The answer might surprise you.
When you understand this concept, all the other concepts work, and until you implement it, none of them will work. When you stick to this concept deep in your soul, it becomes easy to save money and even have money to invest. Getting out of debt happens quickly once you learn how to apply this concept in your life. Budgeting is made easier, and your marriage and relationships regarding money are freed up and made smooth.
Contentment. That's right, contentment.
Contentment brings peace, not apathy. Not the deadhead fog of Prozac or Valium. Only contentment brings peace. We live in the most marketed-to society, and the very essence of marketing is to disturb your peace. We say things to ourselves like, "I'll be happy when I get that house;" or "I'll be happy when I get that job." Or, or, or, or!
NOT TRUE. Happiness is sold to us as an event or a thing, and consequently, our finances have suffered. Fun can be bought, not happiness.
We live among a bunch of people who are deeply in debt and have no money saved because their emotions were tricked. You probably think I'm writing about someone else, but I'm not. I am writing about you. I know because I suffer from the same disease of "stuffitis" - but I am recovering and so are many of you. The human spirit was not created to attain peace, contentment, or fulfillment by gathering more stuff.