As Christmas is right around the corner, I hopes the quotes below will help you with your money and finances. I’m planning to do this every quarter maybe with a theme. I recall doing these quotes posts way back when I started my finance blog in 2007, I think. I can’t find these posts anymore so everything is from scratch again. Let’s start!
Oscar Wilde: “A man who pays his bills on time is soon forgotten.”
If you don’t want to be harassed by bill collectors like Rebecca Bloomwood in the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic”, better stick to your budget and pay your bills on time. Better be forgotten by creditors than be bugged by them.
Benjamin Franklin: “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”
Oh so true! That daily coffee run may cost $4 a day but if you multiply that in a month that will cost you $120. You might think it’s small but that small thing will become big when you put it all together. That big thing will put a big hole in your pocket or budget. When you shop for Christmas presents, write down a list and stick to a budget. If you’re giving to a couple or a family, think of something that the whole family will appreciate rather than just one person.
Abraham Lincoln: “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
That thing you’ve been putting off till tomorrow, that won’t disappear! Just like putting off saving for retirement, it will not multiply to the amount you imagined. A lot of finance experts say start saving when you’re young and take advantage of compound interest.
Confucius: “When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.”
Some family members opt to give a gift card or cash money to kids or their nephews and nieces. This is easier compared to thinking of what present to buy. As a parent, you can use a portion to setup a savings account for them and the other portion as an amount for the kid to buy what they want. If the cost of the item is more than the allotted portion, let them know and buy a different item. This will help them with budget and math. Also, they have something saved up for them for their future.
Will Rogers: “Do the best you can, and don’t take life too serious.”
I remember when I was still working in China, Christmas was never celebrated so if you want to have Christmas off, you better use up your precious personal leave. I usually use up my personal leave to celebrate Christmas with family. The most memorable was Christmas 2015 as this was my first US trip and my brother and his family flew in from Canada to celebrate Christmas in San Francisco. It may be more expensive than flying back to Manila at that time but what am I going to spend what I’m working for?
Zig Ziglar: “Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.”
When you think of Christmas presents to give, you can add this quote for those who wants a big screen TV as present. Joking aside, we should really allot more time reading than being a couch potato. As they say, knowledge is power.
Henry David Thoreau: “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.”
If you have the wealth to build memories, do so. If you can share it with others, much better. Don’t buy presents that breaks down or rots, buy presents that builds memories or uplift the person who receives it.
Vicki Robin: “If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.”
I remember when I was in high school, I get envious with my well to do cousins. I wanted to be able to travel. When I had the chance to travel, I never get enough out of it. Now, I’ve tried flying business class for long haul flights and sleep in a flat bed, I wanted to experience that next time I fly more than 12 hours. It seems like I want better and better as I experience them. I should really be happy with what I have but just for long haul on business class would be nice (pretty pls with cherry on top!). People have the tendency to want what others have, not what they really need.
T.T. Munger: “The habit of saving is itself an education; it fosters every virtue, teaches self-denial, cultivates the sense of order, trains to forethought, and so broadens the mind.”
My niece received some money from her grandmother. Her mom told her she has a certain amount to spend. When they went to Costco, she bought something she really liked (toy). Afterwards, when we facetimed each other, she boasted that she still has a certain amount left from her grandmother’s gift. When I asked her what she will do with the remaining amount, she said she might buy some arts and crafts items and the remaining will go to her piggy bank. She’s only 7.
Bill Vaughan: “The ideal Christmas gift is money, but the trouble is you can’t charge it.”
In a world of credit cards, cash is king especially during Christmas when the green money is preferred by kids and kids at heart. This Christmas my aunt gave me an option to send her a list of items I want to buy on Amazon or cash. I should have opted for cash as I know it will be more than the cost of the item I wanted.
Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope you have a wonderful time with whoever you will spend it with!
Claudine on the Go 