Is money a game?
“Money is a game. Know the rules and win!”
When I first heard that statement, I was aghast, and highly offended!
Money was to me, as to most people on the planet I knew, a means of survival, a livelihood. It was a most basic human need, not a game. How dare you trivialize this most basic necessity for human survival? I thought.
But as I learned more about money, and devoted myself to becoming financially educated, I reluctantly came to realize that the presenter’s statement, while perhaps a bit sensational, is essentially true.
That is the world we live in. Those who are financially educated become skilled at using money efficiently, effectively, and to their benefit. Those who do not, doom themselves to limiting their ability to prosper, to becoming the employees of those who have educated themselves, and to never moving beyond the middle class rat race—if they can even reach that.
The result is a growing divergence between those who have mastered the knowledge and skills to use money (though one can never fully master it; it is an ever expanding field), and those who have not. The outcome is a growing gulf between the rich and the poor and middle class.
The whole field of financial education, from macro-economics to micro-economics, to monetary policy, to taxes, to investments, to basic budgeting, is vast, the range of knowledge, huge. That is no different from any other field of endeavor, though, whether it be computer programming, legal work, teaching, science, geography, the medical professions, mechanics, carpentry, marketing, engineering, or perhaps 100,000 others.
Still, the field of financial education is unique from almost all of them because it more directly touches every one of us. And just like the greater the knowledge in any one of the aforementioned fields equips one to succeed in them, so the greater our financial knowledge equips us to succeed financially.
Is this fair? Many argue that it isn’t. To them I ask: Is it fair that Tiger Woods makes more money golfing than I do? Is it fair that Bono makes more money singing than I do? Is it fair that Jennifer Aniston makes more money acting than I do? Is it fair that Agatha Christie makes more money writing than I do? Is it fair that Warren Buffet makes more money on the stock market than I do? Absolutely, it is fair! They are all more knowledgeable and more skilled at their game than I am and are rewarded for their knowledge and skill. Why should it be any different for those who are more knowledgeable about and skilful at managing their money?
But, since money, unlike golf or music or acting or writing or stock investing, is essential to the well-being of us all, shouldn’t we all be prepared to benefit from it? Shouldn’t we all be educated and be taught some skills in providing for our own prosperity? I would argue an emphatic Yes! Which raises the question: why aren’t we educated and taught about money and finances? Did you learn about how money works and about financial management in school? Why not? Was it less important than English or science, or math, or history? . . .
I wrote that.
It is the very first page of my new book, Money Habits for Success: 33 Actions to Survive and Prosper . . . in Any Economy.
As I’ve been self-isolating, I’ve been spending time writing, putting on paper some of the things that I have learned, for the benefit of others.
This new book will be going up on Amazon Kindle within the next two weeks, following posting of my earlier book, Why Own when You Can Rent: Eight Reasons Why Owning Trumps Renting. You may have noticed that there is reference in that booklet to the “Financial Education 101 Library,” and a logo on that cover. This is a second book in that series.
Would you like a free pre-publication version of this book? And any future books in this series? I would be happy to send it to you and to put you on the list for free pre-publication copies of future books.
I’ve created a new email address for this purpose. Here is the link financeduc101@gmail.com. Just email me there with the subject line: “Add me to your list for a free book.” I will send you a copy of the book for FREE before it goes up on Amazon Kindle.
Curious about more?
Here is the “Afterword” at the end of the book:
Warning!
This book is dangerous! That’s what defenders of the old system that traps people below that glass ceiling will say.
You know what? I agree with them. It might be the only time I do.
This book is dangerous if you think you now know enough to operate alongside the financially savvy crowd in the realm above the glass ceiling.
That will only get you into trouble. This book is only a primer. You don’t tackle twelfth grade reading after finishing first grade. Unless you’re a child prodigy, you don’t even tackle fifth grade reading at that point.
Hopefully, this book has busted that glass ceiling for you, and given you a peak into what’s on the other side. Hopefully, it’s given you a thirst to learn more. Hopefully, it’s given you an incentive to escape the prison that you may have found yourself in, previously sealed by that glass ceiling. Hopefully, it’s given you enough of a kick in the pants to take some action.
You’ve found the escape route. You may be prepared to take baby steps into that realm. Take a step but don’t jump ahead of your knowledge and skills to prosper there. If you do, you will not prosper; you may not even survive.
Stop! Go back to Habit 1! Do pass GO! Do collect $200.
And build your road to prosperity!
Again, please go to financeduc101@gmail.com to request your free pre-publication copy of Money Habits for Success: 33 Actions to Survive and Prosper . . . in Any Economy.
Quotation: We can use debt to become poorer, or use it to be(come) richer – Robert Kiyosaki
