money
Throughout my life, my grandmother (God rest her soul) and my mother have taught me that money is something that comes as a result of hard work. It's something that helps you live your life, but it should never BECOME your life. I've watched too many of my friends and family have their lives dictated by their lifestyle, getting those fancy clothes, hooking yourself up with the jewelry, cars, all that crap.
In the end, is that really worth it? Will that $500 dress make you happy? I seriously doubt it.
I've watched my mother work hard for everything she's earned. My grandmother worked hard for everything she had too, raising 3 children ON HER OWN, after moving to a whole new country. It's hard as hell, I can only imagine. Now that I'm working full-time, I've gained a greater appreciation for how much work people do in a day.
There are several philosophies I have on the idea of money:
- NEVER get a credit card. Well, I should clarify that: get a card, use it once, pay it off, and NEVER use it again! Credit cards are the DEATH of most people I know. They think they have it all under control, "Oh, I'll just charge this TV on my MasterCard" . . .. until they see the bill come in the mail and realize it's 22% interest you're paying on it.
- Lend money only to people you've known for some time. NEVER lend money to family. The ingrates will think that just because you're family, they can get that super extension on a loan, FOR LIFE. They are sadly mistaken.
- When you lend someone money, it makes no sense to hound them about it. But if they get ridiculous with paying it back, there's a discreet way of handling situations like that. Don't get all loud with them.
- Don't waste money on frivolous expenses. Why buy a $100 jacket, when you can get it on sale for half price in a week? (see below my thing on being cheap)
All my life, I've been known to be a cheap skate, the kind of person that penny pinches, never spends a dime, always saving. Since then, I've loosened up a bit with my finances, but I'm still meticulous with everything. The key to handling money is not to be cheap, but to be FRUGAL. There's absolutely NO need to spend $1000 on clothes in one sitting, unless you're getting a shopping spree for FREE. NONE! That goes for you ghetto folk too. I see you all out there with your funky jeans, and your Tommy shirts and jackets, whatever. You're the one that's being played the fool for spending all that money.
Do you really think RICH PEOPLE got rich by spending money like water? Not a chance.
They saved everything they could get their hands on, and invested their money to help it mature, to grow. It may be my dream to win the Lotto and get all those millions and millions of dollars, but let's be real. What's the chance of really winning? Slim to none.
I won't put too much faith into that, and I'll stick with doing my real job. Money and work seem to go together so synonymously; perhaps I'll expand my feelings about work there. So many people take it for granted, after all.
Oh, by the way, next time you see a beggar on the train, don't ignore them and not sympathize with their circumstance.Quite easily, that COULD be you.