Money and Addictions
I’m one of those people with a horribly addictive personality. I get hooked on stuff easily, which is why I try to live a simple life away from anything that could potentially harm me if I got addicted to it. I think a lot of people are like me and they don’t realize it, which is why we have so many people have to go through rehabilitation programs in order to get over their addictions.
I used to be a huge fan of the NBC show The Biggest Loser, which, if you don’t know the premise of it, they take some contestants to a ranch where they train as if they were athletes for like 15 weeks. To be a contestant, you have to be obese. The largest person to have been on the show when I still watched it was over 500 lbs. The biggest reason that these people struggle with their weight? Food addiction and compulsive overeating.
One thing that people don’t realize is how much addictions affect your wallet. I remember one episode where a couple was shown how much money their obesity would cost them if they didn’t do anything about their weight, primarily because the husband had lost his job as a scuba diver because of his weight. The amount of money filled the back of an armored car. That’s a lot of cash! My mouth dropped as they opened the back of the car, and the couple, of course, freaked out.
That’s just the beginning. A lot of people will try to blame their addictions on money, but really, it’s what you’re buying with the money. Whether it’s shopping, drugs, alcohol, food, or what have you, it’s bought with cold hard cash. That’s why addictions end up causing so many issues in relationships; the couple frequently looks at it as a money issue and not an addiction issue. They’re focusing on the wrong thing, and therefore not getting the results that they want and/or need.
So, why am I writing about this on a money blog? I’m not really sure. I have been reading a lot lately in the news about the divorce rate and the reasons behind it, and because of the current economy, a lot of the issues have been based on money. Throw in the fact that people are trying to nurse their troubles with various addictions, and it’s a big old mess.
If you’re thinking that you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction which, in turn, is causing a loss of financial stability and security, do what you can in order to seek out help. It may be difficult, but in the long run, fighting addictions is good for every area of your life, including the financial. Until tomorrow, spend smart, save smart!
