Money predominantly sits on the nexus of affairs, let’s discuss it a little. It is made from materialistic resources like copper and zinc for coins, natural substances like processed wood paper for paper cash, and latex developed for polymer notes; So it’s safe to say moneydoes grow on trees. It could be anything the authorities approve as the prevalent legal tender tomorrow, madefrom other natural substances like sand, grass, or gold ore. With not much intrinsic or natural value, money is an artificial construct created for medium of exchange or payment for goods & services, store of value and keeping units of account. This means it fosters volatility between you and your wants and needs. It positions as the universal supreme value and the means of access to other values.
We live in this vibration of currency and in this pragmatic world where everything is money. It may not be the most important thing in the world but it affects everything that is important. It gives you options of what you eat, drink, wear, your lifestyle, healthcare, education, exposure, it affects everything on a daily basis. You can say money ranks up with oxygen, because it arguably prolongs life.
Money is a promise of value, it is an elucidation of future hopes which reaffirms its’ supreme value in acontemporary society. Based on this supreme value, it is certain that money is one of the end purposes of school, work, hustle and grind. I suggest it will be most ideal to embed a mandatory course on money across all programs, curriculum and course of study in schools. Money should be studied as a course to teach students various ways on how to monetise their profession at the rudimentary level, alongside learning the academics.Asides the academics, students also need to understand the commercialization of their profession timely, thenstudy the course on money like their life depends on it, because it actually does. On time, they need to decide on their definition of money, understand their money beliefs& ideologies, and where they come from because it can hold them back financially. Really! When will they learn it? They need to learn it early or the world will teach them.
The reason why financial education is important in schools, is for students to learn that value of possessions measured by money is always futuristic, it’s dependent on expectations on how much could be recovered from a value provided, at a later date. Since this value, when realized, will again depend on future expectations, the future is forever deferred. Financial literacy traverses through stages of wealth, it encompasses financial dependency, solvency, stability, security, independence,abundance, freedom, fiscal and monetary policies. Financial discipline is essentially understanding the degree of hope, expectation of trust or credit and making money decisions timely. Financial awareness is more important than high earnings, paycheques and salaries.
Students need to understand that money is a concept created as a debt which involves a social obligation to work or make profits to repay through your profession. Debt is like a millstone round your neck, it is a ridiculous master but an obedient servant. Pay off your debts as priority, it bogs you down. Debt is the only thing worse than lack of money. The pursuit of money is designed to discipline you, so understand that avoiding a debt doesn’t pay it. Debt is presumptuous, you go into it assuming you’d comply but it’s still assumptions, not guaranteed.Debt can be a tool when used wisely but otherwise, it’s a trap. I understand financial needs change at different stages of lives and money begets money but disregard get-rich-quick schemes, because it is not you who gets rich quick. Understand that money is a consequence of a value provided, not a reward. Money is an art, it’s an illusion like it’s not real but it has real consequences. People say money is life, because even though money is a personal affair; Without money, everyone lives about 30% of life’s true potential. However, don’t let money be the only thing you can offer, apparently there’s more to life than just money. Try to also be rich in ways currency could never define.
Anybody can be wealthy, there are no secrets. Money is a window of opportunities to provide value, it is multiplied in practical value depending on these number of (Ws and H) in your life: What you do, Where you do it, With Whom you do it, When you do it, Why you do it and How you do it. Decide what you want money for, then do everything you can to make it, but not just anything.Many people don’t know the reason why they’re making money, they barely understand the purpose of wealth; While some to take care of family, others with other obnoxious reasons. For me! Blaize Gabez, my mantra is, I want to make a lot of money, help a lot of people and have a lot of fun. Money is a war you can’t win even through armistice, If you focus on making it, you’re over ambitious. If you try but don’t make any, you’re a loser. If you make a lot and keep it, you’re a miser. If you make it and spend it, you’re a spendthrift. If you don’t care about making it, you’re unambitious; And you reallyreally can’t take it with you when you die, even though you can’t live without it while you’re alive. To win is to be extravagantly generous, be a good steward while sharing it wisely. Unconditional generosity and ruthless frugality eliminates the power money has over you. The belligerents in this money war are the odds against your financial decision, situation, freedom and emancipation; You could possibly be your own greatest enemy in this war.
