“I tell college students, when you get to be my age you will be successful if the people who you hope to have love you, do love you.” – Warren Buffett
I have spent the last 12 years devoting myself to the study
of the wealthy.
In all that time, I learned that they are right about one
thing: Money does not solve all your problems.
I thought when I finally had some money things would change. Everything would go my way.
Forget Murphy’s Law. Whatever can go wrong, will not go wrong! The money will cushion my fall. It will shield me from water, wind, and fire. I’m unstoppable. Right? Wrong.
My life actually hasn’t changed all that much. I still live
in the same house, drive the same car, have the same family and friends.
So, what the heck? Where are all the trumpets and parades? I
guess they’re down by the Macy’s Day Parade floats where they belong.
I know money is emotional. However, money is just a tool. It
is not good or bad. It is what you do
with it. Only you can decide. As Captain Planet would say, “the power is yours.”
So, be rationale.
BORROWING TO GET AHEAD
“Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft
loses both itself and friend.” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet
I understand why people borrow. It is because at the present
moment they do not have the means to finance what they want or need at that
particular time. That is why people borrow extensively for college.
On the opposite side of that spectrum, is to lend money.
“Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you
need most.”
However, in my observations on the task of lending, it often
comes with unforeseen consequences.
You lend money to a friend or family member thinking you are just helping them out. Right?
Bachelor Party 1984 with Tom Hanks and Adrian Zmed
Of course, they will pay you back. Unfortunately, I have seen more situations where people do not pay back their obligations; thus, ruining relationships with creditors, family, and friends.
When you lend money to a family member or friend, you do so out of trust. If that trust gets violated, it hardly ever gets repaired. The damage is done and many times is irreversible.
You can end up losing a friend and making an enemy such as a
business associate or contractor you decide not to pay. That is not a good
thing to have happen because you are likely to make an enemy with a long
memory.
The way Nyssa al Ghul (played by Katrina Law) said it when talking to Oliver (played by Stephen Amell) on the show Arrow put it so succinctly. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Arrow on the CW
That is because people are wired to be self-serving. I do
not think it is done maliciously. I believe this is for survival. Memories are
self-serving. The purpose is to help you live and avoid danger. If you remember
that the stove is hot, then you are less likely to get burned. Something like
that.
However, Benjamin Franklin states, “Creditors have better memories than debtors.” You are supposed to pay your debts because it is the right thing to do. I’m like a Lannister, I always pay my debts.
Even if it meant for me to go without. That taught me self-sacrifice and discipline.
“Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.” –
Benjamin Franklin
I feel the way Shelley Long of Cheers fame said in in the film The Boyfriend School (Don’t Tell Her It’s Me) describes this phenomenon best. Her character’s name is Lizzie and she says to her brother Gus, played by Steve Guttenberg, “People always do the right thing. When it serves their purposes.” Exactly.
Scene from the film
DO NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” – Jim Carrey
Personal Branding expert, TEDx Talk and Keynote Speaker Leonard
Kim described the meaning of Jim Carrey’s words. He stated, “that everyone
chases money, wealth, success and fame, thinking it will bring them
happiness. Once they attain it, the
person sits there and thinks “That’s it?
That’s what all the hype was about?
I don’t feel happy. I don’t feel
fulfilled. I don’t feel anything.”
This was how I felt in a nutshell.
It was such an empty feeling. It felt so hollow. The only
thing I had was the relationships I had built up with people. So, I learned to
focus more on relationships than money.
I have no desire to buy a Ferrari, move to an expensive zip
code, buy tons of couture clothing, or start collecting valuables that may try
to take the place of some void.
Material possessions have not ever made me happy. Maybe,
that is why I hold on to stuff for so long and repair instead of replace. I
rarely shop. I don’t need anything.
The neighbor’s do not have to worry about keeping up with or competing with me or vice versa.
I am content to simply read and write. I try to focus on building relationships and not tearing them down. I do not want to hold grudges. Good luck to any person I have come across that we could not see eye-to-eye. I let you go with a full heart. I wish you no ill-will. I am happy being who I am.
I took a page out of another blogger’s book and focused on
my goals. I would do the following:
Help three people
Read two books on finance/personal development a month
Research organizations to donate to
Anything is better than someone asking me this.
IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO
“The difference between successful people and really
successful people is that really successful people say no to almost
everything.” – Warren Buffett
I like to observe people. Nothing gives you a better
predictor of future behavior than past behavior. You do not have to try and
people please. It is okay to say no when someone asks you for something.
Matter of fact, it is likely that saying no may save your friendship. Unlike what Robocop said, some things are not able to be fixed such as a lost friendship. No one wants that.
Robocop 1990
You are better off giving people the money they ask for than
expecting it back. If it is more than you can afford to lose, then don’t lend
it. Or just lend what you can afford to lose. It is just that simple.
Who cares if people get mad? It’s your money! They shouldn’t be coming to you simply because they think you are a soft touch. I once heard Pamela Anderson say that in an interview.
Always do what is in your heart. It is the only way not to be bitter and make sure you do not live life full of regrets. Better to say no and keep the friendship and your sanity intact.
“We shall see the crumbs of bread… and they will show us our way home again.” – Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm, 1812
Breadcrumbs are a series of connected pieces of information or evidence. People often refer to money as bread. The Grimm Brothers used breadcrumbs in their fairy-tale Hansel and Gretel for the protagonists to find their way.
