Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

Article Title: "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees (Updated)"
Author: Craig Lock
Category/Subject: Money, Finance, Personal Finance, Money Management
Web Sites: http://www.craiglock.com/books.html andnhttp://www2.webng.com/write
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Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.htmln(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, words of inspiration and money management)

Publishing Guidelines: This piece (as with all Craig's articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

Publishing Guidelines:
We hope that the following article (formatted to 65 characters, nmay be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on nyour web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then nwe're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be nfreely published, electronically or in print. n
"We share what we know, so that you and your money nmay grow." n n *

MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES

"Money isn't everything - but a lack of it is."

"Money is a terrible master, but an excellent servant."n- PT Barnum (American circus showman)

"Money can't buy you happiness. But it helps you to be miserable in comfort." n- Woody Allen (I think)

INTRODUCTION n
These thoughts are extracted from Oprah Winfrey's fine show. nwhich I watch regularly (enough free advertising for her - she ndoesn't need it!). I've written this piece in point form for nbrevity. n n * Like it or not, money makes the world go round. Plan for the nfuture. Service a business. House trading is good in a nrecession. Be financially cautious. Buy for investment and not npersonal happiness. You will be taxed, if you trade too nfrequently. Think ahead. Don't invest money that you can't nafford to lose. n
Ask yourself WHAT you really want? Then sketch a path to take nyou there. Phantasize what you'd like to be doing in ten years ntime. Require education capital. Put on a wall chart. Also what ndo you want for the rest of your family? Ask yourself: How does nyour family's present life prepare them for what you want? n
What can you change to make your life better (especially in nthe area of finances)?... n
5 ways of protecting the family: Make a vow to stop criticizing nyourself. Begin to learn to like yourself. When we change our thinking, we are changing our reality. Allow prosperity to enter nyour life. Move away from poverty to PROSPERITY THINKING. Be at none with God, the Power that created us, ie. act in faith and ntrust the outcomes. (Enough spirituality for a money article nhere, Craig!). n
More on Money:

A lot depends on how you view money, as you are growing up. Are nyou are a saver or a spender? Some people like to spend, others nlove to save. Studies with identical twins have shown that your nemotional attachment to money as a child will determine how you nspend it. However, it's never too late to change your childhood nimpressions of money - that is what might be holding you back to nattain true happiness. n
You have to have the happiness for the money to do anything.
Happiness, like wealth or poverty is very much a state of mind.
Happiness, I believe, is who you are, and how you feel about yourself. I don't believe there is anything like a "money making ngene" - you are not born with it. No one is born genetically nwith the ability to become rich. It all depends on our desire nand dedication (ie. how motivated we are) to become financially nindependent or even wealthy (I far prefer that word to rich, nbtw). n
Ask yourself, Does money buy me FREEDOM?... or perhaps envy, nlove or recognition. Ask yourself and be totally honest. Saving nsmall amounts of money all adds up - it's never too late to nstart. People have become multi-millionaires by putting away small amounts of money over a long period of time. Even $35 per nweek can be meaningful...IN TIME. (I had to say those words after being in life assurance all those years!). n
Don't focus on what other people have...and your "lack". "It's neasy to get in a hole trying to keep up with the Jones's". Just nthink about what it is really important to you. Instill the nvalue of the work ethic in your family. Make your children a npart of the financial situation. Teach your children to save a nportion of their pocket money and spend some. Let them know ntheir parent's income and how a budget works. We are very nsecretive about money...and kids easily pick up our values. Most nmillionaires have been fired, bankkrupt, suicidal at some times nin their life: it's not what happened to them; but how they
REACTED to the situation. Most people who make big money try to nbuy the very best. Buy ONE good share, buy ONE good shirt, nrather than many. n
"Money not made properly does not stick."

"By giving you get."

"Money doesn't grow on trees."

BELIEVE, really BELIEVE you can make money, no matter where you nare in the continium ("cycle of life"). Even if "deep in the nsmelly brown stuff (like most writers). Remind yourself that you ndeserve it. Money is not a solution to all your problems. A nsingle minded drive for money at any cost does not make you feel nlike a millionaire. Fear of failure/success/rejection is nimportant here: Fear of the unknown, fear of loss, shame of nwanting money - nothing wrong with that! However, being nmotivated in your work solely by money provides no satisfaction nwhatsoever. Money is a game - it represents freedom and gives none CHOICES in life. Find work that you love, then sell yourself nvigorously, deliver quality service. Ask fair prices. Money is a form of self expression. Having money isn't bad - it's the way you use it that's vitally important. How much is enough to make nme really happy? Only YOU can answer that question. n
NB: Most people want more and more money and are never satisfied n...but few people are prepared to do anything about it. There is nno creative training at school in money management. Perhaps a nniche for me there? n
Ask yourself : WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? Attitudes to money nare the number one factor...and are also a prime cause of ndivorce...together with financial pressures, of course. Are you nfinancially compatible or incompatible with your partner (or nspouse - like that word!): are you a spender-saver-phobic, nshopper or hoarder? a: phobic n na dreame
nor perhaps even n na miser.

"I am what I am, hoard...or save". Your parents make an nindelible mark on your savings habits, as well as our attitudes nto money management. Be assertive, communicate honestly about nyour finances with your spouse (partner). Is there any denial of nyour financial situation? n
Develop a money consciousness...then a prosperity consciousness.

Follow these money management hints and you are sure to be well non the way to financial security/prosperity. n
Good luck*

Craig Lock (Eagle Productions) nnn* "luck", as they say, is where preparedness (is there such a word?) meets opportunity. n
About the Author: Craig has worked for "many moons" in the financial services industry (in the days when he had a "proper job")...before becoming a writer. He has studied and written extensively on money matters: articles, brochures for financial institutions and books. n nhttp://www.craiglockbooks.com nhttp://www2.webng.com/write
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