Honoring What You Have

We want to establish the idea that in the money game there are strugglers and there are winners. The winners simply think and act in ways that bring victory.

As we said last time, winners focus on creating wealth, not accumulating stuff. (the stuff comes later - when they can pay cash for it.)

How does a winner treat his stuff? That's what I want to examine today.

A winner treats his material possessions with respect.

Have you ever held a garage sale? If so, was it huge? Some people recommend having a garage sale to make a little "extra cash." I have a different view of garage sales.

Let's imagine a garage sale. Your garage sale. You have decided it's time to declutter your home and so you go through every room, closet, and storage space to get rid of things you no longer need.

What kind of shape are these items in? How much of it simply needs to go in the trash? Don't throw anything away yet, just set it all out.

Now, take a look. Look at everything that is leaving your possession. In addition, think of all the things you got rid of throughout the year, because they no longer fit, or they broke, or you were tired of them. Is it a big pile?

How much money did all of these things cost new? How much money is actually represented there? (Okay, you don't have to count the hideous ceramic cat you got from Aunt Millie.) I do, however, want you to think about the message you are carrying about the value of money and things.

Chances are these things cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. And now, you are selling them for pennies on the dollar. How much of it could you have lived without in the first place? Did you honor these items when they were in your possession?

If you purchased them with your own money, then you may have used money that you got from your job. You got this money in exchange for hours of your life...and now the fruit of it is lying on your garage floor. Is that what your life is worth? Is that really "extra cash?"

I'm not opposed to getting rid of things - we do it weekly, grateful that some items have served their purpose. If you are grateful for the way these items served you, then you are on the right track. If you are sorry that you purchased them, or sorry that you did not treat them with more care, that is important too.

I just want you to look with long term eyes when you part with your money in the first place. Financial winners always think longer term.

I had a friend named Stacey who was the queen of caring for her things. She and her husband did not have a high income, but her children's bedrooms looked like toy stores. They both had shelves all the way up their walls, and the shelves and the closets were beautifully organized with games in their original boxes, and toys arrayed with pride, and lovely clothes.

She explained to me, "People think my kids have a ton of stuff, but the truth is, I am just obsessive about taking care of what they have. We don't have money to buy them many gifts. This is all the toys and games that my parents and my children's friends have given them over the years for birthdays and Christmas. If every child in the neighborhood had all the things they'd ever received, they would have at least this much."

How right she was. Stacey came from a wealthy family.

I am inspired today, to ensure respectul treatment of the things in my care. I want to show that I respect money. I understand that is part of becoming a "money magnet." I will remember the lesson in a parable from Jesus,

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master's happiness!" -Matthew 25:21

To your success,

Gina