"If you don't see the real me, you won't see what love has won..." Vota

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Consumer Reports says to "keep up with the Joneses."

I accidentally deleted this post yesterday, so I will try it again. I am going in a slight different direction today with this. In an ad for Consumer Reports that I got in the mail (trying to get me to buy it) there were all these different DO's and DON'Ts. I want to focus my Blog not on the couple of DO's I intend to follow (like the new camera I want or the printer to go with it...) but on one particular DO that was telling consumers that in order to make their house "pay off" that the home owner must "keep up with the Joneses", but not outdo them. From an economical standpoint it is logical; however, do we really need to keep up with the Joneses in order for our homes to be worthy? It says to add on square footage to increase the value of your home, but not to add to much. It will not pay off in the end. OK, so I get that if your home was only a house that you are flipping as a job this makes sense. What IF the home owner is actually living in a home and not a house. Many people I know are on the "live in it for 2 years and sell it to get a bigger one" plan. I am not so sure this would bring on a peaceful feeling-- for me at least. I am on the "grow old together here" plan. My parents were too. Now they did add on and remodel when it was needed, but they are still living in the house I grew up in. It means something to me and I know it does my sister. My husband's mom still lives in the home that he grew up in, his dad added on... just like my dad. His dad died when he was 18 years old. Now the house holds many memories of his dad and times they had together. What if his parents moved house to house? (OK so they would still have memories, I'm not stupid, but would it be the same?) I am not knocking someone's decision or even need to move frequently. My dear sister is a military wife as is a good friend of mine, and they have to move every couple of years. I think the line I draw (this IS my Blog so I can say what I think) is when you are "keeping up with the Joneses" just to have something or more or "treasures on earth" then I think that goes against what God would have you do. My treasures are laid up in heaven and are in my heart. For instance, I would rather raise my girls, as God calls Christian mom's to do, in a God fearing home, with a Christ centered education, with me or my husband as their care givers, and family time be all the time and not one night of the week than to have a regular, full time, second income. Now many think that this would be nice too, but they could not survive on only one income. I'm telling you that it is possible. You just have to let go of the "want bigger" or "want more" or "have to have" philosophy. You can't keep up with the Joneses. You have to be happy with what you have even if your home is smaller than the others in the neighborhood. So I'm sorry Consumer Reports, I DON'T buy it.

4 comments:

  1. Excellent post. Here's a place where good economic sense and Christian faith are in conflict, and most folks choose the good economic sense and miss God's blessing.

    I hear your parents had to do major renovations when you moved out! :)

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  2. Very funny, Dennis, but they did do some major remodeling after I left.

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  3. I agree 100%. As a military family we understand first hand how important family is and making memories because, like you said, we don't have the luxury to live in the same house. But our HOME is where and when we are together. I always have dreamed of finding a husband, having children, and raising them in a small town in the same home with lots of family and friends around. I always wanted to be one of those families that had family lunches after church on Sundays and lots of get togethers. But it is great how God changes all of that for what He wants and for what you don't know you want until He gives it to you. I never dreamed I would be a military wife BUT now I wouldn't change my life for anything. Yes it would be nice to be around family but I am blessed to get to see them more than some of my friends. If "you" are around family know that it is a blessing and that not everybody is that lucky.
    Love Rachel

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