Posts Tagged ‘economics’

Contrary to popular belief, prostitution is not the world’s oldest profession.  That distinction belongs to motherhood.  Yet there are still those who do not consider it an occupation of any import. With the media’s predictable tendency to inflate any bit of brow-raising news or any careless sound bite into a soap opera-like saga, could there be anything more boring or tedious than having to revisit this subject again?

Without motherhood, there would be no scientists, no philosophers, no great thinkers and no courageous leaders, needless to say, neither would there be any prostitutes, criminals or  politicians.

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between criminals, prostitutes and politicians, because the self-interest of politicians, is apt to turn them into prostitutes or criminals, willing to do any shameful thing for a price. Washington is full of these types, most of whom make their living as congressmen, lobbyists or political pundits–like Hilary Rosen.

Her thoughtless remark, suggesting Mitt Romney’s wife’s choice to be a full-time mother, disqualified her from being able to speak intelligently on anything outside the home, is typical of those who believe women who have committed themselves to raising some fragment of the next generation of Americans, are inferior thinkers. But as is often the case, her would-be insult, was more indicative of her character, than it was of the one about whom the remark was made.

She seems to think those who choose full-time motherhood, do so, because they aren’t qualified to do anything else–demonstrating her prejudice and contempt for women, different than she.  Clearly this woman believes she is smarter than stay-at-home moms like Ann Romney–but she is, at the very least, ignorant of the reasons reasons women choose home, over career.

When parents make the decision for the mother to stay home, it often means choosing between the security of a second income and what they believe is best for their family.  Whether an emotional or philosophical commitment, it is a reflection of the parents’ values and/or moral convictions.  This is particularly true of members of the LDS church, because the basic tenets of  the Mormon faith, emphasize the importance of the family. That‘s neither an endorsement of Mormonism, nor an indictment of other faiths, it‘s just a fact.  (Any political pundit, worth her perks, would have boned up on Mormonism, enough to know this.)

Looking down her nose at the women whose most important lunch dates involve peanut butter sandwiches, or whose late-night strategy sessions require knowledge of Popsicle stick construction and solving for” X”, Rosen is evidence that no matter how high up the ladder a woman climbs, some are still unable to rise above cattiness or hypocrisy.  According to a  bit of gossip found on Open Salon, Rosen and her former domestic  partner Elizabeth Birch, regretted adopting children, after realizing how much work kids are.

Whether the remark made by Dan Quayle regarding the unwed mother represented by “Murphy Brown” or Hillary Clinton’s  demeaning tone, when she referred to “a little woman” standing by her man, the tendency to drag women into political campaigns is wearisome and transparent.

The title of “housewife” may not sound important, but in addition to the mundane duties as housekeeper, cook, teacher, and chauffeur, on any given day, a stay-at-home parent, may be  required to also act as Assistant to the Chief Executive, Manager, Economist, Counselor, Specialist in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Medic, Logistics Manager, Procurement Specialist or any other number of roles.  In a perfect world, every little girl would grow up to live the life she‘d dreamed of having, whether or not it  included a husband and children.  Unfortunately, we don’t always have control of the way our lives play out.  Sometimes we make choices, sometimes choices are made for us.  Nevertheless, as daughters, women, wives, or mothers, women are often required to do a little bit of everything.

We may not do it all well, but most of us do it all.  Those vain or foolish enough to believe they know best for the collective of women, would be well-served not to underestimate the intelligence or abilities of the women with baby throw-up on their shirts.

Deb’s note: Speaking of throw-up, I feel like I might..every time I hear someone pandering apologetically to mothers by saying “motherhood is the hardest job.”  As a stay-at-home mother, I think being a member of the military or career woman forced to leave my children in the care of others, would be far more difficult.  What I have chosen is a delightful challenge.

