“As soon as it comes to squandering time we are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy.”
Welcome to Friday, everyone! I don't know about you, but what with the usual tightening of the belts after Christmas I reckon this is a good time to talk about money. Using money for a positive constraint is a luxury, I know. But this week I follow Roman philosopher Seneca's advice to "establish business relations with poverty" and find out exactly what money is and does. I'm in for surprises.
I keep a faintly religious record of my money-spending habits and can tell you that there have been only nine days in the last three months when I haven't put my hand into my pocket. Spending money is something I do six days out of seven.
Eating, sleeping, showering, reading and writing: there aren't many things that I do more often than being a consumer. It's about time I did a one week experiment with No Money and share with you three things I learned that changed the way I see moolah for good.
#13: Money isn't generosity
After going through the bins of New Covent Garden Market and coming home with a bike-breaking quantity of fresh fruit and veg, I realise money isn't generosity -
#14: Money is a direct correlate for waste
"Money" isn't coins or banknotes or IOUs or even computer data. Money is a way of solving a problem - but not the problem I thought. All money does is solve a problem of distribution.
#15: We all already live moneyless (in some ways)
Research by LV has estimated the average cost of raising a child born in 2016 at £231,843, but any parental attempt to recoup the bill from their children would be monstrous. What would happen if we treated more people the way we already treat our friends and family?
Thanks for reading me again. I really appreciate your comments and encouragement. And special thanks to Colin for a welcome Christmas fillip last week - you made my day! :D
Please go on and share if you found something worth sharing, these words thrive on new eyeballs. And finally -
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Goodbye 2016, old friend - and welcome, stranger!
-DC