Money is sui generis, it’s unique in its’ own way. It is the only thing whose identity is volatile during exchange of values, It’s called Alimony during divorce, Bribe when illegally received, Debt when owing someone, Donation when given voluntarily, Dowry in marriage, Fare when travelling, Fee after rendering services, Fine during penalty, Loan when borrowed, Pension when paid to Civil Servant retirees, Ransom during abduction, Rent paying to use an item that isn’t yours, Salary when employer pays workers, Tax when paid to the government, Offering/Tithe when given to church, Tip when wilfully offered after a good service. Holistically, financial analysts, advisors, and other finance experts are abreast with these random values and other values of money. If you’re going to get financial advice, pay for it or retain a financial adviser if you need one.
Equivocal values: Based on its volatility, money could be transgressed into different forms as cash, cheques, certificates, numerals, assets, shares/bonds, insurance, budget borrow, symbols, cards, all holding the same value.
Interesting values: Money is the fastest traveler of all time. Asides electronic and online transfers, You can collect change from a hawker in Lagos traffic on your way to catch the next flight to Budapest. It doesn’t come as fast as it goes literally and metaphorically, maybe that’s the reason paper chasing is forever.
Charismatic values: Money is powerful. It gives you the authority to take control, command a lot of things and lead lots of people, while it earns you power, loyalty,envy, love and respect from friends, families and the society. Money adds to your confidence to convince the mind of someone or group of people. It contributes charisma to influence what you want to achieve, rules become flexible when money is involved.
Romantic values: Romance can barely thrive without finance, anything contrary could be a lie that has travelled a thousand miles, one day the truth may catch up. It’s a known phenomenon that money brings women, women bring life and life is better with your partner and the life she brings. Asides money, give her the best loveby loving her in her own way. If she’s parsimonious, then involve money in a way it brings joy for her to live her best life. She may have her own money, that’s a plus for herself. Solve money problems for her if you can, it is one of the most romantic things you can do in a woman’s life and she’ll give you the best, life can offer.
Emotional/Psychological/Physical values: Many emotions are attached to money. Different people, different emotional needs but it certainly calms everyone’s mind during hysteria. Wealth is long created in your mind before coming into your life. Psychologically, money resonates in your mind before ingressing or egressing your bank account. Financial distress can be excruciating, either rich or poor. Financial thoughts distorts your mind, like you’re mentally dysfunctional, but when money physically or in any form involves, it numbs emotional and psychological pain; That crispy feeling enhances the mood. Maybe money cannot buy happiness but it sure rents the heck out of it. However, understand the relationship between money and your definition of happiness; Sometimes without money, your temper could be unnecessarily high. Also,understand the relationship between money and friendships. Instead of lending money to a friend or family which can possibly drain the relationship emotionally and psychologically, it’s better to freely give them the amount of money you can. It actually strengthens the bond better than to risk having resentment with people whom you’re supposed to love. Sometimes it may not be their intention to avoid the debt,but they may have been caught up with events ofmoney’s intricacies and really don’t know how to explain to you.
Spiritual values: Money is not a spiritual issue. There’s nothing spiritual about money, no need to serve, idolize, worship it, or shower praises. There are many wealthy people who are secular, they are very far from God, modern church or traditional religion. The thing is, humans are spiritual beings, meaning our existence has a spiritual dimension to it. Spirituality is distinct from religion, the holy books talked mostly about handling money and possessions as a spiritual thermometer of character, just like every other human affair, but there’s no spiritual connotation of money. If you believe spiritual warfares, understand that the warfares would beagainst the person as a spiritual entity, not money. If you’re a religious person, then you need to handle money in God’s way, while preaching and practicing the right theologies of money. The rituals and sacrifices you should be doing to make money is deep work, which is serving yourself and building your productivity through your spirit, prayer, work, hard work, focus, zeal, injury, fear, honesty, desire, will, drive, guts, grim, grit, attitude, innovation, motivation, sleep, rest, loss, rejection, diet, discipline, preparation, vision, elation, hope, time, failure, tests, doubts, support, pain, late nights, early mornings, tactics, strategy, commitments, passion, team, feedback, goals, bravery, daring, courage, joy, sadness, loneliness, training, learning, planning, listening, patience, resilience, blood, sweat and tears.
