Many people still don't understand the meaning of spending money, measuring it entirely in terms of profit/loss and economic return.
For example, they might tell you that renting is cheaper than buying, suggesting you sell your house and rent instead.
Or they might tell you that luxury cars only depreciate, suggesting you take taxis or buy a cheap car for 800,000 or 100,000 yuan.
Or they might tell you that your dad asking for money to build a house in your hometown is a losing proposition, suggesting you sever ties with your dad as soon as possible.
Simply put, when you drive a luxury car to a gas station, you feel a sense of superiority while waiting in line. Driving it in every situation you encounter evokes a subtle sense of superiority. This subtle sense of superiority is the luxury car itself; you're not buying the car, but the sense of superiority it brings.
Those who sell their houses to rent in pursuit of economic returns are even more pathetic. Would you carefully decorate your rented apartment? Would you furnish it with better furniture and appliances? For example, if the walls of your rented apartment are a bit dirty, would you buy the best, most environmentally friendly paint and repaint them? Even if you did, you'd probably buy the cheapest paint because the apartment belongs to someone else. Would you have a better quality of life in a rented place?
So, the more expensive the house you buy, the better. What you're really buying is a sense of belonging and the quality of life the house brings. Let's put it this way: even with the same neighbors, if you're renting, your neighbors might not even bother with you. Can your purchased house be the same as a rented one?
Suppose you live upstairs, and your child is young and always running around. If you own your own apartment, your long-time downstairs neighbors might be more understanding and less likely to bother you. But try renting—they'd be knocking on your door and yelling at you. Their attitude towards you is completely different. You're not just buying a house; you're buying a quality of life.
The money your father spent building a house in his remote hometown wasn't just because the house was unsellable and stagnant. The money you spent was actually buying filial piety. Your father's happiness might have passed down to you, bringing you peace of mind. This money bought you peace of mind.
No money is wasted. You bought a sense of superiority, a higher quality of life, filial piety, and peace of mind. Subtly, you bought yourself a sense of well-being. This well-being might translate to better health, and then to career success.
For example, many people say they'd only allocate one-tenth of their 10 million to buy a 1 million luxury car. But in reality, and according to the law of attraction, the order of things might not be so simple. Perhaps you only have 300,000 for a down payment on a 1 million luxury car. Because you believe this good thing should belong to you, and you can match that 1 million in other aspects of your life, you attracted your 10 million.
The order of events isn't so much about having 10 million first, then a 1 million luxury car. It's more about having the 1 million luxury car first, then the 10 million. If you don't believe me, randomly interview 100 owners of 1 million luxury cars and ask them the actual order.
Spending money is the highest form of life wisdom.
If you have money, you have to spend it. If you only earn it and don't spend it, what's the point?
Finally, ask yourself honestly:
Of all the wealthy people you see, which one drives a 20,000 yuan electric car, rents a 60-square-meter room with their family, and spends their days yelling and cursing at their parents?
