A Measure of Wealth

Like many people, I’ve caught myself reading advise on how to make the most of my money. Why hasn’t it worked? The advise I’ve read is the same advise that’s been given out for years. Save, put some aside, do without blah, blah, blah. It’s not working and for economic times like these, it may make things worse. Putting money in a savings account can actually loose you money because the dollar is losing value while it sits there. It makes more sense to invest it, but how? The stock market took a nose dive, the housing market did the same and nothing is worth anything anymore.

Choice of both

The best advise that I’ve received about finances is that when facing a choice between two items, chose both. Here’s why; the either/or attitude is shutting you off from possibilities. It keeps you thinking that one or the other must be the right choice. Chosing both sends the message of acceptance of good fortune. If you think you need a lot of money to make the both choice, guess again. You can start on those things in life that are free. You'll notice how many enriching experiences follow. The only choice that I don’t recommend both on is good vs evil. Evil will lead you back to the either/or choice, or maybe no choice at all.

If you look at all the financial tools designed to save money, none of them pay out much. My advice is to save and spend.

Investments

Most of us consider investments as stocks, bonds and assets, but there are other investments right under your nose. How can this be? Think about the last time you bought something. Maybe it was food. Most people think, "Ho, hum. Time to buy groceries again". What would happen if instead you thought, "I’m going to make an investment in my families' nutrition". Your food shopping just might change. If every time you make a purchase you think about the investment you’re making, you’ll end up making better choices. The investment doesn’t stop with what it will do for you. It goes on to benefit the business, the community, and the economy.

Debunking doing without

The experts tell us we can save money by doing with out. Certainly there are some things that can be called luxuries, but most of the things that they tell us to cut back on, well I’ve already cut back on. I can’t remember the last time I indulged in a latte. I don’t consider the fast food place as "dining out". I put my foot down on dressing like a scarecrow (except for Halloween). Here are some items that some may consider a luxury. Are they really worth doing without?

• A working car
• Decent clothes
• Personal care items-and I’m not talking about the ritzy stuff.
• Deodorant-please don’t call that a luxury!
• Food-3 square meal or at least 2
• Decent housing
• medicine-perscription or otherwise

What may really happen by doing without, is that we’ll feel deprived and then resentful. Does that really get us ahead? Mean while the dollars (or pennies for some of us) that we save lose value and we end up doing without again.

Hurray for the Ostrich

The financial advisers claim that people who don’t save and prepare for the lean times are like ostriches who stick their heads in the sand ( they really don’t, it’s just a myth). Well who wouldn’t want to hide from the financial mess we have right now. A more accurate description for those people who don’t pay attention to financial doomsday advice is that they have their heads in the clouds. They’re not ever going to pay attention either. They’ll either blame someone else or they just won’t care. My advice is this; do take notice of the world around you, but don’t give in to pessimism. Be a doer, not a whiner.