3592: Why Keeping Up With The Joneses Will Make You Broke by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents
From Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice by Optimal Living Daily | Diania Merriam
June 12, 2026 · 9 min · Episode 3592
About this episode
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner discusses how comparing your lifestyle to others can negatively impact your finances.
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 3592: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner explains how comparing your lifestyle to others can quietly sabotage your finances, leading to debt, stress, and delayed financial goals. She encourages focusing on your own values, understanding the root of comparison, and building a life that aligns with your budget and long-term priorities. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2014/11/why-keeping-up-with-the-joneses-will-make-you-broke.html Quotes to ponder: "Just because someone has a lot of material items and/or spends their money frivolously does not make them rich." "Being jealous about the things that other people have isn’t going to get you anywhere." "The point I’m trying to get at with this whole entire post is that you should always aim to live within your means." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Diania Merriam
Guest: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner
Topics covered
- financial independence
- comparison
- personal finance
- budgeting
- lifestyle choices
Keywords
- keeping up with the Joneses
- financial goals
- debt
- stress
- personal values
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Making Sense of Cents, Optimal Living Daily, Megaphone
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