Money gems are being dropped everywhere. If you look hard
enough. You can only find what you are looking for. So, look no further.
Greenbacks Magnet is about to show you where to look. Just follow the
money…breadcrumbs that is.
But first, who are the Brothers Grimm?
WHO ARE THE GRIMM BROTHERS?
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
“Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do
comes right—all that falls to them is so much gain—all their geese are
swans—all their cards are trumps—toss them which way you will, they will
always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only move on so much the
faster. The world may very likely not always think of them as they think of
themselves, but what care they for the world? what can it know about the
matter?” ― The Brothers Grimm, The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
The Brothers Grimm Jacob and Wilhelm, were German academics,
linguists, and authors who together collected and published folklore during the
19th century. They are best known for the publication of their works titled Grimm’s Fairy Tales in 1812. The book
contains 209 tales collected by the Brothers Grimm.
Some of their most famous tales include: Rapunzel,
Cinderella, The Valiant Little Tailor, Snow White and Red Rose, Briar-Rose,
King Thrushbeard, How Six Men Got On in the World, Rumpelstiltskin, Bearskin,
The Dancing Princesses (The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes), The Four Skillful
Brothers, and Hansel and Gretel.
My absolute favorite is Bearskin. A close second is the
Twelve Dancing Princesses. Both tales had flair and a lot of truth in them. The
antagonist in Bearskin reminds me Smeagol from The Lord of the Rings film, but that’s another story.
It has been so long since I have seen these tales, but I have never forgotten them and their theme of morality. I still use these stories as reminders to help others and do the right thing. For your entertainment, I have uploaded the videos from the Grimms’ Fairy Tales Classics from the late 1980’s. The show also ran reruns in the 1990’s.
Bearskin
The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes
The University of Pittsburgh has an online Grimm Brothers’ Home Page where you can read their classic tales. However, be forewarned that their stories did not always have the Happy Endings you are used to hearing in the more modern versions and retelling of the stories. They are, for lack of a better word, grimmer. Very different from another world-famous fairy tales author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). One of his most notable works was The Little Mermaid. It was turned into a Disney film in 1989 and is also my favorite Disney movie.
The original movie poster A picture worth a thousand words
One of the best scenes in the movie
I digress, let’s get back to the real reason for this post, the television show Grimm.
WHAT IS GRIMM?
Opening: “There once was a man who lived a life so strange, it had to be true. Only he could see what no one else can—the darkness inside, the real monster within, and he’s the one who must stop them. This is his calling. This is his duty. This is the life of a Grimm.“
Grimm opening credits with his introduction
Grimm is an American fantasy police procedural drama television series that aired on NBC from October 28, 2011 to March 31, 2017, for 123 episodes, over six seasons.
The story followed the journey of a Portland police homicide detective by the name of Nick Burkhardt (played by David Giuntoli), who is a Grimm. A Grimm keeps the peace and world order between humanity and the supernatural, which are called Wesen.
Nick Burkhardt played by David Giuntoli
What made this show so great was not so much just the title character, but all the characters who played his friends around him. This is one of the first and only shows where I have ever seen the supporting cast be just as important as the main character.
One of the best guest stars on the show was Martin Meisner played by Damien Puckler.
Meisner in action. Jaime Ray Newman as Angelina was the other best guest star on the show. Angelina presented herself as a passionate and violent Femme Fatale, dressing in leather and provocative clothes, riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and she was always ready to fight.
Just a taste of what her character is like on the show. Very fiery and combative. A fighter.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6uwr0y
Jaime Ray Newman episode.
Hilarious.The Grimm cast
The show was also at times very funny. In addition, whenever the Grimm was discovered by Wesen, they would morph into their true selves and this made every episode fun, surprising, and unique.
The supporting cast consisted of the following actors: Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Sasha Roiz, Reggie Lee, Bree Turner, and Claire Coffee. The shows fight scenes were amazing. And the shows themes of the constant testing of morality was ever-present and consistent throughout the show just like that of the Grimm Fairy Tales. Each episode also started off with a quote from one of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and let you know what that episode would be about.
The very first opening show quote. October 28, 2011.
Series opening credits
Love the intro music. It really gets your heart pumping. And the show is just as it appears.
“When words fail music speaks. – Hans Christian Andersen
In the opening scene of the Pilot espisode, The Eurhythmics Song Sweet Dreams is playing. This song ultimately led them to solve a case they were working on. When interrogating him they got nothing. It wasn’t what the perp said, it was what he sang or hummed. Gotta love music.
Hank: What’s that song?
Nick: Sweet Dreams.
Hank: Eurythmics. One of their better. [sings] “Sweet
dreams are made of these. Who am I to disagree…?”
GRIMM CAREERS
Opening quote:
“I am impelled not to squeak like a grateful and frightened mouse, but to
roar….” – Of Man and Mouse, Grimm, Season 1, episode 9
As you know career choice is very important, it can mean the
difference of having wealth and abundance or starvation and penury. And no
wants a Dickensian existence of poverty. So, choose wisely.
Get the education and training you need to succeed. However, I say do so affordably. It behooves you to do so. You could be stuck depending on others for their help and expertise when you’re in a pinch. Such as the likes of Monroe as Nick’s reluctant informant.
The Grimm diary
Monroe: What did you just get the books tonight?
Nick: You know about the books?
Another episode, like many…
Nick: Monroe, I need your help.
