Why Do I Talk So Much About Money?
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (78761)
United States
February 2, 2023 9:37am CST
Well, the long and short is that I know a thing or two about the topic. How to earn, how best to spend, how to plan and budget, how to save and invest...
And I like to share it. Why? Because hopefully it helps someone.
Because I read post after post after post after post, here and other places about people crying about not having money, or too many bills, or struggling to get ahead or living paycheck to paycheck.
I don't have ALL the answers or remedies. But I can help.
I will respond often and offer advice. But unfortunately, most of it just falls on deaf ears.
Then I will post about it, and THAT falls on deaf ears.
It confuses me why anyone having money troubles would deny some of the advice. But you can't lead a horse to water and force him to drink, right? You can just keep leading him there and hope he drinks before he keels over and dies from dehydration.
I get all the usual stuff, "You just don't understand," or "You already HAVE money," or "I have 15 kids and a low paying job and can't save," and blah-blah-blah.
And yet, I can say over and over again that I do in fact understand, but that too falls on deaf ears.
It is never my aim to brag. It is never my aim to preach. It is only ever my aim to help people to look at money in ways that they obviously do not currently look at it.
Why? In part because I know what is possible. I did not start off rich. I did not start off with a lot of money. I never went to college and I worked regular, regular paying jobs. I started from nothing and had all the same pitfalls everyone else does.
Rent to pay, bills to pay, low pay, things to fix that broke down...
I think part of the problem is that most people who don't have money simply look down on anyone who does and ridicules them rather than look up to them and ask questions.
Funny that a guy can offer some answers with proof to bear...
And still, no one cares to take heed of any of it. Why does it matter to me? I suppose it matters to me simply because I KNOW it doesn't have to be that people have to have these problems.
But I will still continue to post and comment on the topic...because maybe there's one thirsty horse out there, one day, that actually gets it that I really do have a PRETTY good idea where that water is.
14 people like this
13 responses
@marguicha (215177)
• Chile
2 Feb 23
I have been poor and I have been rich. That is, if I say how much money I have to live with. But I discovered ages ago that I could live like a princess if I was sensible. I have never lacked the essentials.
2 people like this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
2 Feb 23
There is something I have often said, and that is that I have money—partly—because I LIVE like I am poor. That's not entirely true of course. But in THEORY it is true. I can't tell you how many times my wife has gotten irritated with me when I said no to something not because we did not have the money, but because we had already used our allotted allowance.
"But don't we have it in the bank?" she'd ask.
"We do," I'd reply. "But if we spend it, it won't be in the bank anymore." lol
2 people like this
@marguicha (215177)
• Chile
2 Feb 23
@porwest I am not interested in spending my money In many things. I now need food, a few clothes and a holiday once in a while.
2 people like this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
10 Feb 23
@marguicha I like the idea of being able to come and go and do what I please when I want to. I guess that is my main motivation. I never want to be limited by anything, especially money.
If I ever say no because it's a money thing, I can say all day to myself I am happy and content about that, but really I am just lying to myself.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155562)
• United States
3 Feb 23
Maybe people think it is beyond them to start investing. Maybe they actually don't have an extra penny to put into a stock. Your advice is appreciated; but people may think it's not possible for them to do what you do. Just a thought.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155562)
• United States
16 Oct
@porwest I guess it's because I never knew anyone without a lot of money who pulled themselves up and became solvent. Maybe they need you as their financial advisor!!!
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
16 Oct
@LindaOHio There are stories and books galore of self made men and how they did it. I have met many people in person...but you tend to be in certain circles if you are in certain financial circumstances...
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
15 Oct
I have never believed this, because I am living proof of what can be done. I have said it many times over and over again. I never made a lot of money...I mean, I have had good paying jobs. Don't get me wrong. But I always compare my cousins who made very similar money. I got wealthy. They did not. And so the only logical conclusion is I did things they did not that they COULD have done just like me.
Money is a mindset and how one THINKS about money determines how much they will ever have. Income has nothing to do with money or how much you can achieve with it. Because a broke man can become a millionaire if he knows how to do it, and takes the necessary steps to do it. Just my two cents.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
2 Feb 23
Yep. Choices. Something I have said many times here—sometimes to be scolded for. But it's true. It's a choice to be in certain positions most of the time, although there are always exceptions of course. It's up to the individual to make the wisest choices they can.
I can only offer the advice. I can't force anyone to take it or do anything about it.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86520)
• United States
2 Feb 23
No harm in sharing experience with anyone.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86520)
• United States
3 Feb 23
@porwest You have been very helpful to many here though they may not say it.
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Feb 23
Keep preaching brother! Somebody out there will heed your advice.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Feb 23
@porwest Money IS fun, and making money IS fun too. Especially when it’s your money making you more money while you sit back and smile.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
14 Feb 23
@moffittjc That is most certainly the BEST money. Passive income. And when you get it, it is almost like spending someone else's money. Perfection.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
15 Oct
It is funny you mention that. When I first met my brother-in-law, he was pretty broke. No problem for him to make money. He just couldn't keep it. Over the years his financial situation has dramatically changed, as well as his attitude towards money, and he has attributed a lot of this to my non-stop focus and talking about it.
I think when he really started paying attention is when he realized I made a lot less money than he did, and he couldn't figure out how I could be doing what I was doing UNLESS some of that money talk was working for me.
I think there have been a couple of people here who have somewhat changed attitudes about money. All I ever want to do is what I can to help make a few people's pennies go farther and not have to accept struggles that are largely of their own design...that can be changed.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
10 Feb 23
It really is. And the more of it we have the more comfortable and free life becomes. I always want to be free. I know it can never buy me happiness. But being poor won't make me happy either. So, I might as well go for the money rather than be content being poor.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
2 Feb 23
Of course some people think I am greedy. A lot of people think people with money are. It's quite the opposite despite what I may tell anyone to the contrary. People believe what they want. They also sometimes assign certain motivations to things or people they don't understand or are too lazy to learn about.
When it comes to money and getting ahead and becoming rich, a lot of people think it is a big secret and only available to an exclusive club. Not true.
Where this sort of "assessment" is derived from also comes from jealousy quite frankly. But it is typically misplaced because the jealous ones actually have the ability to join the "club," but again don't take the time to learn and understand things...
OR they simply dismiss the possibility and assign "luck" to those who have something.
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
3 Feb 23
I am a thirsty horse and love reading your posts on money. I know where I am at though financially and it wont be until 2024 that I can breathe better.
But that doesnt mean I should put my life on hold. So yea I'm living it up hahaha.
@lazydaizee (6734)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 23
Unfortunately the subject of Money seems to be on most people`s minds these days. In the UK there is a cost of living crisis and many people are struggling financially. This has lead to lots of problems including strikes.
So if you have some handy hints on how we can make ourselves a bit more cash then why not share your ideas.
@porwest (78761)
• United States
2 Feb 23
The funny thing about money is that so many people will do almost anything BUT the things that actually make a difference.
I hear it all the time, "I'll sell crafts," or "maybe I can sell stuff on eBay," or "maybe I can write this or that thing," and they are all great things to do.
But they are also HARD things to do, and they are things that will most likely never actually get anyone ahead.
The things that will? They completely ignore. lol
