The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason was one of the first books I read on the subject of wealth. I was fascinated by the storyteller’s simple principles to acquire wealth and riches and I thought, “This is too easy”. Yet, all those years ago with the knowledge held within the pages of this simple book, I did not take heed. It would be many years before I understood what the story had foretold and I, like many others, would learn the hard way about building a relationship with money.
With our economy in a state of influx and our country’s future uncertain, it would be prudent to teach our younger generations the importance of establishing a strong relationship with money. So many books have been written on the subject of money management and yet 8 out of 10 households have credit card debt in excess of $10,000. Why haven’t we learned the simple rules of building wealth? Where did we miss the mark? Lack of discipline and respect for money has caused much of this country’s default status. A small portion of blame can be placed upon the educational system. That’s right…the curriculum is not inclusive of finance and money management. Our children are learning how to count, but not how to spend. Parents should be more proactive in teaching their children about the realities that lay ahead in the real world concerning money.
The lessons are simple; the action is difficult for those who have never systematically implemented a plan. However, with commitment and a goal bigger than your immediate wants, you will achieve your financial goals with ease. The following is a rudimentary outline of the seven prosperity principles as this author has interpreted them from the famous book:
Principle 1 – Pay You First
Principle 2 – Create a Spending Plan
Principle 3 – Make Your Money Multiply
Principle 4 – Avoid “Get Rich Quick” Schemes
Principle 5 – Own Your Own Home
Principle 6 – Insure Your Future
Principle 7 – Increase Your Ability to Earn
The old cliché “it’s not how much money you have, it’s what you do with it that counts” is true and there aren’t enough of us doing what we should with our money. The downside to this is we are in a race against time, never knowing when we will run out. Each of the seven principles outlined here gives you the foundation for establishing a financially secure future. You can choose not to be a statistic of the working poor, or worse, never reaching retirement age. Start right where you are; it’s never too late.
By: Kim Harris