“What am I, your personal Grimmopedia?” – Monroe to Nick
I say do all you can to depend on self. You will always have
your own back. Otherwise, you have to depend on others for their help to remain
relevant in the workforce.
Monroe: Hello?
Nick: Hey, it’s Nick?
Monroe: How did you get my new cell phone?!
Nick: Are you kidding me? I’m a cop.
Too funny.
And don’t put all your money in the company stock.
It could go bankrupt and you could end up with nothing. Worse yet, people could leave you to clean up their mess or you could be left holding the bag. One word: Enron.
Do not walk, run down to your HR department and make sure they offer investments other than stock options mostly in their firm. Demand to have more options if you don’t. If not, open a Roth IRA and pick funds outside your company. Be aggressive. It’s your money dammit.
I think of myself like Brad Pitt said in the movie Troy, “We are lions.”
I am a lioness. I go for the gold. If one thing does not work, I get to work finding another way or pick another path.
To be successful, you must adapt. Like the Navy Seals were
taught in that movie Heartbreak Ridge; Navy SEALs Learn To Adapt, Improvise and
Overcome. Special Forces (United States Army) has a motto: De Oppresso Liber.
Which is Latin for “to free from oppression” or “to liberate the
oppressed.” The United States Navy Seals mottos are: “The Only Easy
Day Was Yesterday”, “It Pays to be a Winner.” Seeing a theme
here.
Your greatest asset is your mind and your ability to work.
Earning is what will help you build wealth. You cannot save money, if you have
no money.
You know who else agrees with me? Rambo. Check out the scene for yourself here.
Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo “I always believed that the mind is the best weapon”
Although, a fictional character, Rambo was trained in
Guerilla warfare. His objective was to win. However, he still had a moral
obligation to help others and he did. In life people make choices, he made his.
You will have to decide for yourself what is important to you because when it
is, you will find a way.
Below are the careers of the cast of characters on the show
and their median salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Payscale, or Glassdoor, which are the following:
Nick Burkhart – Detective ($65,860)
Hank (Nick’s partner played by Russell Hornsby) – Detective (65,860)
Wu (played by Reggie Lee) – Sergeant ($69,685)
Juliette (played by Bitsie Tulloch) – Veterinarian ($106,770)
Monroe (Nick’s right-hand man played by Silas Weir Mitchell)
– Woodworker ($30,192)
Sean Renard (Nick and Hank’s police captain played by Sasha
Roiz) – Captain ($80,593)
Rosalee (Monroe’s wife played by Bree Turner) – Retail shop store
owner ($38,000)
Adalind Schade (played by Claire Coffee) – Lawyer ($114,000)
GRIMM INHERITANCE
The infamous trailer.
“One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole
bird.” ― Jacob Grimm, The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
According to the book The
Millionaire Next Door, 80-86% of millionaires in America are self-made. Most
wealth is earned. Meaning less than 20% inherit their wealth. This is down from
a high of 50% or more who did so around the early 1900’s.
In the show, his aunt comes to visit to pass down to him his birthright. A trailer full of artifacts, heirlooms, and antiques that are priceless as they are irreplaceable and is full of Grimm and Wesen lore. It comes in handy throughout the series. And don’t forget the key.
This shows that what a family member does in the past can be
of significant value to their loved ones in the future. Work hard today to help
your future generations tomorrow. Case in point, Nick was always consulting
with the books in the trailer as a guide to help him in the show. Without the
books, he would have been lost. Had he been left to fend for himself, there could
have been dire consequences.
However, in the present day, most people are not receiving
large inheritances at all, if any. You are better off figuring out a profession
prior to even starting college. You can look for one that pays well such as
business, accounting, and engineering or are of interest to you.
WHAT MONEY BREADCRUMBS ARE THERE?
“Hansel took his little sister by the hand, and followed the
pebbles which shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the way.” ―
Jacob Grimm, Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Complete Edition & Over 200 Fairy Tales
Take a look around you. Who do you see doing well? Study what they study. Read what they read. Find out what they are doing? But make sure its legit and legal.
What products are selling like hotcakes off the shelves?
Invest in that company.
I’m sure you catch my drift.
Look for clues. Success leaves clues.
PRETTY GRIMM TO HAVE NO INHERITANCE
Opening quote:
“‘No,’ said the King. I’d rather die than place you in such great danger
as you must meet with in your journey.” – The Water of Life, Grimm Brothers
from the Grimm episode The
Inheritance
One episode showed Adalind meeting with a lawyer about her
mother’s estate. Not only did her mother had no assets, but she hadn’t paid her
taxes in like six years. In addition, her storage unit was only paid up to the
end of the month. After, that her stuff would be auctioned off or thrown away. This
is all too common nowadays.
Like I said before, most people do not receive inheritances
and if they do, it is not likely to be more than a few thousand dollars. You
are better off working to build your own fortune. Then it will not matter what
other people do with their money.
A GRIMM PRICE TO PAY
Opening quote:
“For me there are neither locks nor bolts, whatsoever I desire is
mine.” – The Master Thief, Grimm Brothers
Another episode showed that more artifacts were found that belonged to a Grimm in Europe. When Monroe’s uncle offered to sell it to Nick he asked for something like $250,000. Nick didn’t have that kind of money. Especially, on a cop’s salary. That’s a lot of money.
Monroe said that to his uncle. He said that was his price
and left.
