Thinking about Money
Some initial questions :
- What's money's role in the world
- What is the nature of money? good and bad
- What is money's value in my life?
- Where can money get me to?
- What is the catch with progress and how can contentment be defined?
Some answers:
1.
Money / economy is the reason someone is willing to grow fruits and vegetables, someone is willing to distribute it, is the reason why we are able to buy groceries and cook it. Simple as that. Nothing in this world moves without this formal way of exchanging favors. From the necessities like food, clothing, security to the luxuries of travel, brands, houses, cars and even education.
2.
Money is a reflection of whoever uses it. So it can be good or bad. And money is not always fair - the hard working get paid less and the more easier jobs get paid more. The differentiator is not the difficulty in doing the job, the differentiator is the difficulty in learning the job. Anyone can train to be a maid, and it gets paid less even though it's harder work. You need extra focus to be a scientist and you get paid more even though your life is way more simpler and stress-free than a maid that has to do 3 jobs. Also money is not fair to all to start with. Depending on where you were born, you are already rich or poor and depending on where you stay, your money has less or more worth.
Not only that, you could earn very well for many years and macroeconomic headwinds, one bad healthcare cost , a war - these things can change the reliability that money can give you.
Even given all these unfairness , complexity and unreliability it is a game that you cannot afford not playing.
3.
Money is not the only thing that adds value to life. People with much less money are able to live much happier lives. Experience, relationships, progress in areas of life - like family, education, research, charity can make people feel much happier than just the pursuit of money.
For most of us, however, we tip away from contentment towards desiring for more.
When I turned from a person that did not think much about money to a person who is very interested in money now , these were the gears
- I felt unfulfilled, I needed further education, I had to pay off a loan for my education.
- I paid my loan, felt confident in my abilities for the first time - that I don't have to adjust, I don't have to play second fiddle, am equal to anyone I partner with. I don't depend on anyone.
- I fell in love, have a daughter - just my basic needs have increased
- food, clothing, rent, gas, day care
- India travel, shopping, eating out
4.
Now I have been bitten by security , progress, peer comparisons
- I don't want to keep paying rent for the rest of my life. I want a house I own, I want a education fund for my daughter, I want a retirement income to take care of myself. I want a good plan that will stand the test of volatilities in the future.
- I want to make better salary and enjoy the process of learning and expanding my abilities.
- 'I want a big house' - it can easily be a bad money move tying you to a place for a long time, but you still go for it because you think it's "nice"
- In my head once I have a house, fund, income - I can start exploring more - and possibly contribute more.
- I want to live in a country where the politics work fairly for everyone. There might never be one such country. Right now, this country I live in works well for me - maybe not so well for everyone here, but it works well for me.
- I want the knowledge to diversify for volatile future, I want all of this as fast as I can with less risk.
5.
The catch with progress is that you tend to desire more and more.
You should always remember that your greed should not get in the way of common sense.
At the end of the day contentment should be a simple definition
- a house
- an emergency fund
- good health
- an education fund and cultivating a good attitude and interest in education in Z.
- An adaptable mindset
- peaceful sleep
- family
Separate post elaborating how to get money faster.
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