Making More or Using It Wisely?

Hi my faves,

Happy Thursday…. How is February going so far?

A couple of days ago, I stumbled on an article about finances, and the title of this post popped into my head out of nowhere. I sat with it for almost two days before finally putting pen to paper. And no, I haven’t forgotten about my Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University series. I’m big on doing things well, and my schedule lately hasn’t allowed me to rewatch the videos, reread my notes, and properly summarize everything the way I want to. I’m hoping to resume by the end of March or early April, and a few friends have even encouraged me to turn the lessons into videos. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽.

This post, however, came from something I see every single day.

When Looking Rich Becomes More Important Than Being Secure

Growing up, I noticed something interesting in my neighborhood. Some families weren’t highly educated; no fancy degrees, no big titles, but they were financially stable. They learned trades, worked consistently, built their homes, borrowed some of the fancy degree owners money and lived comfortably among people with advanced degrees.

Now that I know better, I realize something important: education alone doesn’t build wealth, financial discipline does.

Schools in America don’t teach us how to manage money wisely. Most people either learn from experience or inherit habits (good or bad) from their families. If you grew up watching your parents live paycheck to paycheck, constantly in debt, or spending impulsively, there’s a high chance you’ll repeat the same pattern unless you’re intentional about changing it.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
— Proverbs 21:5

Social Media, Pressure, and the Cost of Applause

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: social media pressure.

Today, people spend money they don’t have on trendy things they don’t need, all for virtual hearts and validation from strangers they will never meet. Luxury unboxings. Constant vacations. Always upgrading cars, phones, and gadgets. Everything must be documented. Everything must look expensive.

According to studies, nearly 70% of millennials admit to overspending because of social media influence, and buy-now-pay-later services have made impulse spending even easier without immediate pain, but with long-term consequences.

The Bible warned us long before Instagram ever existed:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Matthew 6:21

Family A vs. Family B: Same Country, Very Different Outcomes

Let’s get practical.

Family A makes $120,000 a year.
Family B makes $367,000 a year.

Logically, we’d assume Family B is doing much better. More income should mean more comfort, right?

But here’s what actually happens.

Family A

Family A lives in a home they can afford. Not flashy but comfortable. Their mortgage is reasonable, and they plan to pay it off early. They save consistently for retirement, contribute to their kids’ college funds, and think ahead before making major purchases or booking trips. Vacations are planned; not last-minute and aligned with their budget.

They don’t live a “get-by” life. They live well but intentionally.

By the time they’re approaching 50, they’re on track to become millionaires, not because they made an extraordinary income, but because they managed what they had wisely.

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.”
— Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

Family B

Family B earns significantly more but lives on the edge financially.

They’re constantly upgrading cars, gadgets, and wardrobes. Luxury unboxings for social media. Expensive last-minute trips with premium prices. Very little planning. Very little saving. Retirement and college funds are “something we’ll figure out later.”

Despite their income, they’re stressed. One missed paycheck or unexpected emergency could cause serious problems.

This isn’t rare. In fact, over 50% of Americans earning six figures still live paycheck to paycheck, according to recent financial surveys.

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.”
— Ecclesiastes 5:10

Making More Isn’t the Goal, Stewardship Is

There’s a saying I’ve heard often: “The more you earn, the more your taste for expensive things increases.” And while that can be true, it doesn’t have to be.

This post isn’t shaming anyone who enjoys nice things. It’s not about frugality for suffering’s sake. It’s about wisdom. Planning ahead. Delayed gratification. Choosing long-term peace over short-term applause.

God never said money was evil but He repeatedly warns us about misusing it.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2

Final Thoughts

The real question isn’t “How much do you make?”
It’s “How well do you use what you make?”

Are we building futures or funding appearances?
Are we planning or reacting?
Are we seeking peace or praise?

Just something to think about