3025: Can I Afford It Is A Terrible Filter by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist on Spending Decision Advice

Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

Optimal Living Daily LLC

Investing, Business, Education, Self-improvement

4.4 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3025: Joshua Becker challenges this common financial filter, explaining why it’s incomplete and often misleading. Instead, he suggests five better questions to guide spending decisions, helping align purchases with personal goals, motivations, and long-term financial well-being. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/can-i-afford-it/ Quotes to ponder: "Can I afford it? is a terrible filter because the answer is always subjective." "Everything we buy takes up physical space in our home and mental space in our mind." "With every purchase, we sacrifice a small amount of freedom." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:17.5	Subscribe to the average Joe now. This is Optimal Finance Daily. Can I afford it? Is a terrible
1:25.9	filter by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist.com.
1:31.0	When deciding to make a financial purchase or not, the most common filter we use is, can I afford it?
1:39.1	Is there enough money in the bank or room on the credit card to cover this purchase?
1:46.8	If so, we can buy it. From the home we live in, the car we drive, the vacations we take, the technology we upgrade, the clothes we
1:52.6	wear, and everything in between, most of us simply ask, can I afford it? I've seen this thinking
1:59.5	in my own life. No doubt you've experienced the thinking in yours as well.
2:03.6	Oftentimes, it's coupled with an I deserve it mentality, as in I work hard for my money.
2:09.6	I'm going to spend my money on this.
2:11.6	I deserve it and I can afford it.
	...

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