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There is a lot of talk about gold right now.  With the latest news from Wall Street, many have seen their portfolios take big hits.  At least those who deal in precious metals, stand to benefit as more people begin considering buying gold.  If the dollar continues to tumble like a kid pushed down a stairwell, it is likely that the price of gold will continue to rise, but while many are thinking of buying is seems there are others who are anxious to sell.

Selling your old stuff has always been one way of to raise cash, and the hottest thing selling now is gold.  Over the last few months, I’ve been invited to a number of “Gold” parties.  For those of you who have yet to be on one of these guest lists, gold parties are an an opportunity to turn unwanted gold jewelry, including broken chains, orphaned earrings and even dental gold, into greenbacks.

The gold party isn’t my thing.  Though turning unwanted jewelry into cash may be tempting in an economy like this one, what little gold I have, I wear.  Not only that, but knowing every piece of gold I own was purchased for a price greater than it’s actual value, if someone stands to make a good return on my jewelry, I’d prefer it be me.  Despite this, I recently attended a gold party as a favor to a girlfriend who was hosting.  Though I had nothing to sell, I was curious to see the items brought and the prices they would fetch. It’s an interesting scene as women (and some men) show up with odd bits of precious metals.

The purchasing agent assesses and tests items, weighs them and then tells what price he will pay.  Most of the sellers seemed to be surprised (and pleased) by the amounts offered for their cast-offs.  I too was surprised, in fact,  it took all my self-control to watch as a gentleman sold his an exquisite signet ring for a paltry $75.  I was tempted to commit the ultimate gold party faux pas, by offering him more.  Instead, I swallowed a small lump in my throat as I watched the ring tossed into the pile with other scrap headed for a refinery.  As I watched the assayer handing out piles of hundred dollar bills to the party guests, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of profit he stood to make.

The price of gold is high and still climbing, so if you’re inclined to sell this is a great time to do so, but you should realize you won’t be getting it’s real value, and there are a few things you should know.  Gold parties are illegal in some places.  This is mostly to protect sellers from unlicensed or unscrupulous buyers,and to prevent the traffic of stolen items. If you are worried about being taken advantage of or being party to illegal activity, consider going to a reputable jeweler, preferably one who deals in a high volume of metals, as they usually offer the best price.  (The best prices is given by refineries, but refineries generally don’t buy from individuals.)

The real value of jewelry is often outweighed by its intangible value.  After all, who can put a price on a piece of jewelry handed down from a long-gone family member, or a insignificant ring which reminds us of  young love?   So while some husbands may be home calling their broker about acquiring gold, their wives may be out selling the gold they’ve acquired, but I will be holding.  If you aren’t ready to part with your jewelry, wear it and enjoy it knowing that even your cheapest pieces have gone up in value.

I have a college degree and some other educational credentials.  They are mostly useless, but I have them.   I have yet to apply for a job where it mattered whether or not I had anything other than a college degree, yet the two least prestigious pieces of parchment I hold are the most significant to me.  They are my high school diploma and my certificate in mariachi music.

A few years ago, a college in my area became the first in the United States (and I believe the world) to offer an accredited program in the study of Mariachi.  I had been dabbling in mariachi for some time and made it my goal to be the first person to receive that degree. A friend of mine beat me to the pole position, but I was still able to become the first woman to ever receive this degree in a genre of music which was once exclusively the domain of men.

This might lead you to believe I’m an accomplished or scholarly musician.  I am not.  In fact, compared to my peers, I’m a hack. I suppose, if I were highly motivated I could parlay what I’ve learned into some kind of lucrative livelihood.  Certainly my rudimentary knowledge of mariachi music, history and instruments would qualify me to teach, and while that might be a good fallback,  it wasn‘t my motivation.  To me, this degree is indicative of what it means to be an American.

I was born in America, taught to salute the flag and pledge allegiance to it.  I was taught the principles of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. I was born in the time before being a celebrity meant having a platform for expressing contempt for America.  In fact, when I was young, being anti-American could still get stars black-listed in Hollywood.

