In a great book “It’s Not About the Money”, the author, Brent Kessel, writes on the financial toll of endless wanting.

“For many people in our country, the incessant demands of the Wanting Mind have created daunting personal debt, bankruptcy, and broken homes. For others, the Wanting Mind has created a feeling of being caught in a hole with no way to dig out. Some clients I've met, if not financially bankrupt, have become so imprisoned by their wants that they can't direct their money toward what's really important to them, whether it be a debt-free life, a country cabin, the time to pursue a career change or artistic dream, or even the ability to help a loved one in need. Though these more heartfelt goals are also a form of wanting, they have some notable differences from the endless parade of desires that the Wanting Mind usually offers up.

When we let the Wanting Mind control our financial lives, there are always tremendous costs, both financial and emotional. I recall one client who was constantly remodeling her house, doing project after project, all the while thinking the next remodel would be the last one. Her Wanting Mind craved a more beautiful environment and more living space. To her, the value of these desires was non-negotiable. I remember her saying once, "Everyone's got to have a den that's separate from their formal living room," to justify an expansion of 1,500 square feet. But financing three remodels in a five-year period had forced her to continue in a job she didn't love for an extra ten years before retiring! Another person I know, a car salesman in the San Fernando Valley, had a passion for travel. Whenever he'd lose a close sale or feel tension with his wife and kids, he'd get out of town. Sometimes it would be a several-day hike in the Sierra, sometimes a weekend in Palm Springs. His income was not high-in fact, it was not enough to support his family, even without his travels. His desire to escape the difficulties of his life led to yet more spending-spending that he couldn't afford.

Many people are in similar positions. Our Wanting Minds force us to eat out too often, buy a new car every two years, chase the newest fashion or fitness trend, or seek out the latest spa or self-help workshop, to the detriment of our financial well-being. Whether it is more stuff, more security, or even just more free time that we crave, too many of us fall prey to our Wanting Mind's endless desires.”