Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

3592: Why Keeping Up With The Joneses Will Make You Broke by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents

June 12, 2026·8 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

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

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