Posted on 01/28/2011 6:47:33 AM PST by CSM
A lot of people love Benjamin Franklin.
Oh, come on. Admit it. You're probably pretty fond of Benjamin Franklin, too. He's the guy on the front of the $100 bill, and you're not going to say you don't love $100 bills, are you?
If we're honest, most of us love money. Actually, we love money we don't have. How else can you explain our addiction to credit cards? Our culture loves money so much that we have television shows dedicated to showing off people's million-dollar houses and garages full of luxury cars!
Every day, we see thousands of ads that promote the dollar as the end-all-be-all ticket to a happy life. But we know better than that...don't we?
Wait a minute, you say. Doesn't Dave Ramsey talk about building wealth all the time? He sure does. But Dave is talking about a healthy view of money. The foundation of Dave's ideas of wealth building are that you get out of debt and build wealth so you can help your family and others and leave a legacy after you're gone.
It's also okay to want to make a lot of money and to enjoy spending it! But what's the end goal? Is it to own stuff, or is it to help others and to change your family tree?
A lot of us have an unhealthy view of money. The Bible says that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." It's that type of "love" that drives us to buy stuff with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.
For some people, the "love" of money is more like an obsession or an addiction. It can drive a wedge between spouses and teach kids that stuff is more important than anything else. It can lead to divorce and broken families. When we talk about changing your family tree, that's not what we have in mind!
Think of money as a tool. You can use it to help yourself and others, or you can use it to tear all of that down. You can use it to save for your kids' college fund, help your church or favorite charity, or you can use it to buy a bunch of stuff that will be collecting dust two years from now.
A healthy love of money will drive you to get gazelle intense about working through the Baby Steps and getting out of debt. It will motivate you to make better decisions with your moneydecisions that involve only spending on needs, not wants. You will view life through a new lens, a lens that puts your future and the well-being of your loved ones first. Don't let money and stuff run your life.
There's no need to obsess over Benjamin Franklin. Plenty of other people will do that. With Valentine's Day just a few days away, remember who and what is important in your life, and keep that in perspective this year.
Thousands of other people are on their way to making better decisions with money this year. With hundreds of Financial Peace University classes starting across the country, nows the perfect time to join them on the road to financial peace!
Build wealth in a health way!
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Uh, Dave . . . she's expecting something more than just a nice card.
Yep, wives usually love a fully funded emergency fund. It gives them security.....That would be the best gift in the world for any wife!
;-)
Believe it or not, I don’t expect anything on Valentine’s Day. If my husband gets me something like chocolate, I won’t object, but it’s not a deal breaker if he doesn’t. Last year, we rented a movie from Redbox, popped some popcorn and opened up a bag of candy, and had a perfectly enjoyable evening. Less than $10 date.
This year we’re 1000 miles apart (we’re getting ready to move and he’s already in the new location), so I really don’t expect anything, LOL. Never mind the fact that my poor husband has to deal with my birthday being on the 10th of February, and our anniversary on March 15th (16 big ones this year).
I’m certain such creatures exist. Unfortunately, in my environment they are as common as unicorns.
LOL—I can believe it!
Not all of us wives are expecting huge spending sprees on our behalf for Valentine’s Day, you know. My husband will NOT remember flowers— well, sometimes he does, but sometimes I buy them for myself with a little note from him. He’s a dear, just a lovely man, and he more than makes up for it by the words he says and his actions. Social niceties, however, are not his forte.
I usually get my own gifts and then tell my husband what he gave me for (insert occasion.) This Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a Campbell Hausfeld air compressor.
LOL! Obviously, he’s a hopeless romantic!
Actually, I’ve been asking for a blowtorch and/or a flame thrower for some time, but he seems so hesitant....
LOL!
Not all of us. Hubby and I have enough trouble thinking of "stuff" we need or want to put on Christmas or birthday lists without having more holidays devoted to obligatory gift buying. Plus, we hate crowded restaurants. So, we made a deal a number of years ago. On Valentine's Day, we exchange cards. A few days before, we select a couple really great new recipes we'd like to try out and get all the ingredients, and we buy a couple bottles of nice champagne and wine. That evening, we lock ourselves in our house, cook together, have a great meal, then fill our indoor jetted tub and have champange. Suits us great. Takes all the pressure off who did or didn't get what, and puts the focus back where it should be--on our relationship.
Sounds like a dream evening......
Great plan.
I will borrow it.
That sounds like us! I don’t want anything for Valentine’s Day. Our anniversary is the 18th of February so it would be silly to try to cram in a holiday about love right before this. We share our anniversary (16th this year, too) with my parents so we take turns eating out. We watch my grandma so they can go out together and they watch our kids so we can go out. Good enough! :0)
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