The Golden Rule of Personal Finance

If you are a Christian, you will be familiar with the Golden rule said by Jesus “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you”. It means if you want people to disrespect you, disrespect them. If you want people to love and always miss you, then love them sincerely with the whole of your heart (whether or not you are with them). Ok, away from the sermon, what is the golden rule of personal finance?

The golden rule of personal finance states, “Do unto your money what you want your money to do to you”. In other words, treat your money exactly as you want your money to treat you.

Do you know that money has no character of its own? It only takes on the character and personality of its owner. Exactly, I am simply informing you that money has a personality, but never a unique personality. If a rich person is stingy, if he believes money is not to be spent but hoarded, then his money automatically becomes stingy. But say, this stingy man dies, and his liberal son inherits his wealth. Unlike his father, the son believes money should be spent to make others happy, to make life fun living, and to enrich humanity. Believe me, immediately the same money becomes liberal- a tool that makes life fun, enriches humanity making others happy thereby.

So if you want your money to bring you respect, respect the money you earn and treat it well. Conversely, If you want your money to imprison you, treat it with fear and hold on tightly to it instead of allowing it to freely go and duplicate itself.

Value your money, but don’t love it.

Respect your money, but don’t fear it.

Hold your money, but don’t hoard it.

Use your money, but don’t be used by it.

Save your money, but don’t make it your savior.

Spend your money wisely or else it will make you look stupid. (A fool and his money are soon parted.)

Earn your money. I mean really earn your every dollar or naira. Don’t cheat for it, kill for it or gamble on it. And your money will value you. Yes! It will place a true value on you. A value that assures that even if all your present money is taken from you, you can and will get it back- to that very value because that’s your real worth.

If you work hard learning how to save, where to invest and how to have a right and proper money-outlook to life, you will soon find your money saving you, honoring you and working hard for you wherever you invest it.

If you kill for your money, then your money will value you as a killer. If you sweat to make your money, then your money will value you as a hustler. If you work very hard for your money, then your money will no doubt call you a hardworker. If you are rational and logical with your money, then your money will be rational and logical with you. YOUR MONEY IS SIMPLY A REFLECTION OF WHO YOU ARE. And what you do to it, it does to you, chikena!

So whether you are about to spend it, or give it out; save, or simply put it into your pocket/wallet. Whether you want to earn it, or send it on an errand, remember that your money is taking on your personality and will treat you exactly as you treat it...this is the golden rule of personal finance.