Wealth Insight 2009-12-18
We think about money so much. But what do we think about?
How much we have.
How much we need.
How much we want.
We only see it from that point of view.
And I would say, this is not enough. Considering how much of our time it takes up, we should know it better.
Why? Because it isn’t just there. Like a mountain. Or the sea. People made it. People manage it. It’s not perfect. It’s not neutral. It’s not like a force of nature – something we cannot control.
You see, the way people created money, and the way countries manage it, affects us. It affects our choices every day. It affects our behaviour.
As long as it does this and we do not know, then we are not really free, are we? If we don’t know why we do the things we do, we are dancing to someone else’s tune.
The best example is inflation.
Paper money loses value constantly because of inflation. This turns us into short term thinkers. If it’s worth more today than it will ever be again, then spend it now! That is the effect of inflation on our thinking.
That’s one example of how money makes us do things, and we don’t even know it. Now I don’t know about you, but I like to know what I’m doing, why and for who. I like to be my own master, so I need to understand money.
A really logical but WOW way to think about money:
Money is a measure of our labour. A measure of our past or future time and effort. This makes it very real to us. Our aching shoulders are a result of making money. Money should not be abstract and weird (though it has been made so).
If you think of it as eyestrain or tired muscles, it can give you a valuable new perspective.
Your labour might already have gone into it – e.g. your monthly salary. Or it might be in the future – e.g. when you borrow money.
Now here is the trap that I started Warriors Against Debt to help you out of. We work hard for our money. But borrowing money is easy (no muscle ache). However, it is going to have to be paid back one day plus interest.
Debt is the HARDEST-earned money of all because of the interest. So debt is harder work than earning a salary, yet we do not feel it. It only hits us later.
That’s a major reason why you will do so well to conquer it now. No matter how big or small your debt is, start the new year in better shape with Warriors Against Debt.
Hannes Dreyer.
Wealth Creators Mentor
