I had come across an interesting picture earlier. This picture to the left displays food expenditures for one week in different countries, and it really puts some perspective on things. We can really see the impact that the country of residence has so much to do with the amount they pay, the extravagance of the food, and the abundance of the favorite foods, or even their existence. Existence of favorite foods tend to family recipes until the very last picture, which interestingly enough, has a very very simplistic favorite food (soup with fresh sheep meat). I am guessing the inclusion of meat in every meal is scarce, so inclusion of meat in any meal is enough to make it a family favorite. This did remind me of several things. My own habits, nature, and I guess... tendencies of those who have high-paying professions.My own habits:
I try to be social from time to time, so I like to eat out sometimes. I do realize that this is kind of a wasteful practice, especially if it is not for a social cause. I realize that cooking for myself is not always practical, but at the same time, I have to watch the way I spend my own money. So, I'm trying to re-evaluate my lifestyle and live more frugally. I also see that I'm not the most wasteful person already, but there is more I could do to be a less wasteful person.
My own nature:
Man, this is some crazy global stuff, but the first thing I think about is myself, and how I can live more frugally. I realize if I am to be more selfless, I have to reform my way of thinking. I mean, granted, I have to serve myself first if I want to properly serve a wider range of people's needs (ie. I must get a job if I want to help those who are jobless. I can help those who are jobless otherwise, but not in the same way if I have a job).
This also brought me to think of my many friends who are pre-law and pre-med. Some of those friends are great people, and I would say very friendly and agreeable, not to mention extremely smart and driven. Some even go to homeless ministry with me and hand out granola bars, water bottles, and ask to hear the stories of the homeless. However, I have also noticed that many of my older friends (married with kids) who practice medicine or law as a profession have extravagant homes that could probably only be purchased through a profession that brings in that kind of money. It is their money, and I am not bashing anyone who chooses to use their money in such a way. I should note that I have grown up within a church, where we listen to sermons about being selfless, not materialistic, sacrificially loving, and generally attempting to better oneself weekly. That being said, I always wonder where the 6-figure incomes of people go, especially those in the church. I have only seen those who have nice houses, drive luxury cars, and take regular vacations. I mean not only are they nice houses, but they are in fantastic locations that only a 6+ figure salary can afford. I can't speak for my future self, but the current me would hate to see myself spending money that way.
Some background about myself. I have grown up privileged, but I am very thankful to my parents who did not spoil me. I had tennis lessons, but many other things were denied. If I ever wanted a toy or a video game station, I would be denied. I went to a public school and all my clothes came from thrift stores, hand-me-downs, or were free from tennis tournaments. When I was little (~7-8 years old), my mother would take me around to the rental properties she risked buying in the 70s or 80s for really cheap so I could help repaint the walls. Anyways, point is, parents raised me like we weren't well off. I later learned that we didn't have to live that way, but I am thankful I am.
TANGENT OVER. NO MORE. Anyways, I would love to see, and it doesn't have to be within a church, somebody with a crazy salary who goes for the middle class house, the average car (unless a nicer one is needed for work-image), eats out less, and sets aside a fund of some sort for charitable causes. Just looking at the picture to the left, I can already think of a couple of causes that could use that money more than a huge house in the nicest neighborhood in town.
My thoughts about why people change from crazy radicals in college who intend to bring change to the world to strict family-people who put much more value in their savings and financial security is that the hard work finally gets to them. After so many years of med/law/graduate school, university, high school, middle school, elementary school, people just end up developing a sense of entitlement and an attitude of snootiness (though they might not notice or think that they do). "I've worked hard. Harder than anyone else around me to get to the level that I am currently at. I've been put through mountains of stress, and I've had to suffer so much for this life I built from the ground up. I deserve this much. If anybody else is worse off than me, they did not work hard enough, should have made better decisions, and were not born as smart as me." Or something along those lines. At some point, I think worldly success starts to influence compassion for others with spite. The whole cutthroat competitive business attitude about everything probably does not do much to help with the compassion aspect.
I guess I've rambled my thoughts for long enough. I'm fairly sure nobody reads this blog anyways, so this is practically just a diary that I occasionally write in. If anyone does read this, what would your thoughts about this subject be? If you had a steady, 6-figure salary, where would the money go?
I'll update this post later...or post another more organized one eventually.
