Ka Ching!

<p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Ka Ching! Ka Ching! The sweet sound of cash (literally the sound of a cash register) is like music to everyone. And why not? Money gives you options and choices. You can choose to go away on holiday. You can choose any brand of chocolate regardless of cost. You can choose the kind of work you do, etc.</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Much of what we do is for money. We work so we can earn money. We steal so we can get money. We lie so we can get money. And most of the murders perpetuated have been seen to be because of love, jealousy, and/or money. </span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">We definitely cannot survive without money. We all need it for our houses, our food, our cloths, for our fun, and of course, for acceptance and respect which in turn increases our self-confidence and makes us happier. <br><img height="251" alt="" src="http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/a3ObcYdERjWk/photos/c181089d2840546ac9b12bea91d0cb8c/mr_77e27ff50e4117.jpg?ug_____DLSTxWXOt" width="248" align="right"><br></span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"><br>All these are probably some of the reasons why some people live beyond their means, make excessive use of credit and overspend. Whether consciously<span style="">&nbsp; </span>or unconsciously, the person who tips more, has a bigger house, lives in a more uptown community, wears fancier clothes, and drives poshier cars is going to get more respect than the person who has less. Society has made this a fact of life.</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">So, a lot of us find ourselves in the rat race, working working working non-stop to get the bigger cars and the finer clothes so that we can get respect from others so that we can get self-respect and consequently lead a happier life. But most times, we end up like rats in a maze scurrying helter skelter trying to get out but ultimately achieving nothing. As Wikipedia defines it – a rat race is a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit. </span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">I think Shania Twain’s words are apt at this point:</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">We live in a greedy little world</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">That teaches every little boy and girl</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">To earn as much as they can possibly</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Then turn around and spend it foolishly</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">We’ve created us a credit card mess</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">We spend the money that we don’t possess</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Our religion is to go and blow it all</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">So its shopping every Sunday at the mall</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">All we ever want is more</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">A lot more than we had before</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">So take me to the nearest store</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Can you hear it ring</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">It makes you wanna sing</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Its such a beautiful thing</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Ka Ching!</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Lots of diamond rings</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">The happiness it brings</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">You’ll live like a king</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">With lots of money and things</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">When you’re broke go and get a loan</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Take out another mortgage on your home</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Consolidate so you can afford</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">To go and spend some more when you get bored</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">The rat race may have arisen because of the perception that more money always leads to more happiness. This is faulty. Some people think “when I get this house in the Hamptons I’ll be happy”. It usually doesn’t work like that. True happiness can be found in the journey, not only in the destination.</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">It is relatively easy to live a fulfilled life without getting into the rat race. The easiest way is simply spending less than you earn. Planning the way you spend your money and having a budget will go a long way in ensuring that you spend efficiently. This may sometimes be frustrating, but it is rewarding. There are also a lot of books you can read to help you control your spending. A few of these are: ‘the millionaire next door’ by Thomas Stanley and William Danko, ‘Total money makeover’ by Dave Ramsey, and ‘the richest man in Babylon ’ by George Clason.</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> &nbsp;</span></p> <p style=""><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Bottom line, there is no reason why the journey to ultimate wealth should not give you the happiness you deserve. Get that bigger house and fancier holidays slowly, surely and on your own equity because ‘the trouble with the rate race is that ‘even if you win, you’re still a rat’.</span></p>