You Are What You Watch

Did you know that when the new Top Gun movie released, experts expected a sharp uptick in people joining the air force and navy air division?  They expected it.  I'm not sure experts expected the sharp uptick in young girls running away to Hollywood to become you-know-what-stitutes after Pretty Woman was released, but that's what happened nevertheless.    

Something similar although far less tragic happened when the Hunger Games came out.  No, people didn't make kids compete in a to-the-death style scenario, but there was a sharp rise in young girls' interest in archery.  In fact, there was an old archery field where we lived at the time that had gone to pot years earlier, and as soon as Katniss brandished her bow,  interest soared and the field re-opened with most classes being exclusively populated by girls aged 9-15.  Why?  

Because people are easily influenced by what they see.  That's why it's so important to pay attention to what you're watching; it has an effect on you whether you realize it or not.  Even though I try to pay very close attention to the messages in my media and the way they affect my thinking, in my own life I've noticed a number of television shows that had lasting effects on me. 

For example, when my children and I started watching Cupcake Wars, we began making and eating cupcakes weekly.  I had to stop watching the show before one of us got put on diabetes medication.  The Biggest Loser always inspired me to workout, Hoarders helped me get serious about cleaning, What Not to Wear helped me create a wardrobe I am proud of, and Golden Girls is the whole reason I learned to bake cheesecake.

Since I've been working at cutting spending, particularly on clothes, my most favorite thing to splurge on, I decided it might be helpful if I started influencing myself with what I watch, you know see if I can find that same positive motivation I found in those other shows, Cupcake Wars sugar-coma aside.  Enter Til Debt Do Us Part in which financial whiz Gail Vaz-Oxlade helps people get out of debt and get their spending under control.   

While my spending isn't quite as dire as the people typically featured, I do see some similarities between myself and them, which makes the advice Vaz-Oxlade gives them relevant to me as well.  

The main thing that all these episodes share is a switch from credit/debit to cash only until their finances are squared away.  I know it would take more time and planning than just carrying cards to cover expenses as they come up, but I think switching to cash only would go a long way to cutting unnecessary spending.

I've been playing one or two short episodes a day just to inspire me and remind me to keep my spending in check.  I'm not in debt, but I could definitely spend less on clothing and be more financially comfortable.

In our consumer driven disposable lifestyle, there's a fair chance that most of us are overspending somewhere and with inflation and whatnot, this is the ideal time to cutback on unnecessary expenses.  So, hopefully like those other shows before it, this little show will have a big influence on me and make me more mindful of where my money goes.  I'll keep you posted.

Shopping Info: Marie Ribbon Dancer Dupe-$44, Bettie Page heels from Amazon