Me, rich?! Never!!

It took me some time (probably due to years of brainwashing)...but I've eventually arrived at the realization that;

Rich is not synonymous with evil!! *gasp*

In fact there is nothing wrong with being rich.  Getting rich by fraudulent means, perhaps; being rich and evading taxes- questionable; being rich and thinking you are better than others- definitely!!

But being rich itself is not a bad thing.

There are several people who have used their riches to help empower others. "Empower" being the key word since handouts equals slavery insurance..

So, somewhere in Half Way Tree, Kingston while slushing it through street city mud to fight my way into an illegal taxi; the obnoxious driver of which ordered me to "come outta mi car nuh woman!!!"- I decided I wanted to be rich.

Just imagine this is the only means of transportation for most people. At this particular point, it was an option for me.

The demure, prudent chant most of my life was: "I don't want to be rich, I want to be comfortable".  It was repeated in school and reinforced in church. Sigh. Why, why do I always end up talking abt church. Sigh. My poor therapist. ..

Same people who, by the way, were 'comfortable' enough to have SUV's but not well-off enough to help someone with groceries for sunday dinner - not a hypothetical scenario.

Somehow, somewhere that religious environment encouraged this twisted belief. No shocker. Oh right! That bible verse. The one about it being "hard for a rich man to enter heaven". Ah!!

 That and some choice  adjectives just seemed inextricably linked. Eg. Rich fool, evil rich man, selfish rich person etc. So. The loaded language promoted that line of thinking.

Well newsflash false humility bearers!! To be comfortable in a third world country, you kinda gotta be rich.

There were no rich people in church. Oh sure, they drove cars and lived in nice homes had kids in prep school and enjoyed annual vacations, but they were all up to their eyeballs in debt!

Their highly paid salaries competed with mortgages, car payments, credit card payments as they struggled along in financial mediocrity.

I called my sister one morning after hustling by public transportation to Kingston, late for class and too tired and traumatised from the trip to catch what was left of it...

"Paula, you were right, not only is poverty a lack of bare necessities but a state of indignity."

Transportation is one form of this imposed indignity. If I start on healthcare I will weep.

After my son underwent successful ENT surgery at one of the country's private hospitals, I solidified my resolve to acquire wealth (ooh felt dirty writing that. Smh). The surgery cost Ja$267,000 . No matter what country you're from or what currency you are accustomed to, it is a huge sum. ..way above our means.

My father whom I owe a million apologies for elevating to monster status due to his riches had with little prompting and no hesitation, written the cheque.

Another deeply psychological factor in my aversion to money had to do with his financial success with coincided with my parents' divorce. And, as unrelated variables usually are, his acquiring wealth was engraved as causation for my parents' spilt in our family forever.

I cannot begin to express (again..) how important it is for human beings to think for themselves. I think with remorse of all the financial advice I ignored from my dad merely because he said it...

Wealth is not what you drive or how luxurious your house is, daddy would say... Its a balance between how much you owe and how many years of slavery would pay off ur bills.
With a wag of his calloused, hard working finger he warned me against loans of ANY kind.... Not even hire purchase at the country's most popular furniture/appliance store - Courts.
 My dad despised loans.

I have come 360 degrees in finally accepting the advice of my dad. At 28, I was married, had a toddler, lived in a roadside apt, had a grad school loan, 2 credit card loans and a hire purchase loan from Courts plus no job!!!

Have I learnt my lesson?

Well, I've paid off one credit card while making significant dents in another, I now have a stable savings plan and a college fund for my three year old.

Most importantly, I have a wealth plan. Its an intricate individualized financial scheme (sounds sinister, doesn't it?) tailored to my goals and income.

I qualify for an NHT loan, but will resist. I've never relished bondage and $19,000 every month for the next 40 years for a mediocre dwelling sounds like just that. Ugh! 

I have plans: Eeek!

To start my own businesses (yes, several). Online or face to face, owning a business appears to be a fast way out of the cyclic rat race and into financial independence and freedom.

Wanting to be rich is not necessarily a dirty, selfish ambition as I previously, haughtily assumed. It's a logical methodological decision to be in a position to actually do things and help people, not just to yap about it.

Hopefully I'll help to empower other females with this lowly blog.

Instead of living within my means, I've decided how I would like to live and I am working towards the means to afford that lifestyle. - SB

Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel

Pay the Pig, even if your income defies it....

Ultimately, the most rewarding job isn't a job at all. It's pursuing your interest, enjoying your hobby and making money from doing what you love... doing what you were born to do.

-Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip-

Ultimately - *wry grin*

However on your way to fulfilling that dream, you are stuck in a job, with responsibilities and bills and maybe a few bank loans, school loans and personal loans to pay off. What do you do?


Firstly.


Stop.

Be grateful. You have an income and are therefore able to pay these bills...albeit not as quickly as you had hoped.