I was taught The Pilgrims were decent folk who came here seeking religious freedom.  Now, school children are taught that the pilgrims represent the ruination of Native America.  My ancestors were pilgrims, but not the Mayflower kind.  As your ancestors probably were, they were just pilgrims seeking a better life for their families.

One side of my family came from Europe, the other from Mexico.   Both  came to The United States, because this country offered freedom, education, economic opportunity and a life free of government hostility.  You’ve heard it all before, but the opportunities and freedoms unique to this country have given many the chance to build a better life.  It was certainly true for my family.

In my grandmother’s country, she didn’t go to school.  From the time she was very young until her death, she worked.

There are still countries in the world where children work, instead of going to school.

My mother’s life in this country meant she learned a new language and was able to go to school.

There are still countries where girls are not allowed to go to school.

When my mother left home, she set her sights on becoming a nurse.

There are still countries where governments decide what you will become.

She met my father, and married him two weeks later.

There are still countries where younger daughters must wait for older daughters to be married and husbands are selected by parents.

In just a few years, she had gone from living in a poor two-room house to living The American Dream in a home with bedrooms, heat and indoor plumbing.

What might take generations in many other countries, can be achieved here in decades.

I am grateful for having been allowed to go to school free of political indoctrination.  I am glad to have been able to decide for myself where I would live, what I would do, and who I would marry.  I am glad to have been able to work beside men, choose my own religious beliefs and receive a paycheck  in return for my work. Surrounded by nice cars, appliances, and electronics, it is easy for Americans to take things for granted.

Our clothes, our shoes, our abundance of food, our books, our medicines would be luxuries in many other countries.

I am thankful for my high school diploma, because in those years, I learned something many schools no longer teach.  I learned to be proud of this country.  I am proud of the degree in mariachi. because it reminds me people of any race can come here, without sacrificing their cultural pride.

In other parts of the world, being a different race means being a target of genocide.

This country isn’t perfect.  Our history is rife with mistakes.  The politics of our country may leave us discouraged or disgusted, but individuals have the right to expose the flaws of our government.

In some countries, governments control access to information.

We can speak out against our leaders, without fear of retaliation.  Men and women are allowed a vote.

In many countries, the citizens have neither a voice, nor a vote.

If I had been educated today, I might be ashamed of America.  While there are certainly many shameful and regrettable things in our past, like slavery, our treatment of Native Americans, the bombing of Hiroshima, segregation, our economic policies, or some of our other military actions; this nation has done it’s best to respect the worth of the individual.  We haven’t always gotten it right, but no other country in the world has demonstrated a greater commitment to freedom and democracy for all people.

America isn’t done making mistakes, but there isn’t a place I’d rather live.  It is no small thing to be a woman who has opportunities and the right to make her own decisions in regards to her body, her family, and her future.  Each time I drive past the plot of land where my mother once lived, I am moved.   I am thankful for the opportunities America has given to me and to so many others.  For being a woman born in America, I am as grateful as those pilgrims were on that first Thanksgiving.

May God bless and preserve all the best things about America.

One of the significant differences between the sexes, is the tendency of women to focus on smaller things men don’t see.   While men are making sense of the  big picture,  women are taking in the details.

For this reason, women often understand economics, better than men think we do. In fact, women are especially savvy in the realm of microeconomics.  If you have any knowledge of economics, you probably know the difference between micro- and macroeconomics. Macro includes big things like the GNP, unemployment, and trade, while microeconomics deals with the factors which affect the individual consumer.

Even if we don’t know what to call it, our highly developed shopping prowess, allows us to sense  economic trends.  Men may need to read the financial section of the daily news to learn how The Dow is trending, but women need only go to the stores to get a read on the economy.

Because women are often in charge of provisioning a household with things like Oreos and stylish clothing, we are quick to detect economic trends. The first indicators are usually commodities–things like coffee, sugar, breakfast cereal [aka grain], and gasoline. When the paycheck isn’t going as far, women don’t need the Wall Street Journal to tell them the economy is hinky.

