MANY people fail to smartly manage their finances when it comes to deciding on spending for a necessity or want.

Today, having an expensive gadget is a social trend when lustful spenders willing to forgo their proper dinners just because they want to reserve their ‘hard-earned cash’ for a newly-launched gadget that’s priced higher than your bank account balance.

That is a chronic problem faced by many people around us who think that money can be easily printed by a colour printer and banks are their BFF.

From what I personally see, spending for a fancy gadget is an economic disease suffered by many youngsters who have been eyed as a ‘potential spender’.

Unfortunately, this segment of spender doesn’t earn as much as a 50-year-old experienced politician who can be just fine using an old iPhone 7 as long as he can send private messages to his girlfriends.

Even worse, gadgets they ‘buy’ are actually paid with monthly instalments that take more than twelve months for a full settlement.

“Who cares, this is my money” is a murderous egoism that murder their financial ability after they lose their jobs.

When they face a severe financial debt that urgently needs them to instantly pay loans, or get their names blacklisted, they would surely find anybody close to them and beg them, “Please lend me some money, ma friend.”

That is when “friend” is what you would be called by your desperate friend who craves your help.

“Lending me money” is what causes a sweet friendship turns dull when borrowers would act like a hunger beggar after tens of Whatsapp messages sent to the debtor friend replied with disgusting blueticks.

Covid-19, besides revealing unpleasant attitudes of certain big-headed politicians, teaches us to be financially humble.

Even though you are being blessed for having a job that still remunerates you even if you play Playstation 5 instead of working at home as expected by your bosses, money must be appreciatively treated as if it could turn dust if we don’t manage it wisely.

It’s not sinful to have a collection of same-but-new gadgets, but what’s the meaning of life when a RM12 cup of tastefully-brewed Americano seems to be an original Gucci handbag to you?

Unless your gadget can be transformed into a vehicle that can safely ferry you to wherever you want, spending RM600 a month for a smartphone or tablet is applaudable, and you can even respond to your ‘caring’ friends or colleagues, “My phone can transport me, you know?”

If love blinds us, so does unnecessary spending for a not-so-important gadget.

What makes you indispensably need a freshly-sold gadget when one you bought last year can still be functional and… useful?


* Amerul Azry Abdul Aziz is an independent writer.

**The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.