I have managed to learn about two really important things in my lifetime. I’m not talking about plumbing, math, how to tie my shoes, how to make waffles, and the countless skills I have acquired. I’m talking about really important things. The first is understanding money.
Think about the game Monopoly? Each player is given some paper money (ones, fives, tens, etc.) with instructions that this money can be used to buy property and pay fines, rent, and get out of jail. With our game hats on we enter the world where these pieces of paper are money. We roll the dice and take our turns at buying and selling and making a living. We experience ‘up’ turns and ‘down’ turns. At some point when the game is over – the pieces of paper return to their intrinsic value. They still look the same – but they were only money while the game was being played – while everyone agreed to their value.
What about dollar bills — are dollars real money?? What is the intrinsic value of a dollar?? Or is the dollar only money as long as the current game is being played? What if some players ran out of money – decided to take a break – go to the printer and print up more dollars –then they divide this extra money among themselves (not everyone – not you – not me – just them) and then return to the game ready to play some more. How would you feel about the game? How would you feel about dollars being money?
Are you aware that the private banking concern – The Federal Reserve – created over $3 trillion dollars out of thin air since the beginning of the financial crisis? Why?? Some of the world players ran out of money. Out of the 6+ billion people on the face of the earth – how much did you get? How about you, your family, any and all friends you know, your neighbors – what’s the sum total that group received?
The dollar is the world reserve currency, therefore, people all over the world recognize it and consider it money. But is the dollar inherently money? Or is it money only because we have been told by those in authority that it is money and we (the 99) go along with it? We trade dollars every day for food and fuel and all sorts of things that we want more than the dollars themselves – so it seems like money. What would happen if people’s conscientiousness was raised to understanding our monetary system is being manipulated and debased – and they decided to quit the game and trade in something with intrinsic value? How would you position yourself and family? Would you hold dollars or would you want to hold something with intrinsic value?
A dollar is simply a piece of paper to which we attribute a value – it is used as a convenience like a check from our checking account. And similar to a check it may, or may not, represent money. Most of us have experienced a bounced check – a piece of paper that was supposed to be worth money but ended up not worth anything because we didn’t have sufficient funds in the account. The American dollar has the same limitation – it is backed by nothing but a promise. Up until 1971, it was backed by gold, that year President Nixon removed gold backing. This left the dollar as a fiat currency – supported solely by a government guaranty. Soon all the countries of the world followed America’s example and turned to fiat. We now live in a world of promises.
Your wealth is the total sum of your valuable assets that you possess and resources and skills in your control. If your wealth is primarily concentrated in dollars and/or debt, at this point in history you have placed yourself in a precarious position. So if you have a savings account of $100,000, you have the right to withdraw 100,000 pieces of paper – dollars. As long as countries around the world continue to have faith in the dollar having value, you can spend those dollars for ‘stuff’; but I personally try to get out of dollars as well as dollar denominated assets. Why? — because dollars are the middle class and poor man’s choice for savings. Banks don’t value your dollars – that’s why they presently offer only ½ % interest. If they could use and therefore, wanted your dollars, they would give you a decent rate. Savvy people want tangible assets that they can possess.
If you have a house worth $200,000 with a $100,000 note attached, you potentially have $100,000 principal and $100,000 debt. In order to realize any money you would have to sell your house – pay off your debt and pocket the rest. But first you need to find a buyer who either has cash or qualifies for a $200,000 loan — something that is becoming harder and harder to find. It is a buyer’s market with over 18 million vacant houses and growing in the USA. Under normal circumstances I would consider the principal as part of your wealth, but in today’s financial mess we are in, I would not count my chickens before they hatch.
It is my belief that a house can be considered part of your wealth only if you own it – same for your cars, furniture, etc. Debt trumps assets. And if you own your house, have a garden, fruit and nuts trees, berry bushes, a well or spring, firewood, guns and ammunition, chickens, … — these all would be part of your wealth. If you operate a business from your home – consider it part of your wealth factor. And if your customers are local and your necessary raw materials can be found locally – so much the better.
So – careful when you count your money – you might be counting the wrong things.
The second thing is: how to stay in love.
I’m not claiming to be an expert nor am I thinking I have learned it all. I just think after 36 years with the same partner and we are still in love means I might have some words of wisdom. I’m also not saying all those years were perfect – it has been a learning experience.
The first thing I call –“Your turn, my turn”. A couple decades back we bought a massage table. My wife was studying some advanced nursing techniques having to do with therapeutic touch. She practiced on me and in turn, I practiced on her. Touching each other for the soul purpose of healing and making the other feel good re-energized our relationship. Her turn – my turn – her turn – my turn. In the early months it went back and forth daily.
Then she finished her classes and it slowed down. Sometimes we would go for a week or two without practicing. Sometimes we would forget whose turn it was. Sometimes we would disagree on whose turn it was and neither of us would step up to the plate – feeling the other was getting a better deal. But eventually we would start again – Your turn, my turn. I liked getting my head massaged and she liked getting her feet massaged best.
As years passed, we lost the need to have equal turns. There was one period when my wife worked and I was home. She would come home very tired from a long shift and a two-hour round trip. I would massage her feet every night while we watched television. Sometimes she attempted to return the favor but often fell asleep. For the most part, that was okay with me because I loved to show her my love and affection. Sometime later, I had a heart attack and needed a couple weeks to recover from stent surgery. She wasn’t working at the time and took care of me daily which included many head rubs. More recently I had another heart attack which required open heart surgery. This time I was down for almost two months. She took incredible care of me and rubbed my head daily.
The point is – staying in love requires unselfish action and expression. At the top of my list of things to do each day is to express my love to my wife – to show her respect and appreciation. I love to do little things for her – bring her coffee, let her dog out for her in the middle of the night – stay on top of the garbage and trash – wash the dishes – buy her flowers – make a fire in the morning before she wakes. And I am very blessed to have a wife who puts me at the top of her list.
Touching and being touched in a non-sexual manner is an important part of a healthy relationship – foot rubs, head rubs, kissing, hugging, and walking hand in hand — the interactions that seem to come naturally in the early part of a relationship. If and when they wane, it’s time for “your turn, my turn” to keep your love fresh and alive and take it to the next level. And by the way, “my turn, your turn” doesn’t work for a very good reason.
So, there you have it – my thoughts on love and money – two things I don’t want to lose as we move through these uncertain times.