Time values: The time value of money varies based on its context. You must have heard “Time is money”, “Money saves time” But time equally saves money,through savings. Saving and budgeting are healthy habits, budget is a good plan for your money, no matter how much money you have. The money you saved today can save you tomorrow. Saving is essential but no trillionaire ever became one by saving, I think they kept chasing their potential with the time other people wereusing to save. Sometimes money can’t buy extratime but other times it can buy you just enough time. Make your money work for you by buying back your time. Time is crucial for making informed financial choices, it helps you to evaluate opportunities effectively and maximizewealth over time. It provides a vision board for understanding that the value of money in various forms changes over time, due to its potential earning capacity. It’s better to waste money than to waste time, because money always returns, time doesn’t, so make your time work for you financially. The concept of timing in financial transactions varies, as money can be invested in stocks to earn returns and dividends over time; Hedging at the right time can make you save money and interests can grow over time. It is a fundamental financial principle that financial decisions are sensitive to timing. Sometimes the value of a definite money today can be greater than a potentially equivalent amount in the futureand vice versa. Assets grow in value over time given its high earning potential, but until its liquidation, it is subject to force majeure; While cash, cards, cheques, shares/bonds, can obliterate in actual value due to inflation, opportunity costs, and uncertainties. The principle of time in finance enables calculation of the present or future value of money in any form, market value of currency – fluctuation of exchange rates, assessment of loans and financial plans.
Ubiquitous values: Money is everywhere, there’s enough of money for everyone. It’s a universal language and arithmetic. It only depends on your personal discernment of what money is, through your insightfulness, which could be different from someone else’s. It’s your discretion to make it in hundreds, thousands, millions, billions, or trillions, owing to the fact that money is infinite and you have access to harness all of it. The same energy and calories you burn in pursuit of a kobo is no different from the energy and calories you burn in pursuit of a trillion. Be pragmatic, live in a world of radical humility, which comes with providing value and being of service. Ask for helppolitely, people are willing to help. Radical humility doesn’t affect your dignity. First off! You have to believe it’s in your calling because not everyone’s calling or assignment on earth requires lots of money. Be a pragmatist, you need to know what value you’re actually providing and what you’re really doing to work on your wealth strategy. Know yourself if you’re a solo, duo or team player, then fervently apply yourself through consistency (doing it everyday), persistence (without quitting) and perseverance (staying resilient in the pursuit of your grind against all odds). There are always opportunities to make money, if there are few hidden opportunities, then you need to seriously stand out through your immense attention with good intention for humanity, be quirky, unique, unusual and creative. Ask big! That’s when grace kicks in, most times the harder you work the luckier you get. There are people with theology of poverty, they don’t believe they can make lots of money. They fear money! They fear money to the extent they become resentful of people who have lots of it. They have scarcity mindset, they believe rich people probably indulged in something absurd to make lots of money. Some of them, inadvertently believe there’s virtue in not having money which brings them close to God. This is one of the reasons why students need to understand their money myths and philosophies early.
Ethical values: Money has no discriminatory apparatustowards any race, gender, age or religion. Like a double edged sword, money is a ruthless arbiter, it rewards the meticulous and devours the reckless. Students need to understand that every cent counts for the time being. Money wanders off when it discerns you have little knowledge on ethics of money and poor money management skills, such as, lack of knowledge, fear of risk, scarcity mindset, impulse spending, debt dependency, lack of discipline to save, etc. It will return when you learn how to multiply it. You have no idea how long the money you have will need to last, even if you spend wisely, due to unforeseen circumstances. The energy of money is designed to circulate, it’s a movement, it’s energy in motion, you must spend on relevant things. Your expenditure is money being circulated, don’t hoard it out of scarcity mindset, it’s an energy in abundance that’s meant to circulate. Do what is right and important with money, whether it’s in your favour or not, and even if you’re doing it alone or not.Try your best to avoid keeping other people’s money in your possession, if you must, then guard other people’s money that’s in your possession tenaciously. Anyway, carry out finance health check regularly to get your finances under control and to avoid debt. Remember! You have to tell your money where to go, or you’ll always wonder where it went. Money comes and goes, flip yours forever. Let money be the most consistent thing in your life. Enjoy your money, use your money wisely because no one will spend it as wisely as you. Other people’s money belongs entirely to them, to do with it as they please, don’t judge or envy it. So it follows that you can do as you like with your own money. You need to understand properly that it’s none of your concern what other people do with their money. You have no idea of their (Ws & H) and if they made their fortune out of numerous misfortunes. They can fritter it away, gamble it, spend it on frivolities; Including your parents. It’s their choice to spend it, it’s their money, all theirs, exclusively, if they give you a penny, be grateful.
