Treasure Your Money - Enrich Your Life

Chapter 5. Value. Is, whatever I am spending my money on, of any value to me? Value has obviously different definitions for different people. The value of food and shelter is different to the value of sport and entertainment. Teach yourself, in the beginning anyway, to screen your needs and wants. In a very short while, all of this screening will become automatic, it will become a habit. Once it becomes a habit you have won half the battle and you are on your way to a more carefree and enjoyable life. It is a bottom line truth that people who have no money-worries lead a more satisfying and pleasant life. I trust that we agree at least on this aspect of the question of the definition of having money and not having it. Isn’t it remarkable that most of all the great teachers and wise men who have ever lived on this earth, had been poor? This statement also includes such figures as Jesus Christ, Socrates, Siddartha Gautama, called the Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, many great poets, painters, composers, writers, discoverers and scientists, in fact innumerable great men and women who have gone before us. Although they gave so much to humanity, they had to struggle to survive, much in the same way that most of humanity has to struggle today. I must raise the often unasked question: What is so great about having to struggle and to battle for getting the next meal on the table, although you may have fame and honour in the world at large? What is so honorable about begging for food and shelter from your friends or even complete strangers? Isn't it a person ‘s foremost duty and obligation to care for him- or herself, stand on his or her own two feet, without being a burden to others? Isn't it a shameful thing to be given or even having to take (rob) from others what they so diligently worked for themselves? But now you may ask me, but what has all that got to do with money? The answer is: EVERYTHING. Money, or whatever it’s equivalent may be, is your life-long means of existence. Let's not beat about the bush, it is as important as the air you breathe. For the sake of good, clear understanding and deep comprehension let's use the word MONEY for an all-inclusive term for words like value, wealth, reward, compensation, possessions etc. Nothing, but absolutely nothing goes without money. As far as man is concerned, it is part of the way in which nature affects all of us. It is part of how nature establishes and effects us and manifests itself with us and through us. Cause and effect: No work, no pay. No pain, no gain. No sowing, no reaping. No saving, no having. It is as simple as that. Philosophy puts it like this: "In nature there is no reward or punishment, there are only consequences.” Please stop for a little while and let that sink in. If you want to lead a comfortable life, by all means make arrangements for it. If you do not want to suffer every day, make proper preparations. If you want to become wealthy, do something about it. Nothing comes from nothing. You must realize that all these ideas, thoughts and intentions start in your head. In other words, make up your mind. Which is it going to be? Live your life being totally oblivious to the physical happenings, which surround you and submerge in the everlasting struggle of survival, or learn how to handle your MONEY. This book will teach you how to handle your income, manage your money, save your money, stay out of debt and enjoy your money.