It is easy to tell at the beginning of a retail season, what retailers are feeling.  When the economy is humming, retailers stock their shelves with eye-dazzling excess.  During downtrends, seasonal goods have largely run out, or are greatly marked down before the end of the season, resulting in spectacular mid-season bargains.

As inflation deflates our buying-power, it is clear our economy isn’t at it’s best.  Which means that once again the women’s magazines will be telling us how to stretch our grocery dollars, but there’s more to life than just food, and Nordstrom’s doesn’t have a double-coupon day.  So, as we tighten our very fashionable belts and cross manicured fingers waiting for an upturn, I’ve come up with new ways to save.

We could all save more if we’d just stop spending on unnecessary things–like those which are wasted on men.  For instance, think of what you could save on haircare costs, like color, cuts or styles.  Whether you get your hair cut for $120. at a posh salon, or for $12. at Supercuts, it is probable the man in your life won’t notice it’s different.

Think of how much money we’d have, if we stopped buying expensive, but-oh-so-worth-it shoes, in favor of lesser-priced shoes from PayLess or WalMart. After all, when was the last time a heterosexual male, who didn’t have a foot-fetish, went ga-ga or even noticed the pair that cost you a significant pay-chunk?

Cosmetics and perfumes cost a fortune.  Women would do well by foregoing the price of designer fragrances.  You will never miss them, once you realize the smells of pizza and beer are just effective, for attracting men.

There is also the matter of underwear & lingerie.  I’m not advocating for going without feel good/look good bras or  panties,  but the rest of the money spent on skimpy things is largely wasted.  When it comes to lingerie, men are like dogs–mostly colorblind.  They primarily see only red and black, though some may also respond to white.  Any color they can’t readily name, is apt to confuse them.  Details like real silk or French lace are also superfluous, as the only detail men appreciate in lingerie, is skin.  Everything else is superfluous.   The primary purpose of lingerie is to let him know we aren’t going to make him beg–unless, of course, he’s into that kind of thing.

Clearly we’d have more money in our designer handbags, if we’d stop spending money to make ourselves, yet more irresistible, but there’s a hitch.  While we may groom & dress with our man in mind, the truth is we dress for ourselves.  We spend money on all kinds of beautiful & spendy things, because they make us feel more desirable.  It isn’t money wasted.  When are more attractive, when we feel beautiful.

Earthquakes, nuclear disasters, wars, rising inflation, economic uncertainty AND just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse–they’re baa-a-a-a-ck.

Last weekend, as I was out & about, I was surprised to see them everywhere.  Dropping out of nowhere, they were in stores, at restaurants and even sporting events.  Just in time to ruin spring, comes the leg-shrouding long-dress.  In my own locale, winter has been too wet and too long to suit me.  Like most of the men I know, I have been anxiously waiting for shorts-weather.  The wonderful season of close shaves and suntan oil, but alas, it would seem legs are going back into hiding.

You may or may not be aware of  “The Skirt Length Theory”, in which there is a supposed correlation between hem lengths and economic trends. Recalling its premise, I’m trying to remember the economic conditions during the period in which I last wore a long dress to something other than a wedding. According to the theory, when times are good, women get into supply & demand economics, with an eagerness to show their goods.  Conversely, when the economy is shaky, apparently women hoard cloth by wearing skirts long enough to provide a make-shift shelter in the event of a worst-case scenario.  (A Yurt Skirt?)

Utilizing my understanding of economics and my observations of male/female relationships, I have extrapolated my own conclusion on “skirt theory”.  Keynes, Bernanke, Buffett and Friedman would certainly agree with me on this.  The more economic security a man presents, the more likely it is he will get more than a glimpse of ankle.

“The Skirt Length Theory” has mostly been debunked, probably because the affluence of the developed world has provided women more options for wearing whatever skirt length they preferred, but I suspect as the dreadful maxi-length dresses return, this theory will be given another 15 minutes of fame for re-examination.

The very bad news for those who have been watching  IRA’s & stock portfolios shrink, is the much-needed distraction of summer gam-glam will be in decline too.  As the graph lines on the Dow, The GNP and the probability of Congress solving our deficit woes go plummeting toward the earth, get your last glimpse of calf curves.

Hold on, it’s going to be a long summer.

No matter how flawed humanity is, I remain a huge fan.  I see our quirky individualism as part of The Divine tapestry.  Because of this, I respect the opinions & morality of people whose views may oppose my own, and though I have standards by which I try to live, I don’t like to impose my standard on others with different values or beliefs.   This declaration is necessary, because today’s topic requires me to tread lightly.  In the news is the issue of whether or not the government should cut funding to Planned Parenthood.

It must be acknowledged that talking about Planned Parenthood, is talking about sexual & reproductive issues.  If you are faithful reader of de blog, you may have guessed I’m not uptight about sex, nevertheless, because anything related to sex is colored by our morality, it can be a highly sensitive issue to others.

NEWS FLASH:  People have sex!

They have since the beginning of time, they will continue until the end of time.  Planned Parenthood serves some of those people, but unfortunately, within their client base are a large number of people who would be better off not having sex.  That‘s not a moral judgment, it’s an observation.

A long time ago, in a lesser zip code of Oakland, CA, I worked at a home for unwed mothers.  I’ve seen girls as young as 11 struggling with the decision of whether or not to become mothers. I’ve seen pregnancies that were tragic from their conception. I’ve seen the stereotypical unwed black teen, but I’ve also seen girls from respected families hiding until their pregnancy was brought to term.  I’ve seen girls pregnant by family members.  My earliest roots were Catholic, but after seeing hard reality, I became convinced of the need for alternatives to pregnancy.

Before Planned Parenthood, teens had unprotected sex in the back of the barn, the backseat of a vehicle, or any other place they could find.  Back in the day, an unwed mother was sent away until the baby was born.  The baby was put up for adoption or sometimes raised by its grandparents.

Fast forward…

Teens still have sex behind barns and in backseats. Even with readily available birth control, girls still get pregnant.  We  no longer send those girls away, and many of their babies are mostly raised by grandparents.  That’s not the worst thing, as anyone who has been a parent, is better suited to raising a child, than someone who still is one.  Though Planned Parenthood has made birth control and abortions readily available, they haven’t succeeded in significantly changing the outcome of the situation.

What has changed is society’s attitude toward unwed mothers.  Americans may not be crazy about the regularity of young girls getting pregnant, before they are ready to be parents.  We don’t rejoice for teens who inadvertently trade the carefree years of their youth, for the unrelenting responsibility of parenthood, but it would seem that even those who aren’t ready to become grandparents are reluctant to have their grandchildren aborted.  Whether pro-choice or pro-life, most of us are pro-family when the issue comes home.

In the rhetoric of why we mustn’t cut funding to Planned Parenthood, is the projection it will result in something like a half million more abortions a year.  These projections are estimates, substantiated only by speculation, but one must wonder why the nation’s largest promoter and provider of abortions is opposed to seeing more of them.  After all, weren’t a woman’s right to choose and population control the foundation of Planned Parenthood’s doctrine? Perhaps it has more to do with market share, than the welfare of women. Abortion is a very lucrative business, Planned Parenthood, a federally subsidized “non-profit” agency made more than $100 million in profits last year.

Another argument, against cutting funding is Planned Parenthood provides many services besides birth control and abortion, services for males, such as screening for testicular cancer and testing for STD‘s. I’d like to see the statistics, because I’ve been to Planned Parenthood, the waiting rooms are mostly full of young women.  When guys are there, they are usually holding the hand of a girl who looks frightened.  Their waiting rooms are not full of guys lining up for testicular cancer screen tests.  Guys do go there for STD testing, usually only after a girlfriend has told them it might be prudent.

