Fox News published an article about couples who are married. Loving money may not be good for your love life, according to research. Years of research show that materialism isn't great for anybody. Across the board, marriages with at least one materialistic spouse were worse off on all measures than marriages where neither spouse was materialistic. Non-materialistic couples had greater marriage stability and lower levels of conflict. Materialism often means spouses making bad financial decisions, spending beyond their means, getting in debt, and stressing each other out.
I found this article very interesting. I found this research to be very practical. The research also did not surprise me.
When I read this article I was reminded of the saying, "You can't buy happiness." This is so true. So many people think they will just be happy if they get this or that. However, they are wrong. Yes, they will be happy for just a brief period of time, but then it is never enough. They are never satisfied with what they have. They must always be getting something newer, bigger, or better. Learning contentment is an extremely hard task in today's society. We are constantly bombarded by companies and people pressuring us to get the latest or to buy this or that. When this happens in a marriage, just like the research shows, often spouses make bad financial decisions, spendbeyond their means, get in debt, and stress each other out. This is the formula for an unhappy marriage and one that will often end in divorce. If couples could learn that they do not need everything that the world tells them they need, then I believe they would find a much bigger and better sense of fulfilment.
So, are you content with what you have or do you have to have the biggest, best, and latest of everything? May we all strive to be content with what we have and learn that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
I am very satisfied with my lifestyle. My parents could have been quite well off if they hadn't spent all their money and lives raising fifteen children. Yet I believe they are much happier than those who have traded in family for material wealth. In fact, I would say many are even jealous, though much wealthier. It makes me feel very loved to know how much both of my parents put on the line to bring me here.
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