Why Am I So Broke?
You may have asked yourself that question many times. This movie (“The Joneses“) is a play on the timeless “keeping up with the Joneses” phrase.
There are a few ways that this movie lands with its viewers. The movie seems to answer that age-old question of “Why am I so broke?”
While watching it, some viewers may actually begin to see their own spending patterns in some of the movie’s characters. Others may simply see the movie at face value. There may also be others that may notice the inevitable pattern that is bound to happen even before it is brought to light in the movie.
I think there’s real educational value in this movie. It seems to have an insight on the spending habits of some who feel the influence of local culture and their neighbors.
For me, I found this movie to be quite educational. Although the educational value for most viewers may depend on the mindset that they begin watching it with.
For best results and to get the most out of it, begin watching The Joneses with an open mind. Learning certain things (or avoiding certain habits) portrayed in this movie can save you quite a bit of money and pain.
Keeping Up With The Joneses
The movie starts out with a seemingly perfect family. The family moves into a neighborhood that seems to be upper class. Everyone in the neighborhood is doing quite well for themselves.
This new family entering the neighborhood, fittingly called “The Joneses,” has the best of everything.
The Joneses have the latest gadgets, the newest fashion accessories, the nicest house on the block, the nicest cars, and the list goes on.
The Jones family is made up of a mother (Demi Moore), a father (David Duchovny), a daughter (Amber Heard), and a son (Ben Hollingsworth). They’re seemingly perfect in every way! Not to mention, they seem very giving of their stuff.
The parents have a house with the latest designer furniture that they show off to the neighbors. The Jones children are super popular at their respective schools because they have the latest gadgets and fashion accessories.
From there, many of the Jones’ peers are envious and start to covet everything that the Joneses have. After all, who wouldn’t want the latest release of whatever brand or fashion they really like?
Pretty soon, it starts to become apparent that the neighbors are literally trying to keep up with the Joneses.
The Problem With Keeping Up With The Joneses
Without trying to spoil too much of the movie, eventually a pattern with the neighbors starts to emerge. That question, “Why am I so broke?” comes to light.
Next thing you know, the entire neighborhood is seemingly having a hard time keeping up with the Joneses.
There’s more to the movie, but the point to be touched on, is that keeping up with the Joneses (i.e. constantly buying the latest gadgets and fashion accessories) is usually a losing proposition. It’s impossible for most to keep up with the Joneses without going completely broke.
This is why your habits are such a major factor in determining how you’ll end up financially in the long-run. If you try to keep up with the Joneses (both metaphorically or, as in this movie, literally) you may end up broke. So, try to keep your spending habits under control.
Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)
A recent naming of a trend that has been around for ages has surfaced. It’s called the Fear of Missing Out (or FOMO).
Basically, this is what drives the desire to actually keep up with the Joneses. If someone else has something that seems really cool, you don’t want to miss out on the experience that the other person is getting by having what they have.
Sometimes this is regardless of whether or not you may even like whatever that someone has. It’s just simply that thought of missing out that drives the behavior.
To me, it’s simply a lack of control that attributes to this phenomena.
Nobody wants to hear it, but if someone has self-control, they don’t fall into trying to keep up with the Joneses.
The Take Away
From a financial perspective, this movie is a perfect illustration of how there’s a Jones family in just about every neighborhood. Sometimes the metaphorical local Jones family doesn’t even realize they’re the Joneses of the neighborhood!
Sometimes trying to keep up with them can be difficult in more ways than one. Either way, just because they’re there and they have all of the latest and greatest TVs, gadgets, and more, doesn’t mean you have to follow in their footsteps.
Live within your means and you’ll probably end up in great shape down the road.
If you do end up trying to keep up with the Joneses, best of luck to you! At that point, however, you’ll know the answer to the original question, “Why am I so broke?”
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