment (which serves as a constant reminder) of something you did that wasn’t the best choice.  How does that new car feel now?

And that’s why I believe I’m wired differently from other people.  I see everyone else running around trying to buy the newest and best version of whatever the new gadget of the week is.  “Check it out, I just got a new iPhone!”  Really dude?  Cuz it’s exactly the same as the previous one.

And that is why I won’t be buying a new car.

But I might see if my brother will let me borrow his.  It is really nice.