Something from the other day reminded me...
There's an old 1926, yet still published book..."The Richest Man In Babylon"...by George Clauson. It's listed on Amazon as a classic and #1 best seller on personal finance.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-Original-Classics/dp/1954839499[/URL]
The 30 second story summation:
Pay yourself first before you pay others...
The process:
1. Willingly offer a spiritual donation of your first 10% to help others...
2. Next pay yourself 10% (to save and invest)...
3. Only then, proceed with living expenses from the 80% left over...
An important variable is start saving and investing your 10% when young to maximize compound interest, but it's never too late to start.
Hoooo Hummmm, you might think - we already know all that!!!
Was it luck?
Was it coincidence?
Was it a blessing from God?
The RMIB book found me in 1982, which was forever ago...
And for whatever reason, it just made sense at the time. Though in honesty, I expected to see Unicorns and dragons before I expected to see retirement - it was just tooooo far into the future to believe.
But yet, I still believed saving and investing might make a difference.
So though poor, broke, and needing shoes for a 5 year old, we started following its advice, paycheck after paycheck, month after month. Increases from annual raises and performance bonuses went fully into savings and long-term investment, so over time - - - by choice - - - we were saving and investing well beyond the initial 10% rate - through retirement 37 years later.
it's been a life changer. The key words are..."by choice"...it was a conscious, point-in-time decision, followed by long-term commitment.
Only the Bible has had more positive impact than the RMIB for us and our marriage.
DO read both, they're life changing. One's about the Savior, the other's about the saver.
But the RMIB is just a made up story, and too simple you might say. And saving 10% sounds boring...is this the best you have to offer?
Well, actually a life focused only on the pursuit of money is meaningless and soul killing.
What transforms living into a real adventure is a life submitted to God. Then it's just a simple act of making the wisest informed decisions you can which are aligned with scripture...and trusting God for everything. It's not a "name it and claim it" - "genie in a bottle" belief.
It's a foundational trust in a heavenly Father, who the Bible says, has a steadfast love for His children...and keep on saving that 10%!!!
At least that's my View From Windy Hill, and I'm sticking with it!
Let the adventure continue...
