All human wisdom is summed up in two words; wait and hope. – Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers
As I am sure by now you can tell, that I like to not only be entertained, but to entertain my readers as well. Well, this blog post du jour will be no different. One of my favorite stories is one that was written many years ago.
This tale has it all. Money. Lust. Power. Greed. Revenge.
I am sure many out there have heard of the book called The Count of Monte Cristo. It was written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844. Although, the book’s origin is over 200 years old, its plot is just as poignant today as it was then.
The story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean. The Italian island of Monte Cristo is where the protagonist in this story derives his name. The historical events in the novel happen between 1815-1839, during the time Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled. A true adventure tale that involves the themes of betrayal, hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness.
The plot involves a young sailor that is wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit. Falsely convicted with no trial and imprisoned, he escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets out a plan to exact revenge on those who conspired against him.
His name is Edmund Dantes. And this is his story.
This post will focus on the 2002 film version of this story.
So, sit back, relax, pull up a chair, pour yourself a glass of wine, and enjoy this post.
Money Nuggets of Wisdom I got from The Count of Monte Cristo.
ALL WEALTH BUILDING STARTS WITH INCOME
Money Nugget One: You must earn money to save money. Frugality allows you to save more money.
In order to even start building wealth, you have to have income. Money needs to come in before you can start saving any. But make no mistake, all wealth building starts with saving. Once you have money to save then you have to allocate funds to savings.
Please do not discredit the act of saving and frugality. It is far easier to slash expenses and save then it is to make more money.
Work with what you have. It will be far harder to save once you start making more money. So, start saving while you have small sums so you will already be in the habit to do so when you have large sums.
And make time to spend on fun. Do not cut back on fun. Spend more on fun. It will give you the energy and inspire you to earn and save more money. So that you can have even more fun.
I started by reviewing my bank statements and seeing what I was spending.
I made the decision to get rid of as many fixed expenses as possible. In addition, as I paid off debt I would incrementally up my savings.
I started with $1 a day. That was $365 a year. Then went to $50 per month and so on until I finally reached $13,333.06 a year. I cut out tons of subscriptions and services I didn’t need or wasn’t using. Once I saw how much I could save and in such a short time period, as I went from saving $3k a year to $13k a year within 12 months, I started realizing the power of saving.
You can read all about it in my ebook How to crush debt and save $10,000 every single year and other posts I have written from October 2018 through February 2019.
Check these posts out
- The one-tweet financial plan
- Why I think college should be only 8 months
- Are car loans worth giving up $1 million dollars?
In the film, Edmond (played by Jim Caviezel) is a Second Mate of a French merchant vessel. It starts in 1815. As their ship’s captain is ill, Edmond commands the ship to stop on the island of Elba. Napoleon Bonaparte offers the help of his physician’s services if Edmond will deliver a letter. And is sworn to secrecy.
Keep in mind, Napoleon is in exile and any correspondence delivered from him would be considered to be treason to the French monarchy as he is an enemy to the crown. The letter was to be delivered to a powerful politician’s father. You can pretty much guess where the story is headed.
Upon his return home to Marseille, he is rewarded for his bravery and promoted to captain over another gentleman that was First Mate by the name of Danglars and at the ire of his friend, Fernand
Mondego (played by Guy Pearce). This provided Edmond with enough income to marry his fiancée, Mercedes (played by Dagmara Dominczyk).
However, before that happens, Edmond must deliver the letter he promised. He gives it inadvertently to the son of the man the letter was meant for. The politician J.F. Villefort (played by James Frain) said the letter was treasonous. It is revealed that Edmond could not read. All was good until he said the name of who was to receive the letter. Upon hearing his father’s name and knowing it would ruin his political career, Villefort burned the letter and ordered Edmond to be arrested.
RICH IS RELATIVE
Money Nugget Two: Rich is relative
Edmond escapes arrest and goes to his friend Fernand’s house. His father is a count and he goes there for help and protection. However, his friend turns him in to the gendarmes (the French police). As he is arrested, he gives Edmond a chess piece as that is game they used to play as a parting gift.
Then Edmond asks, “why?” He replies that he should not envy the son of a fisherman or someone not of noble birth. That’s cold.
At this point in the film, you are reeling. A good man has been falsely accused and arrested. Put away in prison for life because he was a pawn in a much bigger scheme. One he was unaware of.
Let’s stop and think for a second.
Let’s meet the money players. Because everything always comes back to money. If you truly want to know something., then follow the money.
Villefort is a well-known, connected, and in a respectable position of a salaried politician.
Danglars is an educated shipman.
Fernand is the son of a count, wealthy, of noble birth and education.
Edmond Dantes is none of those things. He had to work for every dime. He is poor and illiterate. When a sacrifice had to be made and a lamb had to be slaughtered, the sacrificial lamb was a poor man. Just something to think about right there.
Although, these people have money and connections, all of them disliked a man of no means, who lacked money, prestige, position, power, and education.
