Capitalism - "a way of organizing an economy so that the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) are owned by individual people and companies rather than by the government." That is directly from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

While the United States is a democracy, I find myself worrying more about my personal capital than any political issue. Now maybe that's just me, maybe I'm just broke. But what I've noticed (and you probably have too) is that money does indeed 'make the world go round.' It was a funny slogan when we were all kids but now in the real world it's easy to spot how prevalent of a theme this truly is in society, and how we are locked in on this.

Obviously, nothing is free, that concept is clear and understandable. Obviously, certain people want to (or need to) maintain a certain lifestyle. At the very least everyone needs the basics. But money is consuming, and it's scary. It's not even a concept, it's a fact.

I basically cannot go one day without spending money on something. Whether it's food, gas, a bill, anything, every day there is a transaction in my bank account. The thing is: I'm ALWAYS concerned about it. I shouldn't be. Annnnnnd I see that everyone else is too. Even people that have a decent amount of money seem to be stressed about how much they actually spend. To reiterate, I understand that some purchases are necessary. But if you are wealthy, are you supposed to not care about the price tag?

That's where it hits me; it does not matter the financial status of a person, they will always agonize over money. I think that's insane. People of all financial classes care more about money than anything else. I fall victim to that so often and it scares me because I know I'm missing out. I want to be rich just as much as the next guy (more actually) but what is the cost, mentally? Every day I budget and re-budget, calculate and plan. It's unnecessary stress. For what? What's the point of having money if I cannot enjoy spending it? I'm saving for certain things yes, but does that mean I should lower my ability to enhance my life, either by not spending money or freaking out every time my debit card swipes?

Someone answer that for me.

We hold money to such a high standard. It really means nothing. Experience and time are the two greatest assets, invaluable, and they oftentimes fall short of the standard we hold currency to. We have become so consumed by the fact that money is in charge of everything, we put it before our own lives. We treat money as if it is more valuable than being able to enjoy life or obtain knowledge through certain experiences.

The ultimate price we pay when we do not pay is a less enjoyable way of living, of thriving, and a loss of opportunity and growth.