Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Today is the first day of October and a day for my budget report. During the last week of September we spent £116.96 of which £26.03 on food and the rest on what I term ‘regular’ expenditure (this week it includes me going out to dinner with friends from the street and OH’s haircut).

For the month we have spent £165.48 over what we bring in every month guaranteed. This might sound as bad news but it is really great news – this month we have spent £301 on new fridge/freezer and £168.88 on my gadget and cycling gear for me. This tells me that we are still wasting money somewhere – and I probably should reconsider the budget for the month and put on the side £500 rather than £300. Will try in October – although we are going to Lausanne for a weekend but we have paid the flights, friend is likely to takes us to and from accommodation, and accommodation is only about £200 (for the three of us). And this month I have made £400 – mainly examining and stuff – which was put to the side.

As of today we have paid £22.009 off the negative wealth.

Mostly good news – why am I restless then? How about this one?

Today while running I was listening to Elvis singing ‘I have lots of living to do’ and it made me think that he did his living really quickly. Then I thought that people can be divided into two broad categories – tortoises and hares. The tortoises are the optimists – they live slowly and in a very measured way because deep down they believe that they have loads of time. Hares, on the other hand, live fast cramming all their living in a short space of time because they don’t know how long do they have. Tortoises are patient and considerate while hares are the ones who are likely to interrupt and hurry you along. Tortoises can achieve mastery and perfection through persistence, are good finishers and notice detail while hares want it here, want it now, display amazing bursts of enthusiasm and creativity but get easily bored.

I have always been a hare. Part of my journey has involved moderating some of the features of the hare by developing the persistence and mastery of the tortoise. So I can stop seeing traffic signs as a minor distraction on the way.

And the saying for today is:

“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.” - Warren Buffett

Firewalker

savingwannabe

I think the metaphor's are unecessarily harsh Firewalker. Your writing (well in my opinion) suggests that whilst you do a tremendous amount you are reflective, you savour elements of your day and you learn from them. So maybe you are a reflective & intelligent hare and i reckon you achieve mastery rather than just any old hare!!! And being a tortoise i am sure is not it is all cracked up to be, if you were one all the time you would not be able to complete your marathons so quickly.

PS i would like to sponsor your next one if that is ok.

Firewalker

Hi SW,

I probably was not very clear. The tortoise and hare thing was not meant to suggest that one of them is good and one not so. These are the leaning of a person and if one is to be a rounded individual they ahve to work on the opposite. The Law of opposites is one of the laws of the Universe and it is everywhere.

There are two implications of the tortoise - hare distinction. One, if people are aware of their leaning they can take measures to develop the opposite. And two, when chosing people to do things with (work) one can select people who complement their talents. I, for instance, love writing with completers/finishers - the two members of my dream team are C/Fs. And thus great stuff is born.

Sleep well
Firewalker

savingwannabe

Bless you, i do ALWAYS learn from you. hugs, sw.

fannyadams

Hi Firewalker sorry to hijack your thread but I just wanted to post this:
with regard to charitable giving...

http://www.squidoo.com/child-organizations
Did You Know

If a children's charity CEO Earns $400,000. And the sponsorship is $20/month. The first 1,666 donations go directly into The CEO's pocket BEFORE the children get anything...

macgirl

Firewalker wrote: »

Today while running I was listening to Elvis singing ‘I have lots of living to do’ and it made me think that he did his living really quickly. Then I thought that people can be divided into two broad categories – tortoises and hares. The tortoises are the optimists – they live slowly and in a very measured way because deep down they believe that they have loads of time. Hares, on the other hand, live fast cramming all their living in a short space of time because they don’t know how long do they have. Tortoises are patient and considerate while hares are the ones who are likely to interrupt and hurry you along. Tortoises can achieve mastery and perfection through persistence, are good finishers and notice detail while hares want it here, want it now, display amazing bursts of enthusiasm and creativity but get easily bored.

I started reading this and my eyes widened. I was thinking the EXACT same thing today. I was running around cutting trees bagging them up sweeping the drive peeling veg washing up loading the car sorting the washing vacumning and secretly congratulating myself on how "busy" and "productive" I am.

All this time DH (who is a very laconic chap) was sitting at the table, quietly reading the paper and listening to the golf. I kissed him goodbye and got into the car on the way to the tip, buy curtain tape and do a million and one other things.

I thought "We are the hare and the tortoise" and he is going to win this race (of life).....:cool:

It reminded me of a good little book I once bought about this called The Joy of Laziness. In fact I sent it to Hypno and said to pass it on, so maybe if she hasn't already, she could pass it to you.
It's all about living longer and preserving life energy. Guess who live longer - mice or elephants?

I'm sorry to tell you though Firewalker, marathon running is not on the agenda for life-lengthening

savingwannabe

I dont know if I want to be a hermit on the top of a mountain (that's all i think a tortoise would be if they were a person)- that is not self actualisation for me.

But i am jumping at extremes i am sure. Another book to order for me too. This is like a reading club. And a HAPPY one.

Firewalker

fannyadams wrote: »

Hi Firewalker sorry to hijack your thread but I just wanted to post this:
with regard to charitable giving...

http://www.squidoo.com/child-organizations
Did You Know

If a children's charity CEO Earns $400,000. And the sponsorship is $20/month. The first 1,666 donations go directly into The CEO's pocket BEFORE the children get anything...

Hi Fanny, and thanks for posting this (and you are not hijacking I am always very happy when people post). Need to think about the implications of this one: is it better if charities are run by people of leasure (highly able ones) or that charities have serious endowments rather than relying on little donations.

Firewalker

Firewalker

macgirl wrote: »

I started reading this and my eyes widened. I was thinking the EXACT same thing today.
It reminded me of a good little book I once bought about this called The Joy of Laziness. In fact I sent it to Hypno and said to pass it on, so maybe if she hasn't already, she could pass it to you.
It's all about living longer and preserving life energy. Guess who live longer - mice or elephants?

I'm sorry to tell you though Firewalker, marathon running is not on the agenda for life-lengthening

Hi Mac, the first sentence tells me that this is virtual integration of immense proportions - and pleases me (and great minds, of course).

Would love to see the book - can e-mail you my address you pass to Hypno (if book available). If not - books are one of my protected wants:rotfl::rotfl:.

Running marathons is a very tortoise thing to do in my book - I am nont sprinting nowhere....

Have a good week.

Firewalker

macgirl

I doubt my brain is anywhere near as great as yours - but thanks for the compliment!

You can get it on Amazon, but I bought my copy in the ICA bookshop. It's one of my favourite bookshops, as although it's small and mainly has art books, I've found some really quirky little books in there. I'd recommend it next time you're in London. It's somewhere DH and I often visited when we lived there and I do miss it...

Have a good week yourself