You can’t succeed by yourself. It takes each other to build a society. – Jim Rohn
It’s happened to me more times than I can remember. When someone hears of my story, I may get a quick little note that goes something like this: “I think it is very brave for you to put your story out there for people to learn from.”
My thought response is: “Hmm…brave?” My actual response is to send a kind note that says “Thank you. To whom much is given, much is required. I see my experience as a gift and I have to do my part and share this gift with others.”
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get an in-depth discussion about money management as a young adult. And from what I see around me, read in the newspaper and hear on television; there are many others who didn’t get it either.
Ok, well let me make a little correction. We get the general knowledge… “Make sure you put money away for a rainy day”, “Never spend your raise”, “Don’t get caught up in credit cards”, “Don’t spend what you don’t have”, etc.
I tried to listen, but here’s how it worked out for me.
- “Make sure you put away money for a rainy day.” – Whenever I did, “something” always came up and I was never able to grow the rainy day fund.
- “Never spend your raise.” – By the time the raise came around, it was well needed and already well spent. You’re not guilty of that, right?
- “Don’t get caught up in credit cards” and “Don’t spend what you don’t have.” – We kind of listened, but sometimes used the credit cards as our safety net.
I’m sure many of you can relate.
But I’ve seen much worse. Homes being lost to foreclosure, cars being repossessed, credit cards maxed, etc. Then there’s the borderline lifestyle…living paycheck to paycheck, little to no savings, sometimes having to rob Peter to pay Paul. You know what I’m talking about… “I can’t wait until Friday for pay day.”
This is serious and I don’t believe we have to live this way. My belief is this, let’s get educated and start more discussions about money. Whether you know a little or whether you know a lot. It’s time to break the silence. Learn more and pass it on.
Zig Ziglar once said, “Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale.” The fact is, we’ve got to have money to survive and the better we know how to manage it, the better the quality of life we can have. How does that sound?
So, back to this point of bravery. Yes, I’m being very transparent, but I’m also sharing a story. A story that I believe will touch the lives of many. We help others overcome by way of our testimony.
Don’t carry the past as a burden. Use it as a school. – Jim Rohn
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Let’s start the conversation. If you agree, pass this message along to everyone you know. Wouldn’t it be great to see not only ourselves, but our friends and loved ones financially successful. If we don’t help ourselves and our loved ones, then who will?
We’ll talk more about the development of a community here at PFN over the next few weeks. But for now, it’s up to you to start talking and asking. How do you see it?
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Talking and Listening,
Patrenia Donald-Spears, AFC
Image by PinkMoose
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t know why money is still such a taboo subject in our society. I think, maybe, because most people lie about money. Either they’re lying by pretending to have more than they actually have or lying about not being in as deep debt as they are.
I agree. And is also has a lot to do with us as people not wanting to admit what we DON’T know. I really wish that we could have more of an open personal forum…at least have to an open conversation with asking questions and exchanging great ideas. Were you taught about money before becoming an adult?
I think we (society in general) succumbs to peer pressure. If you’re doing well, then I have to do well. Most cases, as Young Mogul mentioned, people will lie about where they are.
I’m sure many elements factor into this, family, friends, media, etc. But the main culprit is we are scared to be authentic. Part of that authenticity is being honest with where we are financially.
You really wouldn’t think that as adults we’d have to “still” deal with peer pressure, but it’s true. As an adult, I finally understand the biblical principle – “thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house.” It leads to us feeling less about ourselves and feeling that we have to pretend in order to “fit in”…totally not necessary. I know you talk about money on your blog…do you mind sharing what your experience has been finding out how to manage money?