Your grocery bill increases weekly, but all you hear is that there is no food to eat. Everyone needs new clothes, yet, your closets and dressers are full. You need new carpet, but you can’t see the carpet you do have because of all the “crap” laying around the house. You need new bikes, but your garage and yard are littered with bikes. We need new cell phones with the latest features. The list is endless. How is it we need so much, when in reality we have so much? If this sounds familiar, you may have “stuffitist” or you may be a “crapaholic”.

What exactly are these diseases and are they contagious? Stuffitist is the constant pursuit of possessions. One often feels that the possessions they own are a direct reflection of their success. A crapaholic is a person who continually collects stuff but never gets rid of the old junk. Their crap quickly overtakes their house; however, they are often heard whining that they have nothing. As far as being contagious, yes they are. If a stuffite or a crapaholic has children, the odds are extremely high that they will pass the disease on to the children.

Day after day I talk with friends, business associates, clients and prospective clients. Some of the common themes discussed are lack of funds, too much debt and the “need” for items for their homes and families. I don’t think it takes a financial genius to determine that more often than not, there may be a correlation between these three areas. But how does this cycle ever end? First identify the problem. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I consciously or sub-consciously need to keep up with the Jones?
2. Do I often feel sorry for myself and feel like a victim? You may even have said, “Everyone else has it but me”. Or, “I work hard and I deserve it”.
3. Do I become obsessed with an item after I see it advertised on TV or in a store ad?
4. Do I appreciate the items I already have or am I more concerned with what I don’t have?
5. Have you ever went to the store and bought something and then later found that you already had it?
6. Do you think it takes money to have fun? Do you have to buy the latest video game to entertain your child instead of going outside and playing with them?

If you answered yes to any of these questions it may be time to address the problem. Here are four steps that can help you gain control back:

1. Identify your “crap”. Step back and take a look at your home. Look at each room. Is there “crap” that you can get rid of? Start with one room or closet. If you find yourself enjoying the experience expand to another room.
2. Get rid of the crap. Have a Garage Sale. Take it to an auction house. Sell it on eBay.com or on craigslist.com. Use the money to either “minimize your debt or to maximize your Emergency Fund. You can also donate your items to Good Will or give them away on Freecycle.org.
3. Check out some interesting blogs. I enjoy reading Joshua Becker and his blog BecomingMinimalist.com. His site has access to some other great blogs that you may enjoy.
4. Identify areas of your budget that are out of control. Start trimming the expenditures. I believe you will find your expenses shrinking as your appetite for stuff shrinks.

I know I plan on putting this list to good use this month. I hope you will join me. Please give us some feedback on how your battle against “stuffitist” and “crapaholism” is going. You can enter your comments at the end of the article or contact me at coach@thefinancecoach.net or call 317-858-7270.