M for Moolah

"A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart" - Jonathan Swift 

That was her all time favorite quote about money. She often looked at people's perspective on finances and wondered what governed their thought processes. After observing a few very close subjects, she concluded that the financial circumstances you were born and brought up under influenced how you handled "moolah" to a large extent. So, a person who grew up knowing economic difficulties and limitations would turn out to be one of the two below stated, if he's not the normal "middle of the road" kind.

1. A Splurger: This guy has always been limited and contained when it came to spending money. So, if he grew up to have enough money, his rationale is that he should spend it all. Since he couldn't spend any when he didnt have any, why follow the same, when you have enough or more? He believes that his kids should never have to know or live by the limitations that he did.
2. A Financial Conservanist: This guy grew up knowing the value of money since he didn't have enough either. So when he has enough or more, he wants to make sure he saves it or invests it and secures his kids future so he/she shall never face with the same challenges that he did. Additionally, since he's valued money so much for so many years, he does not have it in him to throw away or spend recklessly what he deems invaluable.

She did not have a chance to observe people that were born with a silver spoon in their mouth or what that translated to, as far as their financial outlook was concerned. Should make for an interesting sequel some day.

She personally was born and raised in an economically self-sufficient family. She had working parents at a time when that concept was uncommon in India. Yet when it came to money, her Dad was a traditionalist. He believed that the only money you had, was the money you earned and the money you saved. He taught her two valuable lessons growing up: The value of money and the need to splurge now and then. Her Dad had often quoted Benjamin Franklin and said "If you really want to know the value of money try borrowing some". A lesson that stayed with her all her life. She knew that she'd always plan enough so she wouldn't ever have to ask another in times of need. Additionally, she was just as careful with money. She didn't lend money easily or throw it away. Financial security for the future of her child was her top most priority. She wanted to make sure that her only child would have the best of everything and the dearth of nothing. Yet she would give her kid an upbringing that would help mold her into becoming a financially responsible adult. After all, if love is what makes the world go round; Money is what makes it bend over backwards :)

That being said she did splurge every once in a while. It was her way of paying tribute to the "good life". If you worked hard every single day, you've earned the right to spend some of it "just because". A pair of Jimmy Choo's, a Louis Vuitton hand bag, a Mercedes Benz car, a vacation to Puerto Rico -could be anything that does not fit into the paradigm of "rational spending". "Live it up" - after all like a wise man once said, "One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching".