Master Your Own Money Choices

Instead of judging others, have clarity about what you want from your money, where you want to spend it and how you want to feel about it

- LARISSA FERNAND

I recently attended a wedding held by an extremely wealthy individual. In totality, seven receptions were held in different expensive venues across two cities. And on the wedding invitation, it was specifically stated that only blessings would be accepted, no gifts.

Clearly, the family spent a fortune on this celebration. To which a friend commented that he is not really surprised about such extravagance after seeing the ostentatious pre-wedding celebration of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s son.

The point of this article is not about expensive weddings. It is about how we think about the money being splurged. A lot of people really do get upset at the “disgusting amount of money people spend on weddings”.

But what is really disgusting? The opulence? The fact that they can afford such an extravaganza with no debt? That they choose to flaunt their money? If yes, why does it irk people? Their money, their ambitions, their lifestyle. Who are we to decide how people must spend their wealth?

Let me try to put this across as objectively as possible to enable us to understand and improve our relationship with money.

Admit To The Hypocrisy

There are many individuals or families that are much lower down the economic strata, from where we are positioned. How would we like it if they judged us for our lifestyle?

Imagine them commenting on the amount of money we waste on Swiggy and Zomato, or why we feel the need to eat in slick restaurants, and the amount of money spent in cafes and coffee shops, and the need to buy expensive crockery when a simple dinner set will do the job. Most of us would react unpleasantly if someone dared to comment on it. After all, it is our money, and we get to choose the lifestyle it will support.