Not being able to get your hands on a significant amount of
cash fairly quickly is a way to miss out on opportunities. You should always
have liquid cash in savings or a stash you can tap for emergencies. I started
my emergency fund with $25. My rainy day fund now consists of me saving over
$14,000 a year. I learned how important having a money stash from the fictional
character Scrooge McDuck.
Opening quote:
“It is not light that we need, but fire.” – Season 5, episode 1, The Grimm Identity
Lots of fight sequences happen at Nick’s house. So many that Monroe told Nick he should move.
I gave Monroe the slow clap. I had been thinking that very thing for like 2 seasons. Too many people knew where he lived.
There are times when jobs dry up. Factories and businesses
close. Like they said in the old days: Go West, young man! Or There’s gold in
them there hills! That lit a fire under mens a$$es to move with a sense of
urgency.
To get a fresh start, you may need to move. Move where the
jobs are.
Starting a business? Move where capital is plentiful and
free flowing.
The operative word: Move.
GRIMM FOSTERING THE PEOPLE
Opening quote: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow.”
One of my favorite characters in the show was none other than Teresa “Trubel” Rubel played by Jacqueline Toboni.
She was a runaway that would be taken in by Nick. She is also a Grimm. The show got a whole lot more interesting and fun when she came along.
“Nobody Knows the Trubel I’ve Seen” is the 19th episode of season 3. It aired on April 25, 2014. This is Trubel’s first appearance on the show.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6h924r
Throughout her time on the show, money was a constant stressor of hers.
For instance, she did some of the following:
Stole a pair of boots
Stayed in cheap motels
Asked for money for food
Did not want to take handouts
In another episode, she helped stop an illegal teen
shoplifting ring. She herself was basically living in foster homes and on the
streets until she met Nick. One of my favorite scenes was when she stole that
pair of boots. It was very slick.
Well, we have come to the end of this post. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. There was nothing like this show.
@mistergiuntoli I finally saw the last episode of Grimm. I just love the camaraderie on the show. Especially, you and Trouble. The chemistry between you too was great. I miss Hank saying: where are we supposed to be? Then its down the rabbit..er uh I mean Wesen hole.
Worry is the interest paid to those who borrow trouble. –
George Washington
Finance it! That should be slapped on bumper stickers across
the country.
There are now loans for just about anything you can think
of. Whatever your heart desires, you can finance. Almost.
My father would say that people need to learn discipline as
they want to do every whimsical little thing that comes to mind and this can
cause trouble in your life.
I learned at a young age that trying to get your little
hands on everything you crave is a gateway to higher levels of debt and
spending.
It starts with one video game and then balloons to buying
the console, accessories, new games every other week, and monthly subscriptions
to gaming magazines. That quickly escalates to $1,000 iPhones, $2,000 MacBook’s
and flying first class everywhere. Even if it is drivable and only a few states
away.
How is all this lifestyle creep paid for?
With plastic.
After working at a federal credit union, I got the inside
peek behind the financial curtain into many strangers lives.
Some people are clinging to their middle-class status like
the ones they had in their childhood upbringing, while others are dangling over
the financial edge and many more have fallen over the financial precipice
completely.
Financial institutions knowing this fact, as wages have been
stagnating since about 1979, are all too eager to fill that gap in earnings
with loans.
Let’s find out what type of debt is out there awaiting
consumers that are not financially savvy enough to avoid them or are left with
few alternatives to avoid them in the first place.
NO CASH, NO PROBLEM
Quick to borrow is
always slow to pay. – Proverb
How many times have you heard commercials that say your job
is your credit? Get real. Your credit is your credit.
Miss enough payments and that job means nothing. They will
repossess anything.
I saw this up close and personal at the credit union. I saw
cars getting repossessed, families stressed out and on the edge of a financial
cliff, and those with bad credit had it the worst of the lot.
Is your credit score too low or in the 500’s? Forget about
it. Either you will not be able to borrow or it will be at interest rates so
high you will be paying off that sweater you bought for your kid’s 3rd
birthday when your kid goes off to college.
Do not be fooled into thinking companies are being so nice
to give you this product for low monthly payments. That low monthly payment of
$42 over 24 months is still over $1,000!
If you must borrow, get those scores up. That way you pay
less interest.
IS IT FOR SALE?
Of course, it is! Everything is for sale. And its pricey
too.
“A business that makes
nothing but money is a poor business.” – Henry Ford
They will let you subscribe to just about anything, for a
fee. Much unlike this blog, which you can subscribe to for free, you have to
pay for anything you deem necessary or desired for your life.
Just because it is for sale does not mean you are not
shelling out big bucks for it. Case in point, if an item is on sale for 25%,
then you still have to pay 75% to take the item home with you.
I say skip the for sale signs and racks and focus on only
buying quality products that you need and truly want, but that you can actually
afford.
BUY NOW, PAY LATER
As an individual who
undertakes to live by borrowing, soon finds his original means devoured by
interest, and next to no one left to borrow from – so must it be with a
government. – Abraham Lincoln
This is what I feel is the old bait and switch. Sure, you
can finance it now and pay later, but later is going to be a long time and it’s
going to cost you…A lot.
I say avoid paying interest and forever and a day.
No one ever went broke
underestimating the taste of the American public. – H. L. Mencken
Over the years, I have started noticing more and more that
not only is everything for sale, but it is able to be financed.
What has been really glaring has been the new loans that
have crept up and put out in the main stream for the last 10-15 years.
What loans am I talking about?
