Boy, do I love to shop!
Back in the day I loved to head out to the local shopping mall to see where I could spend my hard-earned (not) pocket money.
I’d take a cab downtown and wander around the shops just looking at all the things I wanted to buy.
Today, all I need do is turn on my computer. I can check out computers, cameras, speakers, books, clothes and anything else my heart desires all from the comfort of my own home.
Find something I want – click, click. It’s mine.
It’s become easier than ever to spend. And I must be good at it because each month the credit card company sends me a thank-you note.
But each little item adds up.
With cash, you can only spend what you have. With credit cards you can spend what you have AND what you don’t.
Today sacrifice isn’t a word some people aren’t familiar with. They want to have their cake and each it, too.
Growing up I know my parents had to make a lot of sacrifices.
They left everything they knew behind and moved overseas because they couldn’t find work in England.
We ate at home, rarely going out for dinner.
We made do.
Many people I know don’t want to simply make-do. They want to indulge. They want to enjoy life 120%.
They want to buy not just what they need but what they want as well.
And a little indulgence never hurt anyone.
Especially around the holidays don’t we all go a little crazy. After all we worked hard this year.
But sooner or later we have to pay the price. Or in this case, pay the bill.
Whether we eat a little too much, buy a little too much, or play a little too much, we always pay the price.
Nearly every millionaire that I know understands the concept of sacrifice.
They buy what they need and maybe a little more from time to time, but they work within their budget most of their time.
They have a plan – some money for spending, some for saving and some for investing.
And it does take time.
It might not be fancy but it gets the job done.
The Michael Jordans of the world might become overnight millionaires but they are the exception, not the norm.
In baseball the home-runs might get the glory but the bunts, the hits and yes, the sacrifices are just as important to winning the games.
In life we should all learn to sacrifice things if we want to win.
Adrian Shepherd
I’m just wondering about the meaning of sacrifice. A lot of parents often say that they made large sacrifices for their children. However, I want to say that it is patience. I don’t remember how many times I got upset with my children in the child-rearing years. During the years I had great patience, it was never sacrifices. For me, sacrifice is a life-or-death matter.
My grandmother and father were patient and thrifty persons and I learned to be patient from them. Still today I thanks for their words of wisdom. It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, as long as I try my best and I want to enjoy the rest of my life with my nice families.
I suppose one could replace sacrifice with patience…as you said, it depends on your definition of the words. Patience and sacrifice are two things that today’s generation would do well to learn more of.
So true! Look at the current world economic situation and think back how it got the way it is. You will see that it was mostly caused by people with little patience and with no concept of sacrifice.
But who could have seen it coming? Real estate was bound to go up. For the most part, it always had so why not base a bunch of securities on mortgages? Get world to buy in and ride the wave to the top. But each wave has a crest and trough. When the bottom falls out it affects almost all…..except perhaps those who were patient.
Well, I have one question that seems important? Why is Japan in better shape than Europe and America, leading the Yen to be so strong? Maybe because the bubble burst a long time ago and they knew that real estate prices don’t always rise. In fact in Japan they almost always fall. But the real question is how does the world get out of this slump? I think it depends on one person at a time. There is no certain quick fix for any government. A 5% tax break for companies will not have any real effect. Patience and sacrifice and hard work by each person. And while we are at it, why not learn to live within our means and take care of the planet at the same time? The country whose people learns how to do that best will be the winner in the future, not the one who only increases consumption.