“Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character.” – S.W. Straus

Somewhere along the way of life, thrifty got the reputation of being cheap, low quality or going without.  In some cases people do not know what the word thrifty means.  Thrifty also does not involve money all the time.  Really, thrift means not wasting money or time.  The Success-Minded Person works faithfully, wastes nothing and makes the best use of their belonging and opportunities.  Benjamin Franklin put it this way: “Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.  Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything.”

WEALTH IS NOT BAD

Success-Minded People understand that to accumulate wealth is not a bad thing.  I always find it amazing how people are so quick to villainies the rich and make them to always be the bad guys.  Yet, millions are spent each week on those same people playing the lottery to become rich.  Here is something to think about: the rich do not play the lottery.  Study after study show that people without money spend more time thinking about, and trying to get it than those who have wealth.

MONEY IS A TOOL

Success-Minded People know that you must handle money properly in order to develop wealth (however you define that term).  A simple formula is: you use some, you spend some and you save some.  You stay out of debt as best you can and never out live your means.  Thomas Jefferson said “Never spend your money before you earn it.”  Will this mean going without at times?  Yes and no.  You may need to put off luxuries or the wants of life, but you can still have what you need to survive.  Money is a tool, nothing more.  It is not how much you have but how you use what you have that counts.  Ayn Rand said “Money is a tool.  It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”

TAKE CARE OF THINGS

Success-Minded People also know that thrift involves taking care of what we have so it lasts.  It is wasteful to lose possessions because you did not take care of them.  Thrift means being responsible for your possessions and those of others.  Carless destruction and damage is a shame to all.  Thomas Edison said “Waste is worse than loss.  The time is coming when every person who lays claim to ability will keep the question of waste before him constantly.  The scope of thrift is limitless.”

TIME IS MONEY

Success-Minded People are aware that the biggest waste of all is the waste of time.  It is the one thing you can never gain back.  Every minute you waste is gone forever.  The old saying, “Time is money” is very true.  Wasted time cuts away are productive work, new opportunities and the ability to create.  Thrifty people use their time carefully and productively.  This, along with proper use of money and things is why the thrifty person is the one to accumulate wealth and the wasteful are poor and goes without.

 © 2011 John Patrick Hickey