Holiday Loans (for Christmas Presents)
Vacation Loans (finance that cruise)
Internship Loans (finance additional training
along with college tuition)
Summer Loans (for the gap between Fall and
Spring college semester)
Care Credit (healthcare financing)
Hurricane Loans (National Disaster Loans)
Government Assistance Loans (Government shutdown
loans)
That’s right. If you have never heard of some of these loans
listed above, that is because they are not often advertised except during
certain economic times or periods or places such as college campuses or certain
banks.
Do you really want to finance Christmas?
You take out a loan for $1200. You have 12 months to pay it
back with interest. The time you were supposed to be saving (the
previous 11 months) you were repaying this loan. That leaves you for no funds
for the following Christmas. You go to the bank and they say, “we have this
loan that could help you out.” Just skip it.
Better yet, have the family pull names out of a hat and just
buy a gift for that one person. Save a
fortune. Your bank account will thank you.
The ones that really get me steaming are the National Disaster and Government assistance loans. People are in a vulnerable position and you want them to go into debt! More debt! Really?!!
No one plans for national disasters. You can plan your
finances, but some things are not all foreseen.
For instance, some people lost their homes during the most recent
hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Texas. The insurance companies were saying they
had to pay a deductible to get their home rebuilt. This was to the tune of
$5,000! Most people don’t just have that type of money laying around.
Borrowing will only put you deeper into debt and unable to
save when an emergency like this happens.
The worst by far is government assistance loans for the
government shutdown. Folks would not need a loan if they could save. Now, you
want more of their money, which they don’t even have? What sense does that
make.
I say focus on building up the rainy day fund so you are not
caught out in the financial rain without a savings umbrella.
HOW MUCH IS THAT LEXUS IN THE WINDOW?
“A business that
tries to save money by not advertising, is like a man who tries to save time by
stopping his watch.” – Henry Ford
It’s all about advertising.
That’s why so many people are pulling up in Target parking
lots wearing Gucci boots, carrying a Louis Vuitton purse, all the while texting
on an iPhone on to buy $10 socks that are marked down and dare I say it On Sale.
I see more folks driving luxury vehicles now than I have
ever seen in my life.
What happened to just needing to get from Point A to B?
Please do not let the smell of new leather cause you to have
empty pockets. No car or gadget is worth going into debt over. Or worse yet,
going broke.
On one television show, I saw a mother of two young kids
trying to see if she could come up with the rationale to finance a $100,000
car! Do not do that. It is not worth it.
Sell to the masses, eat
with the classes. – Henry Ford
It has been often stated, if you sell to the classes, you’ll
dine with the masses. But if you’ll sell to the masses, you’ll dine with the
classes.
Another spin on this quote is this one here.
Sell to the masses, eat with the classes. Sell the classes,
go belly up!” – John F. Savage
It is said the majority of people rent this world from a
minority of people. That is how it goes. Unless you change the status quo.
Become an owner. Keep more of your money and always invest.
They make it all too easy for you to sign on the dotted line
and then have to fork over 25% of your paycheck just to pay for your items.
I want to pay for the item, get it handed to me, then
transaction over. Installments suck!
I say save for what you want.
Not sure where to start.
Just start small. Even saving $5 a week just to get in the
habit of saving is better than doing nothing and having no savings at all.
So, please do not sign on the dotted line. Do everything you
can to save. It will be your safety net should real disaster strike because
when it does it’s like lightning. It usually strikes fast and more than once.
Play good defense and save. Surround your financial house
with savings. Do not get tackled because you left your wallet open, figuratively
speaking.
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never
tires, and a touch that never hurts. – Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol
has to be one of the most beloved Christmas tales of all time. It was written
as a novella by Charles Dickens in 1843. Although, the story is over 170 years
old, there are many lessons of wisdom imparted within this story that still has
relevance today.
It never gets old watching Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption at
the hands of three ghosts and the spirit of his late business partner Jacob
Marley.
A compelling story indeed.
It is set during the Victorian era of the 1800’s in England. Around 1860.
The story gave us the words and phrases Scrooge, Bah Humbug, and Merry Christmas.
In the 1940’s, Disney even created their own character in his image named Scrooge McDuck.
How did Scrooge go from an innocent young pupil to a crotchety
miser?
One word: Life.
We all must go through it, but how we handle life’s ups and
down is what really makes us who we are.
Scrooge hated people. However, those around him still chose
to show him kindness.
I have learned that you cannot answer hate with anger. You
can only show people who you are by how you live your life.
Remembering his story always reminds me to treat others the
way I would want to be treated, and that is with dignity and respect.
WHO IS EBENEZER SCROOGE?
Ebenezer Scrooge is the protagonist of this tale. A miserly business owner who is a skinflint to the core. Though successful in business, he is angry and alone.
His only family is a single nephew from his late and only
sister.
As a young boy, he spent all his time on his studies. His
father was a very strict and harsh man. There was little time for play or fun
for Ebenezer. It hardened his heart. Money was the answer that will give him
meaning to his life.
He decided to close himself off to others so that he
wouldn’t get hurt. But the thing is, when you open up to people, you let the
good in with the bad. This adapted defense mechanism had a profoundly negative
effect on adult Scrooge. He learned to place the pursuit of money above love.
He was later employed by a man named Fezziwig, who was kind and gentle. His employer was in the shipping business that was established in 1766.
Although, Scrooge had examples of charitable people and love
around him, somehow he let greed take over his heart.
