It seems to me- most people are walking through their financial life with no real direction. It's like they're all a bunch of Financial Zombies...The Walking Dead Broke.

Have you ever noticed how many of your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others are just wandering around consuming whatever they can, as fast as they can, without a clear thought about what effect all this spending and debt has on them or their future? It's depressing. And it's certainly not limited to others. Even we can find ourselves in that same decaying financial position. I know I have.

 
The Walking Dead Rick Grimes Statue [Entertainment Earth Affiliate Link]

We are bombarded with thousands of marketing and sales messages everyday (just like the affiliate link above)...buy this, finance that, free delivery, 90 days same as cash, limited time offer...all trying to convince us that we not only need a certain product or service- we are entitled to having it- right now. They appeal to our vanity, our competitive nature and our darkest desires (come on, wouldn't that Rick Grimes Statue look great as part of your Geek Collection?). And it's working. We have homes, garages and storage buildings full of crap we don't need or use. We certainly deserve all of it without having to wait, right?

Most people don't save enough money, spend more money than they make and don't even realize they're being manipulated (have you clicked on the affiliate link yet? You know you want to.) into doing what others want them to do. They are mindless followers of the all mighty dollar and have fallen prey to rampant consumerism. They work to pay everyone else for past decisions, instead of making money to fund their present and future.

They buy (both literally and figuratively) into the bullshit notion that more spending helps boost or improve our economy. Really? I'm sure spending all of my money, racking up credit card debt and paying outrageous fees is helping someone else...but it's certainly not helping me or my family. It's making our present miserable and our future uncertain.

The mantra for many is that spending is easy...saving/investing is hard. It's the same reason so many people- including me- are fat. Eating is easy...losing weight/working out is hard. Seriously, when did we all become so damned lazy?

 
The Walking Dead Minimates Series 1 Mini-Figure 2-Pack Case [Entertainment Earth Affiliate Link]

Financial Zombies, just like those in movies and TV shows, are attracted to loud noises. So, whoever or whatever is making the most noise at any given moment gets all the attention. 

Unfortunately, despite the number of popular personal finance blogs, financial news and educational information available- we're not making nearly enough noise to attract the masses. We don't have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on advertising and marketing. We're only able to get the attention of the small percentage who are either already looking for the information and stories we provide or come across it by chance.

Getting upset with the walking dead broke is pointless. Do you think Zombies really know, or understand, they are Zombies? You can't make them feel guilty or remorse for their basic nature. They have to come to that conclusion on their own. They have to develop a need...a desire...to want to change their financial habits. It takes significant emotional and financial events to drive this kind of change. Insulting them and their spending habits or trying to shove financial advice (even if it works) in their rotting faces will do nothing more than agitate them.

Any Geek knows, agitated Zombies are not a good thing.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try to help those who need it. We should try to help as many of the walking dead broke as we can when given the opportunity. But we must be patient and diligent. The biggest risk we take by hanging around Financial Zombies (even recovering ones) is getting bit and eventually turning into a Financial Zombie, too.

Don't think for a second that I won't grab an "economic axe" and split open a skull or two to protect my family's financial well-being. And yes- even if those skulls belong to my family. I will not think twice about cutting off access to cards, accounts or other funds if it's necessary. I'm pretty sure, they'd do the same to me if they had to. What about your family? Would you do whatever it takes to protect your finances?

So my question for today- are you one of the Walking Dead Broke? If not, what happened to help you realize your financial habits had to change? 

Had I Been Informed Of The Coming Apocalypse...I'd Have Subscribed To The Debt Black Hole!

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