Perhaps the biggest loss if Planned Parenthood’s funding is decreased would be the easy accessibility to birth control.  If this is our priority, it would be more economically efficient to subsidize contraceptives, than agencies which supply them.   Those who oppose funding cuts say this would increase the number of unwanted pregnancies among members of the lower socio-economic classes and within minority populations, because traditionally Planned Parenthood has served these populations.   That might seem noble, but to those familiar with Planned Parenthood’s roots, it reeks of racism.

Early leader of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger believed that babies born to minorities should be slowly eliminated to decrease the blight of racial impurity on America.  Are the children of poor minority mothers less valid than those born to others?    She believed in population control and a form of eugenics–which favored the distillation and purification of race.  She believed Hitler had it right.   She was involved with the shameful chapter in American history, known as The Negro Project. Sanger and her cohorts, thought they knew best which births most needed control.

Though Planned Parenthood has tried to distance itself from it’s hideous racist roots, the agency still targets minorities and the impoverished.  Defenders of the agency, say that cutting funding will hurt women.  Which women?   There is nothing  noble or benevolent about an agency which makes the greatest share of its income from those who can least afford it.

No matter our views on sex, birth control or abortion, we have the freedom to choose.  We each choose what we believe is right for us.  Even without being subsidized, there will always be clinics that provide birth control, testing for STD’s, reproductive health services and abortions.  We know about Planned Parenthood because it’s the largest abortion provider in the United States, but there are many others.  Cutting funding to this agency will not eliminate it.

As I see it, this planet has nothing worthwhile without the people of all kinds who populate it.  Babies were meant to be born–even those that don’t come with a silver spoon in their mouths.  Race and economics aside, every child deserves a future, because greatness is not born of race, wealth or status.  We will never know what genius, creativity or social contributions we missed because of those who went unborn.  Perhaps, the economic genius, who would have had the brilliance to solve some of our current economic issues, went unborn.  If Americans continue to attempt funding everything because of high ideals, while disregarding the reality of economics, none of our children will face a bright future. It is time to cut funding not just to Planned Parenthood, but to every program that no longer makes sense.

Another election cycle has ended, causing us to wonder if we can expect any change.  Currently, we are facing controversial social issues and a shaky economy; the  cost of health care is at the forefront of our minds, and as if that weren’t enough to make us all nervous, we face the unknown consequences of this year’s flu strains.

In addition to the seasonal flu, and the dreaded “swine” flu, Americans are also vulnerable to the aftermath of the recent wave of another disease–the strain known to some as Affluenza.

Affluenza is a strain that has been growing, largely unaddressed. Our materialistic society has allowed this once-rare affliction to quietly mutate and spread. Some areas of the country are on the verge of devastation; and unless you have developed a resistance, you may be at risk.  Almost everyone is born a carrier, but not everyone will succumb to the affliction. Susceptibility to it, crosses economic and class lines. Affluenza begins with a feverish desire to have. Two parallel strains have been identified, by the populations they affect.  The have been classified as Affluenza H1, which affects “The Haves” and Affluenza HN which affects “The Have Nots”.

Apparent differences between these affected populations are easy to see, but the line separating them is not easily understood.  There are many factors which will determine one’s classification.   These may be present at birth or caused by environmental factors such as dumb luck.

Having been fortunate to have always had “enough”  classifies me as an H1 aka a “Have”.  I could say I’d earned everything or that it’s possible for anyone to be a “Have”, but I’ve benefited from things which had little to do with me.  There is no understandable reason why some people end up at the end of the blessing stick, while others are continually battered by the baton of misfortune.   Therefore, lest I take credit for things, for which I deserve no credit, I preface all other remarks by saying I am humbled by and grateful for all that I have.

