What is FAMILY MONEY means in your town/country??

Family  - Family money a family status
Philippines
March 17, 2007 12:20pm CST
In little town of western visayas in which my parents grew up the meaning of family money does not mean wealth. It had nothing to do with cash or other assets. It was a STATUS, it was obtained with someone who is educated, have a small farm with a large family and a little good name from the ancestor and fertile land inheratance from them also helps identify to have a family money it is more on REPUTATION and STATUS. Even that family is poor but they belong to the so called family who have a have a family money but in reality they don't have any single centavo in thier bank account. But the moment they will try to deal to someone townsfolk even without money they can negotiate and have business because they have a GOOD name and reputation tag as FAMILY MONEY. Care to share the mystery of the meaning of FAMILY MONEY from your town or country? Thanks in advance for sharing.
5 people like this
28 responses
@bluewings (3857)
17 Mar 07
Sounds like a very engaging story.:)Every culture that I have come across has certain stockphrases that brings with it feelings very close to their heart.I was reading about Sicily and learned the word 'omerta'.This means 'honour'.What I gather from the little I have managed to understand is that it has to do with family pride.When there used to be an inter-community fute within the families ,they never went to the Carabinieri(Police) or an outsider and maintained silence for the sake of family honour-Omerta.They resolved the dispute within themselves even if that involved bloodshed. This phrase 'family money' ,that could be used to negotiate during business and is valued so much, brought back those memories to me.Would love to read more about it.Thanks for sharing :)
3 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Thanks annie and bluewings! For bluewings I think each country have different mystery words that goes beyond the usual and for me it is so valuable to learn something that goes beyond the literal meaning of it, that was new to me to the word omerta thanks for adding new info in this discussion buddy!!! Hi annie it is such and honor for me to bring some new info in mylot for I myself learn so many things here, thanks my friend!
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
17 Mar 07
It is indeed very interesting, as well as yours! We are all becoming Goodwill Ambassadors here on MyLot
2 people like this
@bluewings (3857)
17 Mar 07
That is a huge responsibility,but who doesn't love it? Thanks:)
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@mssnow (9484)
• United States
17 Mar 07
I'm not sur if there is such a meaning here. But I do know in my family everyone ithinks "what mine is mine" I am very poor and yet my aunts my dad and all my relatives have money. They don't ask to help and I know better than to ask them for help because I will get an earful. So I dont say anything.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Oh! sorry to hear that mssnow, my family is not wealthy too but we are together no matter how big our family we are we have time to get together in weekends and talk something about our family member who needs and we help each other somewhat a practice here in my country. I think it is better to be wealthy in our hard way rather than to ask help from them and you are right mssnow! Thanks for sharing. To by faith you're family have similar attachment with mine but ours is we have certain meeting on a week to know each other status and problems and too help each other in our little way.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
17 Mar 07
that is so sad your family is like that. I am very blessed my family isn't always close but if one member needs help everyone is there - and if one member finds out another needs help they take care of making sure everyone else in the family knows so the one who needs help isn't put in the position of "asking", help just arrives.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Thanks faith :) Yeah my family is jut the type to think everyone is out to get soemthing from them. So I stay out of it.
1 person likes this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
18 Mar 07
Yes I understand what you mean and it does count a lot where my family grew up as well, it does count a lot when your family name is a good one and my family name and family are very well known so even if they had no money they could always get what they needed due to their reputation. It means the same with my family name.
• Indonesia
18 Mar 07
money can talk in my side
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Thanks kathy you can relate to what is family money means but as you said that in your town it does not count a lot! It is maybe here in my town that we have unsual meaning of that word and we have different outlook too! thanks my friend for sharing your view.
1 person likes this
@avanisha (10)
• India
17 Mar 07
Its true that u say it FAMILY MONEY and we call it GOOD WILL here, One can do everything if he has GOODWILL, as it describes the persons ability and past performance. Normally all the wholesale business is transacted on the GOOD WILL. THANKS
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Hi avanisha! Thanks for sharing another term of family money as GOOD WILL in your country. I somehow learn another term thanks again!
• India
18 Mar 07
it is true that we cant spend directly our family and that money is for our only and we have need of it we have to ask them if not you can adjust them from your pocket money which your family will be givving you
1 person likes this
• China
18 Mar 07
I have never heard of FAMILY MONEY beyore,thanks to MyLot,throught it I see you article.It's grad that you share it with us.In different country,there're different cultures.I want to say you description is very good,so clear.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
You're welcome creepnan and welcome to myLot! I was delighted you learn something from my discussion. Enjoy posting!
1 person likes this
• China
18 Mar 07
In rural Middle Tennessee (U.S.) where I was raised and now reside on the family farm, one can be monetarily poor and still obtain financial credit on his good name. Nevertheless, this would be primarily a short term condition because the poverty would be considered atypical for the family and the family would be expected to come into some money eventually. The chronically poor would not be able to get credit.
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Wow! now I know there is other side of the world that share similar meaning with us in terms of family money. Thanks for sharing and welcome to myLot unreconstructed.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Mar 07
well here money and status go hand in hand, people care about both. I come from a poor family so I am not the same, we poor people have to stick together to help each other out because nobody else will.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
That was similar to us here family money but in here they are more high regards when someone is educated and help others to learn for in my town most are farmers and very few attained diploma in college and when someone did and they tend to serve others to be educated thier family are far more value and they gained high reputation too!! I think family in it's very sense tend to help each other no matter what our status because that is family really means. Thanks winterose.