LOVE AND HAPPINESS ARE NOT ONE AND THE SAME
We need never be
ashamed of our tears. – Charles Dickens
Money does not buy happiness only temporary satisfaction. It
cannot buy friends, family, faith, loyalty, or love. Money is empty. People is
what fills you up inside and your heart. Don’t let money control you like it
did Scrooge. Money doesn’t control you, you control it.
The absolute saddest and most touching part of the story is
when his betrothed has some very harsh words for Ebenezer.
At a young age, he made a promise to marry a girl of no fortune.
Over time he changes. He becomes cold and harsh. She tells
him that one by one she has watched his nobler aspirations fall away.
His master passion of gain is now his only love. An Idol has displaced and replaced her in his heart. A golden one. He only cares now for gold. Money.
She asked him if he was a free man would he still want to marry a dowerless or penniless girl with nothing but myself to bring to a marriage. He stays silent. She has her answer.
In one of the absolute most heart wrenching and saddest
rebuffs I have ever heard a woman say to a man, it almost brings tears to my
eyes.
She tells Scrooge this; thus, ending their engagement:
Ebenezer, I release you;
You are a free man;
I let you go with a full heart;
May you be happier in the life you have chosen.
Her rejection of him was the final straw as he was never the
same. He calls himself a fool for not going after her. I think it was his pride
that let love slip away.
It seems that old fools used to be young fools.
This film version of he speech in 1984, in my opinion, is the best version I have heard. It makes me stop in my tracks every time to hear her say it just sends a sharp chill down my spine its so cold and sad.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
This is my favorite version of the many film adaptions. I remember seeing it on reruns growing up during the holidays.
Scrooge (1970) Starring Albert Finney
The 1951 version also has fine acting and strong dialogue including its delivery. The scene where the engagement ends is particularly well-spoken by the films star.
He says, “the world can be so brutally cruel to the poor. All the while professing to condemn the pursuit of wealth in the same breath.”
He asked his soon to be ex-fiance, “is it a terrible thing for a man to struggle to be something better than he is?”
She feels that is is if a man weighs everything only by gain.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
A CHANCE TO GLIMPSE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
A loving heart is the
truest wisdom. – Charles Dickens
In the story he is visited by the spirits of Christmases
Past, Present and Future.
He gets to relive the mistakes of the past and present and
see what will come to pass in the future, if he doesn’t change his ways.
As hindsight is always 20/20, who wouldn’t like a chance to change right what once went wrong.
However, Scrooge was a tightwad. Ridiculously cheap and stingy. He ate a bowl of gruel for Christmas dinner in a room with one lit candle. Pathetic.
He didn’t even spend for his own comfort. So, he was miserable and made everyone around him the same. People like him only see the cost of visiting the eye doctor, not the benefits that could come with 20/20 vision.
From his story we learn this, you may not be able to change
the past, but the future is not written yet. You can write the last few pages,
if you have the courage to change. It is NEVER too late to change for the
better.
THEY SAY CHARITY STARTS AT HOME
No one is useless in
this world who lightens the burdens of another. – Charles Dickens
Your actions do impact others. For every cause there is an
effect. Every action you take affects not only you, but the people around you
and someone else in the long run. There is a reaction for every action.
When asked to give to charity, he asks, “Are there no
prisons?” and “Are there no workhouses?” Then goes on to state that it would be
better to decrease the “surplus population” than to help the needy.
Oh yea. He’s a real charmer.
Scrooge had a loyal and faithful employee named Cratchit. It
was a shame he treated him so badly. He wouldn’t even allow the man to put more
coal on the fire to keep warm while at work.
It was too bad he could not show the same kindness upon Bob Cratchit
that his former employer did upon him. It would have been a great way to pay it
forward. And to honor those that came before him.
They say when you want to be charitable, you do not have to
look far. You can start at home. Why not start with your friends?
LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND OTHERS
A sad sight to see was his old deceased business partner. Jacob Marley, who is in purgatory for his sins. As punishment, forced to walk the earth in chains while seeing those he could have helped but didn’t and now being unable to do so. He tells Scrooge to change before it is too late.
Jacob says, “The common welfare should have been my business.”
Helping people should have been more important than money.
I cannot tell you how many times I have watched others that
are older than myself and said I do not want to make the same mistakes. I made
different plans for my life and charted a different path.
When I get a chance to repay a kindness, I do it. Unlike
Scrooge, it is rare in this life that you get a second chance. I try to do a
good job the first time. Tell people the truth. Help them. Reach back and pull
someone else up. They say you never get a second chance to make a first
impression. A true statement indeed.
I read history to see what has been done in the past to
avoid making those same mistakes in the future.
No regrets.
Most people’s number one regret on their deathbed is that
they focused too much on work and money and not enough on their relationships.
Please don’t be one of those people.
The best and biggest change in Scrooge after his ghostly
visits is his generosity. The spirit of Christmas Yet to Come foretold of a bad
future. He saw a life of sadness and loneliness and that his deeds directed his
future of misery. He says he will remember what the spirits tell him and says,
“I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!” Scrooge heeded the spirits
words and mended his ways.
HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN
Scrooge was the extreme version of frugality. He saved more than necessary and gave little. Scrooge hoarded every penny. His plan was to have as much money as possible, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. He planned for his money, but not his life. Life is complex. It requires money, yes, but also people because life is about building relationships.
Get a good education, then keep your head down and work. But don’t forget about developing your friendships and relationships.
