Comments on: Money Mistake #6 – Seeking to impress others

By: Craig @ Money Help For Christians

Craig @ Money Help For Christians — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:38:32 +0000

I purchase most of my clothes second hand. Guess what? I still try to find things to impress people. I look at the brand, care about the color, and will prefer shirts without stains. Eventually, we all find our personality. People know I shop second hand and expect to me to show off what I picked up recently. If your going to impress people you might as well impress them with your frugality! Once you create your persona then its all downhill from there. By the way, I dress professionally. I don’t look like I slept in my clothes or anything crazy like that I’m just allocating more of my money to things that make a greater impact in God’s kingdom.

By: Denise @ Single Mom Financial Help

Denise @ Single Mom Financial Help — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:11:07 +0000

I completely agree. Trying to impress someone by spending money is not a good thing to do. Impress them by showing restraint and being frugal instead.

By: JasonT

JasonT — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:32:12 +0000

Tight rolling your pants?? Ok, I did the same thing. It was cool at the time.

Great post, this is something I struggle with all the time as I find myself looking at impressing others sometimes more than I am concerned about pleasing God.

Greed and coveting can be a very blinding sin. Thanks for the reminder and your honesty.

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:54:00 +0000

first, i want to be like you when i grow up; your website and blogs are my dream job (yes, i know you’ve shown how to do it and i am in the study phase–hehe).

i tell people all the time, i don’t have to keep up with the jones’; i like being a johnson. i tell the kids to think the same way. don’t think about what others have, but think of what God wants for you, what you need and then what you want. i have everything i need and am blessed to have some of the things i want.

then i look at the end result. several friends have just purchased cars; my car is paid for. i want a new car, but i want to be debt free more! so when we go out i let them drive so i get the feel of being in a new car–lol.

By: Todd @ The Personal Finance Playbook

Todd @ The Personal Finance Playbook — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:35:41 +0000

I completely agree, but this is something I struggle with. I like to be the best at things. I’m competitive, and I think a lot about how I’m perceived. It’s something I’m working on;) Nice post.

By: Bible Money Matters

Bible Money Matters — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:15:35 +0000

Wait, tight rolling your pants isn’t in style anymore? Next thing you’re gonna tell me is that acid washed jeans and those hypercolor heat sensitive shirts are no longer cool either.

Seriously though, good reminder about how we need to stay grounded in our faith, and not try to keep up with others that surround us and accumulate things that in the grand scheme of things are meaningless.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:31:01 +0000

Slightly off-topic, but I just recently thought about how I had tight-rolled my own pants in junior high but failed to notice it had gone out of style until someone started making fun of my pants a few years later. I never did quite get fashion.

Maybe the application is…trying to impress others will leave you constantly spending more to keep up with ever-changing trends.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:57:33 +0000

I find that I tend to withdraw from friends who expect me to keep up with the group. I do have a group of friends who get pedicure and manicures and spend a ton on clothing. However, they don’t expect me to and don’t put me down for not wanting to spend my money on such things.

By: Angie

Angie — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:40:13 +0000

I laugh only because I used to do similar things.

This verse is a cure all for me…For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal 1:10

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:16:43 +0000

This is very difficult because a lot of times it is heavily influenced from friends. If you go group shopping, or one friend has something you would like, you are more likely to spend. Tough habit to break.