You might be envious and not even know it.

Your friend buys a new phone.

You're genuinely happy for her.

“Ahhh, nice one! This phone is fine o.”

Then you get home and start thinking, “Maybe I should change my own too.”

Wait.

Do you actually need a new phone?

Your own still works.

The camera is fine.

The battery is fine.

Nothing is wrong with it.

You just saw somebody else's new phone and suddenly yours doesn't feel good enough anymore.

That's how envy can creep in.

And sometimes, it doesn't even feel like envy.

It feels like motivation.

It feels like, “If she can get this, I can get it too.”

And yes, you can.

But must you get it now?

That's where contentment comes in.

You can be happy for somebody without making their new possession your next target.

Because if every nice thing you see makes you dissatisfied with what you already have, you will always feel like you're behind.

New phone today.

New wig next month.

New clothes after that.

Then you're wondering where all your money went.

You don't have to hate anybody to struggle with envy.

Sometimes, you simply haven't learned to be content with what you have while working towards what you want.

And that little difference can save you a lot of money.