Affluenza Condition

"Affluenza" refers not only to a pervasive societal malaise, but also the book Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic and a great PBS special that delves into the phenomenon. The Affluenza web site defines affluenza as

The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth. 4. A television program that could change your life (1).

The resemblance of "affluenza" to "influenza" is intentional; it is a global disease of overconsumption and overwork characterized by a curious lack of satisfaction, and it seems to be contagious. No sooner does a person's coworker, neighbor, or friend get a new house, an expensive car, or a big promotion, than he finds himself wanting and working for the same thing. Before long, he is working too many hours, acquiring more stuff than he can take care of, and never finding time to enjoy the things in life that really matter family, friendship, spiritual refreshment, and living each day.

The disease of affluenza is easy to slip into without realizing it, and DeGraff's book is a wake-up call to everyone who has become caught on the treadmill of increasing work and decreasing satisfaction. DeGraff and the Affluenza web site suggest many solutions for enhancing human life on our planet and escaping from the vicious cycle of

hem clip grocery store coupons, for example (2). Susan Samtur, author of the books Cashing in at the Checkout and Coupon Magic and the magazine Refundle Bundle, routinely buys hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for under $10.00, just by clipping and organizing coupons. She has been featured on TV programs for her amazing prowess with coupons and refunds, and she claims that she only spends a couple of hours per week clipping and organizing them. It is far easier to save $400 with two hours of coupon management than to earn $400 to buy the same food, and this is apparently what millionaires discovered a long time ago. Therefore, coupons are destined to be a part of my life. One of the things I've always thought I would like to do is work from home full-time. I enjoy being at home, hate driving in bad weather, and dislike having to compete with anyone other than myself. Working from home would save money, since I would need very little gas, no work wardrobe or dry cleaning services, and none of the usual pricey work accessories like Franklin planners and leather briefcases. Of course, working from home means not having vacation or sick days, but then there is no one who has to approve time off, either. If I'm really too

Category: Psychology - A