Many wrongly believe money is a problem solver. It can be; but many problems cannot be solved by money.  If a “problem” can be solved by throwing great amounts of money at it, it’s not a very serious problem.  A wrecked car can be restored with money–a person killed in that car cannot. Think of the people you know who struggle with addiction or disease, you can throw money at those things all day long, but it won’t fix them. Those are real problems.

Ironically money-problems are rarely fixed by money.   Those with money-problems often erroneously believe having more money would solve their problems, but this is rarely so.  Because most money problems are the result of behaviors or beliefs which cause people to live outside what they can realistically afford, more money usually feeds money problems.  If you don’t believe it, examine the plights of lottery and sweepstakes winners.

Money is a looking glass which reveals who we are.  It is a magnifying glass which exposes our values and priorities.  Many people say they would give money to the poor, if they had more.  Others say they would save more, if they had it to save.  These things are rarely true. Savers save and givers give regardless of how much they have.

Having more money means different things to different people.   It can mean more to spend, more to invest, more to manage, more to share, or more opportunities.  Any of these can be legitimately good things.

The very rich and wise Solomon said  “Love of money is the root of all evil.”   Because I love money, I would refute that.  I don’t love money a lot, but I love it enough.  I especially love having enough to share–even if it’s only enough to pick  up a girlfriend’s latté.  I don’t really care how much I have, as long as I have enough to be able to live without fear–and enough after that, to be able to share how blessed I have been..

I worked very hard as a younger gal.  Long hours, several good pairs of shoes and a half-dozen bars and restaurants were the source of my college fund.  Those were hard-earned dollars.  Back then, I didn’t understand money as well as I do now, but the aching feet which came with the paycheck did much to educate me.

I viewed money like a fashion accessory. I naively believed that money would make me more attractive in some way. I spent stupid amounts of money on expensive clothes and other whims.  I spent lavishly on food and entertainment.  Realizing how much faster one could spend, than earn, was the beginning of my appreciation and understanding of money.  Here are a few of the things I’ve learned.

1. Unless you are very lucky, money comes hard-earned. Many people wrongly see money as the result of luck. They are usually the same people who believe those with the most money are the happiest.

2. Money is much better than many of the things we spend it on, because it keeps.   Fashions go out of style, food gets eaten, cars get old, entertainment is quickly over, but money keeps well. Knowing this, one would do well to hold on to more of it.

3. Holding on to money is a good thing, but only to a point. If you insist on holding on to everything you get, you will be be disliked for your stinginess and you will probably be miserable. Realize that having money is a good thing.  Sharing good things is fun!

4. Sometimes with money, comes status.  In lieu of status it can be used to buy symbols of status. Status symbols will elevate your self-worth, but only in your own eyes. If you live in such a way that your status comes from within, you will soon realize status symbols are no substitute for the real thing.

5. The very best thing money can buy is freedom–freedom from hunger, fear, stress or debt.  Using money to avoid becoming a slave to debt, will also prevent becoming a slave to worry.

6. There is such a thing as not enough money.   I don’t know, or care to know, if there is an amount which is too much.  I like having enough.  I have lived on very little and found it to be enough. I have more now and find it to be more than enough.  However, there isn’t enough money in the world to make you happy, if you cannot be content with less than you’d like.   Ask anyone who has lived among the poor, and they will assure you there are people with far less than you, who are as happy or happier than you.

7. Some people think that the “rich” have too much money. Don’t be fooled. Being rich is expensive and there are just as many rich people in bankruptcy courts, as there are poor.

8. If you believe that money can buy happiness, the process of finding out will probably make you miserable.

9. Not having money is humbling, but many without end up being wiser than those with plenty, because they have a pretty good understanding of what money can’t buy.

10. If you should be lucky enough to have lots of money, you would be wise to be kind. Even if you are kind, many people will resent you, simply because they can’t relate.  The more money you have, the more important it is to remember a reversal of fortune could have you looking up at the people around you, instead of down.