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PRIDE, PICKUPS, AND THE SCHOOL DROP OFF LINE

  • Writer: Treavor Dodsworth CFP®, CPA, CKA®
    Treavor Dodsworth CFP®, CPA, CKA®
  • Aug 15, 2025
  • 1 min read

Nothing quite makes me feel like trying to keep up with the Joneses then the school drop off line.


Pride, Pickups, and the School Drop Off Line

This is the first year we have had someone in school. Twice every school day I drive to my son's school and sit in the infamous line of cars waiting their turn to get to the school.


I have found it next to impossible to not look at the $50K+ pickups and SUVs around me and compare them to my $5K 2015 Honda Fit.


While it makes absolutely no practical sense in my situation, do I want to buy a new pickup? You bet.


If everyone else in the line was driving a 2010 Honda Fit, would I still want a $50K pickup? No- I am not a big car person and therefore would likely be happy with what I have. Therefore my desire to get a new car is to a large degree based on a desire to have something better than the person around me. Sounds a lot like pride.


I wonder how often pride causes people to go into debt.


Try to put on contentment instead of pride. While contentment is often seen as a state of being, I heard someone recently describe contentment like a muscle that you work out and grow. In other words, practice contentment.


Next time you are tempted to upgrade your lifestyle solely to look as good or better than those around you think of me- I understand. I may be at that moment sitting in the school pickup line trying to practice contentment myself.


 
 

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