Dilemma of Saving Money and the Job Market

Discussing if there exists some silver lining between a bleak job market and saving money.

Saving money and the current job market need no introductory explanation. With the "sudden" rise of consumerism, there's been gradual but urgent need to push back from all this spending. Amenities like professional sports won't stop people from wanting entertainment—to get away from this hectic lifestyle, "hustle culture," or put simply, working so many hours earning enough to live with. This routine has gotten so extreme that it's taken a toll on our health, both physical and mental, albeit emotional. The costs of living and basic, everyday necessities have increased and it's not helping when bills/debt have to be taken care of.

On the same token, businesses have cut prices, or it looks to be, so much that they're happy having a customer purchasing even one item; Some businesses are still fixated on trying to bank in that extra profit and barely making plans to lower prices, regardless. It's an alleged byproduct of knowing the technique(s) to profit from what you sell and invest, yet everyday citizens have also gotten smart (have we?) about negotiating better prices and/or looking elsewhere for a similar item that's moderately priced. Sounds like two pieces of magnets deflecting off each other because one side isn't agreeing to a transaction offered by the other, and even if both parties agree, there's this uncertain feeling whether the need has been satisfied. Everyone wants to come away a winner, but nobody can afford to lose—this applies to both sides of the equation.



We could say that such happenings and policies in place were made by the president and the states' very own officials elected in office, and while that's a factor, I'll just talk about the stuff going on within our own bounds.

It is my personal belief that this psychological trend of consumerism started from the popular video-sharing website YouTube. Videos showcasing "haul videos/vlogs," showing what they bought, along with videos at retail stores with people just browsing and shopping, has entered into the viewers' minds who watch and enjoy them. Sure, it's easy to deny and say they watch for the fun of it and are unaffected by what's on video, but this doesn't seem to be, especially others who get "influenced" by such behaviors of these YouTube personalities. Regardless of what these YouTubers shop for, it's hard not to seek, nor take in account, something similar: A hobby that fulfills an inner desire that otherwise must be satisfied because they saw it on video. All this is reflective because of the relief these YouTubers look after they bought something. And because of these internet memes joke about maxing credit cards, being broke yet still shopping, it's no wonder delinquencies in credit cards and loans continue to climb. Worse, many college graduates still owe student loans, and depending on the courses taken, the years it took to graduate and fulfill their own academic achievement(s), it'll be a long while until it's fully paid. Funny how it's all set up: You go to school, graduate with debt, and the degree you earned gets you a job helping pay off what you owe. Looks like health and diet are out of the question, but let's digress.

In contrast to all that's happening comes the job market and its outlook. Many people have grown tired of the usual '9 to 5' job in cubicles, and since pay, itself, is a topic on its own, majority are wanting a balanced life working a certain amount of hours, while having the chance to wander free. Using YouTube and its top-earning users as an example again, creators have disclosed their monthly earnings through the platform, giving eager creators/viewers to take a chance at producing content of their own. Opportunities like this has led to the gig economy where people have taken control of their own future—where young kids and teenagers are looking to do the same. Even though a "real" job is still needed, by those not looking into starting their own companies, services and/or brands, it's almost as if creating your own service/content is the way forward. Yeah, many people talk about starting their own business, content, but our question is when will they get started on it? (We personally knew people from the past saying such thing but never ever have the initiative to actually do it.)

Reports on the job market have been questionable at most and many feel that the economy continues to dry up. If it means doing your own thing, like making videos reviewing food, teaching something you know, livestreaming yourself playing video games, the platforms to do so are available; Getting started is the hardest part, but it can be done. At the same time, not all 'YouTubers' will thrive, not every livestreamer will earn enough nor will a podcast shoot off to attract the most listeners. In other words, the competition remains high and to stand out will take effort. Worse, it's been said that YouTube takes a big cut of revenue a user/channel makes, pushing these creators to their limits to produce content even if it means losing hours of sleep. With that said, it's as if it isn't getting easier on us and while hard work does pay off, the populace doesn't seem to be convinced. Add to that, the need to balance your physical and mental health and you've got a dilemma: Push yourself beyond what you can handle at the cost and expense of risking your health for money, or do as little as possible but see no reward. Unbelievable, huh?

Great, so we work hard to put food on the table while paying off any bills or debt even though the money we earn isn't enough. This means to push and work more hours which stresses our mind and body. Within the same realm, we want to save what we earned, perhaps invest it, and see some sort of monetary growth as our own reward for a job well done. Sure, finance [market] analysts and technical writers can blame generations all they want, but it's the culture that brought us to where we are; The lack of education about money is another reason; Our personal upbringing to where our own parent(s)/guardian(s) likely never warned nor taught their own kid(s) about the awareness of saving and protecting one's money marks another reason why. I hate to be the one encouraging finger-pointing, but...who's to blame for all this? Skeptics would answer that this may have been "planned" on purpose, but when is enough enough? We're at the point where four-day work weeks are highly suggested due to all the hours spent from employees trying to bank in enough for themselves, their families, their significant other, etc. Like food, will there be enough money for people?

The only solution to this is treading lightly—sorting out all you need and don't need (food is a required need, of course). Entertainment is a great thing to have, but unless you work in that industry, you'll have to be resilient and resort to other mediums where you can escape. If that means going outside and being one with Mother Nature, so be it; If reading books is your new form of television, do that; If downgrading your phone to a "dumbphone," that's okay too. For the sake of humanity, moving forward and solving today's problems is what we should be focusing on, but with the resources available today, plus generations still living in debt and not having the desire to work nor find work, it's a puzzle that can be solved but few people will actually listen or do. For one thing, politics is needed to sort this all out, knowing the candidate's plans and policies they look to implement, change, remove and so forth. Just the word "politics" itself triggers discomfort among the people, and thanks to social media, the attitudes, responses and reactions to such a topic is enough to cause yelling, fighting and ruined connections with others. Even though respecting another person's views and points are key, it's a mindset that'll take years to get the hang of, and many of us don't that patience to get things done and fast...right now, in fact. Therefore, we can conclude that it starts within ourselves and don't always have to be influenced by the things we see, hear, watch, read and more—to make our own choices and decisions. Besides bills and food, if this means not spending on anything, who are we to say you shouldn't do so? If your job is affecting you negatively, yet fear that you won't find anything better, or if a new job may pay less than what you're earning, why not make your health a bigger priority? We are in a state where changing our own selves and life paths may be needed, and as daunting and risky as that sounds, I feel that it will work out in one's favor (this assumes the person remains optionally open and resilient to the challenges such change will present). No one wants to be stuck in one place for the rest of their lives, no matter how poor things get, but it's the person themselves who can make and secure these changes in order to find a better path forward which includes everyone going through such a thing.

If I told myself this advice back in 2008, I would've laughed and say that it isn't needed. A year later, in 2009, was the time I grew a fast love for computer programming and mathematics—now wanting to pursue a full-time career solving problems and developing models and computations for the rest of my life. I love entertainment and always will, but something about solving and computing that keeps me feeling giddy. I never thought I would change my career focus and it wasn't because of the high pay and demand but I also find myself enjoying it. I was a bit fearful making that change, but I did, and so can you.

Some industry sectors pay better than others, and aren't likely going to be replaced with AI—Artificial Intelligence, but regardless, it doesn't mean you can't try. Make a change, test the waters and see what happens. Like with me, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

What do you think? Is it our upbringing that brought us here financially? Consumerism dating back to the nineties? Social media platforms via influencers that affected our minds and the need to spend? Lack of improved education about money management? Let us know in the comments below!