Moral values: It’s never too late to start getting wealthy. Don’t make money by being bad or at the cost of your peace, it’s not worth it. Don’t ruin the fun, money is not the root of any evil, don’t make money taboo by becoming a hollow soul without knowing it. Some people believe you must compromise on your morality or integrity to get wealthy, they justify any action to get financially ahead, even if it’s wrong. I think you only have to ardently keep doing the right things. You can make lots of money, enjoy what you do and sleep at nights. It is also important to know when you have enough money. When you have become wealthy, Where do you stop? How much is enough? Where do you draw the line? There’s no conflict with big faith and big money, just do what is right. You need to know when to stop, if you get all the money in the world, what’s next.. Pacts with the devil? Money is amoral, it does not make you greedy or kind, it only amplifies who you are. Money is an inanimate object, you come first before money, don’t let it control you, you control your money. Many people believe after God, money is the vertex in the societal hierarchy, forgetting that humans are next after God. Money in the hand of the righteous can do lots of good, but in the hands of the unrighteous can do lots of atrocities. Try to avoid the arrogance that comes with money and never belittle people with less money than you because before you had it, you didn’t have it. Money inflates your ego, it makes you oblivious of the fact that circumstances beyond your control can make you lose it all, anybody can hit financial storm, no matter how financial astute you are. Once you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it, but you can be decently affluential with it if you wish. Learn how to make your money work for you by investing in the right things, and finding ways to give people money without them feeling indebted to you.Don’t cheat someone with money and never fight for money; If someone cheats you with money, leave it for them with their fate, if you don’t, you may eventually find yourself misconstrued with one of money’s intricacies. Get back to the grind, your money will return,keep going. Money, a problem solver! It can solve only 99 percent of your problems, only 99%. It doesn’t solve only your problems, it makes people tell you their problems to solve for them. Please assist them in anyway you can. If someone unknowingly hits your car on the road, no need to verbally or physically abuse them; If you have money to fix it, leave them and go fix it yourself. They say more money, more problems right? So mitigate problems since you have the money. Be grateful for life then get back to the grind, there are usual and unusual pay days, money always return, keep going.
Reading this is a start but it’ll count for nothing unless you actually take action on whatever it spurs you to think would be a good idea. You’ve probably thought to yourself while reading this article ‘Oh I know that!’ or ‘That’s so obvious’ Sure! You’re right, some parts are obvious; But for us as humans, there’s a huge gap between what we know and what we do. Don’t just read this and sit back – Do something.
The banking system was introduced to regulate the control of money and to make it proportionate. The banks evaluate other forms of money in their possession, transpose the value into numerals through electronic systems out of what most likely is not physically available in their bank vaults. Central banks print money and lend it as a loan to the government who has an obligation to offset the loan. As a system of debt, money imposes an irresistible system of social control on individuals, corporations, and governments, each of whom are threatened by economic failure if they refuse their duty to the money system. This system of debt has progressively tightened its hold on all sectors of global society, more like ‘debt penalty’. This vicious circle drives the expansion of the global economy. Money is the dominant global religion in practice, it’s almost like it has taken the place of God, perhaps the reason why people love and worship it.
It often reminds me of Miguel D Lewis – “Capitalism is religion, Banks are churches, Bankers are priests, Wealth is heaven, Poverty is hell, Rich people are saints, Poor people are sinners, Commodities are blessings, Money is God”
I digressed…
I believe there’s alot students can learn about money at the formative level while learning the academics of their course of study. It is considerable for money to be studied as a course in schools with contemporary materials and modern technologies. They can possibly go for meaningful internships and externships to practice their money making skills in real time. The appropriate advisory board can advise on the course outlines and if in high school or tertiary institution. Students need to understand money and the monetisation of theirprofession ab-initio. It will aid their professional growthexponentially, through their diverse individualities and perception of making money. They need to take lessons on money and how to handle wealth by all means to avoid losing control of their financial freedom. Since the importance of money is insatiable like an infinity loop, it’s best to educate students on financial consciousness at an early stage. This will broaden their knowledge of money and assist them to make a lot of it judiciously.
Blaize Gabez & Co. Legal Practitioners®