The Cratchits were poor. Living off a miserable 15 shillings
a week. They had a roof, food, and clothes, but no luxuries. They made use of
everything they had. No wasteful spending. And were grateful for what they had:
each other.
I try to only do what I’m passionate about. Will it get me
closer to my goals? If not, I tend to not spend any money and instead find a
way to economize. I spend on what is important, what I value, and what I need.
FORGIVENESS
To err is human, to
forgive divine. – Alexander Pope
At the end of the story, Scrooge pledges a vow by saying, “I
will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” A wonderful
promise to make and keep indeed.
Do not ever be afraid or ashamed to ask for forgiveness. It
is a sign of strength and growing maturity.
Dickens once said, “No space of regret can make amends for
one life’s opportunity misused.” I believe that people should do what they are
good at, cultivate their gifts, and help people with that gift. Use your gifts
to solve problems creatively. And not just once a year, but all the days of the
year.
“It doesn’t matter how great your shoes are if you don’t
accomplish anything in them.” ― Martina Boone, Compulsion
I thought women loved shoes, but I’m beginning to think men
love them more.
Nobody does it to the same grandiose scale as the NBA
players of today’s time.
If you have ever watched the series Uninterrupted or MTV’s Nice
Kicks, heard commentary on Kneading Dough or read the Complex magazine or
Coveteur online, then you know the NBA are paying salaries large enough to fund
startups with paychecks that are bigger than some countries GDP.
What do some of these players do with all this money?
Invest it in shoes, of course.
WHAT IS SHOE GAME?
Shoe game is all the shoes you own, your shoe wardrobe, used
when comparing the type and amount of shoes you have against another person.
I know it sounds crazy, but many top sports superstars have
shoe closets that could rival any boutique or downtown footlocker.
The real shock isn’t the amount of shoes, but the sheer
price tag to owning all these shoes in the first place.
Each year, analysts predict that the sneaker bubble will
soon burst. However, the shoe business is a billion-dollar industry that just
keeps on growing.
WHAT IT TAKES TO STEP UP YOUR SHOE GAME?
It seems the first step is to simply own a whole bunch of
pairs of shoes.
Generally, in the hundreds or thousands.
Usually one corner of the master bedroom closet is never
enough.
These sneakers need some room to breathe.
Therefore, many are opting to get custom made closets. People
are devoting as much as 800-square-feet or more dedicated to housing 3,500
pairs of shoes. That is larger than some people’s apartments! In some cases, people have gone on to give
their shoes storage units, commercial buildings or whole wings of an entire
house!
This isn’t cheap. A custom closet could go from an average
closet costing up to $1,200 to $5,000. However, a custom closet fit for a
sneaker connoisseur can cost upwards of $15,000 to $25,000 or more.
For that price, many closets come with climate control,
lighting, and tons of racks for you to house massive amounts of sneakers.
They even have apps you can get to showcase Sneakology for
any Sneakerhead that wants to do it right.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SNEAKER IT UP?
Well, a few people out there have thrown out some numbers.
Considering that some have anywhere from 500, 3,000, or even
6,000+ pairs of shoes, you have to know that is a lot of dough being spent on
shoes that you can only where one pair at a time on your one set of feet.
Rare sneakers can fetch anywhere from $500 on up to $5,000. One
pair of Jordan’s is going for $25,000!
If the average pair of sneakers cost $80 a pair, we can
start to do some of our own math.
A few numbers I came across include:
500 pairs at $80 each equates to $40,000.
1,000 pairs at $80 each equates to $80,000.
3,000 pairs at $80 each equates to $240,000.
6,000 pairs at $80 each equates to $480,000.
That last one means some poor soul spent a half a million
dollars on shoes! Most of which they are unlikely to ever wear more than once.
I read one guy had 3,500 pairs averaging $214 each for a
total value of $750,000.
One post I read on Coveteur stated one guy had 3,600 pairs
at an average of $280 each which equates to $1,000,000! You could buy an
apartment building for that! I say get that rent money and be a landlord
instead of a shoe lord.
Shoes won’t pay you every month to stay on your property,
but tenants sure will.
A tenant could help you pay off your mortgage in half the
time. Say, 15 years on a 30 year mortgage.
I read that most people keep their favorite 10 pairs of
shoes in regular rotation.
That would mean all these people could have saved themselves
anywhere between $39,000 to $479,000. Just something to think about right
there.
MONEY SPENT ON JUST YOUR FEET
When I think of all that money spent at shoe stores across
the nation, it just makes me shake my head.
I know you can spend your money on anything you choose, but when
is it enough?
Just a peek inside some of these closets let you know that enough money is being housed in there that these sneakers may need to be in some kind of vault.
DJ Khaled via Instagram NBA player Joe Johnson’s closet via Sports Illustrated Custom closet showcased on nextluxury Modern Mens Closet Design With Neon Blue Light Shoe Wall Shelf
For that kind of money, you need these babies in a fire proof room or safe.
If you’re getting heart palpitations just from reading these
numbers, then I understand. That’s a lot of money that has to be protected and
put under lock and key. Security can be another added expense on top on housing
and maintaining these shoes.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO WITH ALL THIS MONEY?
You could actually invest in startups by becoming an angel
investor.
According to Brian Cohen, an experienced angel investor and
the chairman of the New York Angels, a consortium that focus on start-ups in
the New York City area, most startups fail.