Money will not make you happy as you can clearly see from above.
Money itself has no power. It is what you do with it that gives it meaning or power. It does have the power change lives ad make life easier, but that’s about it. Therefore, rich is relative. It is what you perceive it to be.
Perception is reality.
Rich is different for everyone.
NEGLECT CAN BE AN ALLY
Money Nugget Three: You can build a fortune without anyone knowing. Stealth wealth anyone?
One of the best parts of the film happens while Edmond is in prison. After six years, he meets a fellow prisoner by the name of Faria (played by Richard Harris), who was once a general in Napoleon’s army. He himself has been imprisoned for 11 years because he would not divulge the whereabouts of a secret treasure; the treasure of Spada.
Faria asks Edmond to help him dig tunnels to escape the prison. They barter. Edmond will only help if the man will teach him how to read. Faria agrees. In addition, he also teaches him how to fight.
Over the next 7 years, Edmond becomes a scholar and a swordsman.
This was made possible because the guards completely ignored and shunned them. Their neglect became their ally.
This is similar to a story I read in Millionaire Women Next Door. While a young woman’s parents were ignoring her, she built up a healthy work ethic and saving plan that helped turn her into a millionaire as an adult. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot be anything you want to be. If it is important to you, then you will find a way.
If I hear one more person tell me they do not have time to read personal finance books, I’m going to start a bull**it jar and put $20 bucks into it every time I hear that. By the end of 3 years, I will probably have enough to buy a car with cash.
If you have time to surf the Web, spend hours on Twitter, or read Facebook posts, then you can read about finance.
Now, I need your undivided attention for this next part. Reminder that glass of wine I mentioned earlier? Well, I need you to put it down for one minute.
Once you get all this knowledge, then put it to use. Start investing. Even better, after you grow your fortune, tell no one. Then they can’t hit you up for gifts and interest free loans.
Think I’m joking? Look up bankrupt, broke, or rich NBA players and see interviews where they talk about how friends, hangers-ons, and family members ask them for money.
I regularly tell people I am just out here trying to make it, you know, trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. Whatever will distract them from asking me about my money.
Sure, I have money in the bank. However, I am not a bank.
See my post
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Money Nugget Four: There is power in getting an education.
After one conversation, Edmond was very upset. Faria helped him figure out who, how, what, and why he was sent to prison for life. That is when Edmond decides he wants justice. He must live and get out of prison.
Faria is hurt badly in prison, but before he dies, he tells Edmond where the secret treasure is hidden and provides him with a map. Knowing this was his chance to escape, Edmond hatches a plan to get out of prison. After he escapes, he runs into a band of pirates and befriends them.
He then sets off to see old acquaintances and in search of the lost treasure.
After getting the information he required on all his old enemies and his nemesis, Fernand, he finds the treasure.
Once a poor man, he is now the richest man in Marseille. He gives himself a new identity; a count. And a new name: Count of Monte Cristo.
I remember hearing this growing up, beauty fades but dumb is forever. You cannot get by on looks alone. Get an education. It could be the difference of a life of penury or extreme wealth. You decide.
MONEY OFFERS PROTECTION
Money Nugget Five: Money attracts money. Money also provides protection.
Edmond Dantes is no more. The Count of Monte Cristo is what he is referred to from this moment on. Everywhere he goes, people hang on to his every word. No one dares to disrespect or cross him to his face, but they will behind his back.
There are some excellent parts in the film as to what he does with his money and how he acquires his home. He is also careful with his identity. He guards it close. He is aloof and cold but not recalcitrant. He is very respectful to all levels of gentry no matter how noble or what manner of nobility a man is. An inferior or low ranking birth means nothing to him. Only power.
You’ll see what I mean in this scene from the film.
In the illustrious words of Charlotte’s Web, “Salutations.” Or in the case of Monte Cristo, “Greetings.” 😉 Now this is how you make an entrance! This is my favorite scene in the film.
Monte Cristo is nobody’s fool. He has been to both sides of the island. Having been voted off the island of poverty so many years ago, he knows which side to be on.
“In this life we are either kings or pawns, emperors or fools.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Money is not only a tool, but one of protection. You can afford to pay your fare and your fair share of any financial obligations. Financial mediocrity is a fool’s game. You should respect money and take care to grow your money so that you can pay your share of any bill that comes in your mailbox.
Money offers protection from eviction.
Money offers protection from sleepless nights and worrying how to pay bills.
Money offers protection from bankruptcy.
Money offers protection from poor health.
I think you get my point.
I want you to be protected. I want you to have the means to take care of yourself and your family. That is why I write. I want to help people improve the quality of their financial lives. I want you to be self-made. I want you to be a financial rock star. To fulfill your dreams. And if you happen to look for suggestions on good reading materials, you can come here.
May I suggest this literacy classic be one of those books, The Count of Monte Cristo, on your road to wealth that you pick up along the way. Or check out the movie and see how the story ends.
If you enjoyed this post, then you will not regret it.
