(no subject)
Money is a funny thing, and a pretty big topic lately. As I'm saving for a house, I find that I have a fairly substantial amount. And when I look at my bank account, I think of all the things that I could do with it right now-and frequently avoid temptations to get something frivolous.
The past couple months and the next couple months have been and are going to continue being very much anti-social for me. Mind you, I didn't go out much before, but now I go out far less than that. I spend my time evenly divided between home and work, and barely see anyone. In fact, I can count the amount of times I've entertained guests at my house this year on 1 hand. The forecast is equally limited.
But it will pay off well, as my savings goals are being easily exceeded. By years' end, at this pace I'll have a very nice home and settling in.
But it's hard to fight temptations, or perhaps harder than I make it out to be. Perhaps it's natural springtime weather combined with rebounding after spending nearly a whole month injured.
And perhaps I shouldn't spend so much time at work. I'm working more than I really feel comfortable with, but it's part of the sacrifice now for a better future. I've entertained simply saving enough to buy a house outright. I'm already worried about buying a house on credit, not because I can't get a loan(I have a spotless, albeit short credit history), but because I *hate* being in someone's pocket.
As anyone who has known me over the years can attest, it would be almost impossible to find a point where I've asked for money. When I don't have it, I find ways to make sacrifices. What's more, the money I have is always hard earned. A point of pride I've always carried is that every dollar is earned, and not unfairly. I can very safely point to my income over the years and say that my productivity, combined with my skillsets is a more than fair approximation of my salary. To wit, I don't feel that I've ever made more money than I'm worth(given regional averages-of course). After all, more important to me than money is my integrity-cliche, but true.
I was talking to a coworker about stocks, as I have never invested in stock. To me, this has always felt like unearned wealth(and perhaps this sentiment is finally catching on). I don't feel obliged to believe that simply transferring money to one investment should merit one the substantial payoffs it has shown for many, and always knew the house of cards from the first tech bubble on would eventually collapse. In my estimation it hasn't fallen enough.
It baffles me how people believe they are justified in claiming fortunes for a job that rewards influence over industriousness. Sure, you shouldn't have to sweat for every penny you make, as some sacrifices are more valuable-for instance, nobody can argue that doctors work harder than many unskilled laborers, but-the time and money invested to become a doctor, plus the importance of job justifies the salary discrepancy. However-becoming an investor only requires having money to begin with-and becoming someone who trades investments-that requires proportionally less training and work than any job that could come close.
When you look at the wealthiest self-made men in the country(think Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc)...have they really worked hard enough to earn all that they have. Before anyone says anything, I understand that both men are among the most prolific philantrophists in recorded history-something I deeply appreciate. (And I appreciate this not because I have ever received anything directly or indirectly from them, but because the contributions they've brought to humanity are deserving of gratitude). But, philantrophy aside-is it possible that they could have earned the money in the first place? Could it be possible that any one man should accumulate that much value in a lifetime of work?
To put it simply, the answer is no. The very wealthy throughout history have existed because of fundamental disconnects between value and money. It is these disconnects that create wealth. For instance, a man selling a useless placebo can sell sugar pills for $2000 a bottle. The actual value is about $.20, the profit is supposed to reflect the value for the purchaser-as they pay for the product and the service of someone carrying and selling it-but in reality the value is minimal-and there is the disconnect. So too is the value of a stock trader-in effect, most stocks are junk bonds nowadays-riding on waves of speculation and hope-mostly artificial.
This is why I have a hard time thinking about using my money in a more "wise" fashion by investing. To me, I still believe in a world where my hard work is all that I'll need to live comfortably. I know it's foolish. This I simply accept.