However, Fred Wilson of VC firm Union Square Ventures says that one-third of early stage investments are hits, meaning they return five times the investment or more. Guess what happens to the other two-thirds? Most go bust.
Therefore, you must research any investment before you hand
over even $1 of your money.
You could sell them.
A Guinness World Record holder at one time had 2,500 pairs
of sneakers called the Shoezeum.
When asked what brands he wore he replied, “Nike. It’s
sneakers or barefoot, and sneakers are always Nike.”
He also has some frugal tendencies. He stated, “I bought
1,800 pairs of Converse Chuck Taylors for $1 each. I took them all to a swap
meet and sold them for $5 a pair.”
Not bad.
However, regardless of what you do, put your money into
something that it can earn interest and grow.
Make your money work even harder for you than you had to for
it.
There are only so many hours you can work in 24 hours of a
day. Your money can work 365/24/7 in the stock market. So, let it.
Porsche. There is no substitute. – Tom Cruise, Risky Business
When I was growing up, I don’t remember caring about labels.
It wasn’t about getting or giving expensive gifts. It was about being safe and
warm.
Maybe, that is why to this day I still keep things until
they fall apart because of the memories attached to them. Not to mention it’s
cheaper.
Today, I have noticed a shift in kids. They are so focused
on what’s on the outside that I feel that may begin to forget that it’s what’s
on the inside that counts.
I know it’s cliché, but I do not want the next generation
growing up thinking that they are less than because they don’t have on the
expensive pair of shoes or have the hot new cell phone.
In my opinion, the best gift you can give your kids is to
not be a financial burden to them.
That means saying no to pricey things today, so that you can
have the money necessary to live and enjoy life tomorrow.
MONEY DOES NOT FIX ALL THINGS
Prada and Gucci and Dior, Oh My!
That sounds like something Carrie Bradshaw would say on Sex and the City.
Following the diamond bricked road can be dangerous.
However, I hear more young people taking about incredibly
expensive name brands and labels than in any other point in my life.
I, myself, am a little more like Rory from Gilmore Girls.
Things are not that important to me. I am perfectly fine
with a good book. My parents did not spoil us.
In fact, we were encouraged to work and be thrifty. Our
parents just were not buying it. It wasn’t really about the money; it was just
not needed so our parents said no.
My father would always say that you have to learn to accept
no just like you accept yes.
From him, I learned not to be spoiled or to spoil children.
Spoiled kids turn into rotten adults.
When you never hear the word no, you can get very upset.
Teaching young people today to be thankful and grateful for
what they have is something that will be good for them to know and use
throughout the rest of their lives.
Spending money does not always equate to happiness. It can
make things easier, but it does not solve every problem. And in some ways,
money can cause more problems.
I had a friend recently tell me she knew someone who had a
kid that asked for Gucci boots for Christmas.
How do they even know about that?
And they want the real stuff.
Got some diamonds round my neck no fugazi – Future lyrics
off the Streetz Calling album
Fugazi is just another word for fake.
I looked up the price of Gucci boots. The lowest price I
found was $980. I have gone on vacations for less. After tax, you are paying
$1,000 for one pair of boots! Absurd.
The only teenager that deserves a $1,000 pair of Gucci boots
is on stage with her two friends Kelly and Michelle.
That money could be used for books for college or starting a
fund for tuition.
You have to use your dollars wisely today or you may not
have them when you need them tomorrow.
DIAMONDS OR STOCKS
You could buy designer purses or expensive vacations. But
those things are fleeting.
Especially, if you come back home to a stack of unopened and
unpaid bills.
You are right back in the same situation before you left or
bought that designer handbag. What sense does that make?
Who cares if you own a Tiffany bracelet if your rent check
is late or worse yet, bounces!
Diamonds around your neck or wrist won’t keep you warm at
night.
Things will not feed you, make you happy, or pay your rent.
However, having a passive income stream can.
Money that is working on your behalf is like the gift that
keeps on giving.
A stock can be like a goose that lays a golden egg.
If you own a mutual fund comprised of hundreds of stocks,
then you can receive dividends and interest on the money you invested.
With a return rate of 7 percent over 30 years, the following
can happen to your invested money:
$1,000 can turn into $7,5000
$10,000 can turn into $75,000
$100,000 can turn into $750,000
And that is without adding another dime to your initial investment.
Think of how your money could grow if you added money
annually.
If we add an additional $3,000 (that’s $250 a month) every
year, we get the following:
$1,000 can turn into $300,000
$10,000 can turn into $400,000
$100,000 can turn into $1,000,000
You read that right. Start with an initial investment of
$1,000. That pair of Gucci boots.
Putting away an additional $250 per month for 30 years can
net you $1,000,000!
FAT STACKS ARE FAR BETTER THAN THINGS
Basically, if you could forgo pricey labels, you could save
and invest your way to a fortune.
For me, that is far more exciting than having some diamonds
on my wrist.
While a diamond bracelet is nice to look at and pretty to
hold, a stock is something that never gets old.
I tell people all the time to get the money first, then you
can buy whatever you want.
Money in the bank or sitting in a brokerage account is far
more valuable that getting the latest hot gadget.
Once the novelty wears off, all you are left with is another
trinket or item that sits in your house and collects dust.
I know there is no substitute for quality.
What I ask you to really consider is opportunity cost? If
this item will bring you long lasting happiness and prosperity?
If not, then you should focus on doing the things that will.