But you are in a good place.

You realize you wont be in this position forever and you bravely smile and lug it to work each day, make it through the day, sanity intact.


Permission to pat yourself on the back.

In the meantime. Save!

Even if it means cutting back on ONE luxury. Have a picture of your goal that you stare at each time you make that deposit in the bank (or other non-conventional saving institutions - can you say mattress? lol)

But seriously, save something. The more you focus on what you want the closer you get to your dream. When opportunity comes, you DONT want to have to skip it due to 'lack of funds'

Research.

Read as much as you can about the business or area you really want to actively involved in. Talk to the experts, attend seminars  in the area of interest. This will do two things:

Keep the dream alive and increase your knowledge in the area.. All a part of being prepared for success.

Be careful with your idea. Share shrewdly. Those who may not steal your idea may want to talk you out of it! It is your dream!

LET NO ONE TELL YOU IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Surround yourself with inspiring people who believe in you. It is said that we are slowly becoming the average of the five closest people to us. Hmmm.... choose cautiously. Never let your enthusiasm wane. This is YOUR passion!

Look out for opportunities. A break, the once in a lifetime chance.

Tips on Saving with an Income that defies it!:

1. Lunch box it! Now in style for serious health freaks ahem...conscious persons. Taking a packed lunch to work not only ensures paying less for lunch but also balanced, healthy meal for tummy...you get exactly what you have a craving for (you pack it) and yes, it does improve healthy eating habits. If you take leftovers (by the way , ever notice how deliciously different leftovers taste at work??), now we are really saving! Double pat on the back for you, smart savvy saver. <--- say that three times fast :)
Remember to pack a snack!!

2. Pay bills ontime! The negative results of ignroing this tip is not only includes interest rates but in the case of utility bills...um... yeah, horrific blackouts! *shudder*
Again developing these healthy financial habits are beneficial in other ways.... hehe

3. Budget. A very simple but miraculous necessity of the financially savvy! A budget is a lifesaver. It gives a comprehensive overview of what you earn and how you spend it. How delightful!You can make decisions such as what to clip or keep in times of need. It also encourages the discipline needed to save successfully. Just look at those numbers! Multiply the savings line by twelve and see what you'll have in a year!

Now that's encouraging! Dont forget to budget in recreational (movies, eat out etc). Even if it means renting a DVD and splurging on microwavable popcorn! C'mon live a little! Dont forget to LIVE!!
 
4. Get those scary loans under control. We now realize that hirepurchasing is not as pretty as it looked in the store display, glistening up at us its availability for only 10% down!!! Grrr! Anywhoo, we are past that and learned the hard way about credit cards and personal loans.
But we still have to pay 'em.

Dont ignore the calls it only makes them angrier!!! Really, most creditors are reasonable if you take their calls, explain and follow through with payment promises.
 Be as honest as you reasonably can and ask to pay a little less this month because of that unexpected issue if you must. But, just take the call!!!

These people record everything electronically. Every response, tone and attitude you shell out. So, be nice and meek without tolerating any violation of your rights and just chill. Yep, creditors are actually humans!
Pay consistently even if you cant make the minimum. Pay something. It buys leniency on their part by looking like effort on their records.

Prioritize loans and aggressively attack those with higher interest rates.

They DONT really WANT to lock you up. After all, they would NEVER get their money. Most creditors are willing to work something out. Just answer the phone.

On a lighter note:

5. Do not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach! You will get home and wonder; What was I thinking as you stare at bags filled with sugary treats. #regret! Sure its a little less if I buy three but do I really need three gallon bottles of  fabric softener for my family of two...hmmmm. Be reasonable!

Some say shopping monthly works out well. Personally I can barely shop for two weeks without fighting the temptation to shop in between grocery days (I get paid fortnightly :) ) I have never grasped the monthly concept. How do you manage things like bread. It lasts four days at the most then you have to take a trip to the shop to get a loaf... You then leave the shop with a basket of soda, cheese, and some weird thing you just got inspired to cook for dinner!! Chances are you have forgotten the bread!


Avoid that place if you must! Impulse purchases are placed at the check-out line to do just that- invoke impulsivity!!! *that's not a word , is it?* Go to the grocery with a list on 'grocery day'. Shop and get out!!- before you get hungry.

If you have been a good little budget keeper, then reward yourself. A small bottle of bubbly (my favorite) or a magazine! Remenber to breathe and live!! Even saving can be fun if taken with the right chaser...okay, alcohol talk...ahem.

6. Keep calm and try again! So what if you mess up? Live has these beautiful things called second chances that magically appear with a new day's sun *sigh* dramatic music*. Don't beat yourself up! Start over, try again and find the perfect mix of financially savvy practices that work for you!

Love ya- SB, Change and Grow

...they keep dreams alive in the practical world.