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Mar 07
well it does not work in my place...having a good family background is what we consider wealth although money is in second row...
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Thanks for sharing your views vanities!!
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
17 Mar 07
I think I understand the concept, but I think it is sort of rare in the US. It is like a bank loaning you money on reputation rather than assets or collateral. Having a good name means you are good for repayment of your debts. It seems like an honorable system where there isn't much real money-type wealth. It is interesting. and a way for the poorer families to generate some money.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
That was a close similarities you stated sigma, just like bank loaning and your reputation is one of the front consideration for approval because your family has a good outstanding records of paying and of reputation and even you are not that wealthy enough and your asset are not that much the local bank might grant you the loan because they know your grandfather reputation lol!! thanks sigma!
@sreevasu (2717)
• India
18 Mar 07
From all the responders to your discussion I think we can assume that the terms 'family money' or 'family status' are familiar in the East only, not in the West. I am from the southern most part of India. We do have the family status/ reputation in the society, though, now a days, it works mostly in village areas. This 'family money' comes through generations. We don't call it family money but family wealth not in terms of cash/currency. It is the reputation of the family. This is very important during marriages and other functions. The status of the family is also depends on the caste system, the family's 'money-power', behavioural attitudes towards others etc. Normally a family with good 'family money' won't go poor or if it happens the reputation/status of the family too will go down with it. Instead if the behaviour of any one of the member of the family seems bad or intolerent to the society, thought it will affect the reputation of the whole family, their 'family money' will be static. But in the cities things are little different, though there are old-big families with high tradition.
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Thanks for sharing your own version of family money in your hometown. I really learn something from you respond thak's a lot! sreevasu!
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
17 Mar 07
My dear maribel, all I can tell you I have learned from your dissuasion, only a little bit but enough to be a bit confused, because I have never heard of anything like this, and I feel a little uncomfortable to respond to your discussion because of my lack of knowledge of your traditions. So bare with me and I am willing to learn more.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Sorry to confuse you a bit annie! It was just some country has confusing things that still practicing this modern era lol!! I thank you for responding to my discussion even you really are confuse with what the discussion all about and it something weird to you but I think this mystery meaning of family money that goes beyond the usual has something to do with our past ancestors.
1 person likes this
• Bulgaria
18 Mar 07
In my country Family Money means the money of the whole household. For instance the combination of the father's, mother's and children's money, or with one word the buget of a family. It could be added the houses, lots and companies of the family, of course.
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
Thanks for sharing the other meaning in of family money tzvetelina and welcome to myLot!!
• China
18 Mar 07
I have never heard of FAMILY MONEY beyore,thanks to MyLot,throught it I see you article.It's grad that you share it with us.In different country,there're different cultures.I want to say you description is very good,so clear.
2 people like this
• China
18 Mar 07
I have never heard of FAMILY MONEY beyore,thanks to MyLot,throught it I see you article.It's grad that you share it with us.In different country,there're different cultures.I want to say you description is very good,so clear.
2 people like this
@mauier113 (688)
• Philippines
20 Mar 07
It's not much different here. It's also the same that a family should not have money to be called rich. Honor is thw word for here to be called buena familia. A family with principle and with strong bond.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
19 Mar 07
I'm afraid in Australia it's material things. What a wonderful world we would live in if those Visayian values were world wide.
• Philippines
20 Mar 07
sorry my friend, i cannot respond to this topic of yours kasi its new to me. first time i heard that phrase. anyway, i was raised in bohol province becuz my father who was then an active army soldier was assigned there and married my mother who hailed in bohol. all we have then was our integrity, honesty and credibility, my mother being the great, great granddaughter of gen. pedro samson, the loyal comrade of gen. emilio aguinaldo... soryy for this response, hehehe. have a good day my friend
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
17 Mar 07
The only time I've ever heard the term "family money" means that the family - ancestors, past generations, had/have money and the benefits of that money has been passed on to later generations. I suppose like your country in a way it means "status" but that status is only acquired because of the cash, property, or holdings that the family has.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Mar 07
I think the mystery behind the unsual meaning of this is can be trace back to our ancestors who have not given the chance to educate themselves by the spaniards who run our country for 300 years and when they do have education they treat it as family money for it is priceless and also the reputation of our ancestors can be tagged to us the new generation. In my town most of the population are family who do farming and only few gained diploma in higher studies and when they do they come back here in help others to uplift thier education and that was they tagged who have family money more on education and reputation. For the townsfolk inheritance has little to do with family money but more reputation of the ancestors and education. Family here who tagged that have family money came from family of farmers and only gained wealth when thier daughters and son go to college and uplift thier status in life and thier parents and the ancestors have good reputation in dealing with townsfolk and with good terms in paying deb. Most family that are tagged who have family money have farms but not that big but do have big family who have good reputation and are educated.
1 person likes this
• Romania
19 Mar 07
family money means that belongs to your mom and dad:)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Mar 07
Yeah,It matters. Specially in our loving country.Who's those people who can change lives of other people? of course,those who have money! All in all,in our days right now MONEY makes our world go round!If you do not have money,You cant go anywhere you want to go to.If you dont money,your not famous! you cannot buy any necessary and even unnecessary things you wanted to have..But in the end,Money cant sum up everything specially HAPPINESS! and dont forget! MONEY is a fruit of all EVIL! Remember that,Its TRUE!!