Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Getting Rich, One Frugal Day At A Time

I took my little foster dog to work with me today. He was very well-behaved except for growling at a few people. I made him a belly-band out of a diaper and packing tape and he did not have any accidents in the office. If I was home with him all day I would have him wear it at home. He will be a great dog for some retirees or a work at home person.

I read this article on MSN Money today. Will You Get Rich Someday? I thought it was funny that 15% thought that winning the lottery or getting an inheritance was a good way to get rich. 15% also thought that living frugally was a good way. Investing in stocks and real estate were lower down on the list. I wonder who they asked. The questions could be interpreted different ways. Maybe those people do expect an inheritance. And living frugally doesn't necessarily mean you will get rich, it just means you are living within your means. Although, many people would say that being able to retire early is the same as being rich and that is my goal. Like the article says, "rich" is a relative term.

Anyway, It is cold today. Not as cold as the rest of the country, just cold for Arizona. The thermometer says it is 49 degrees in here. Outside it is 38. I should have left the heater on while I was at work. It takes a while to warm up with my oil filled radiator and my fingers are cold! It will be a while before it is warm enough for a shower. Perhaps I should speed things up and turn the furnace on for a while. My fingers will thank me.

9 comments:

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

I honestly think most people want to look rich - fancy clothes, big house, new cars, etc - rather than actually be rich, even if it means all the debt, reliance on a job, and stress that goes with it. Actually being rich is probably way down the list for a lot of people because of what it takes to do so, lotteries and inheritances aside.

Daizy said...

Ya, I like the golden handcuffs analogy. You can have all that stuff and it just weighs you down and chains you to a life of supporting your stuff. I could say that I am supporting my stuff. I could sell it all and live out of a camper van and have enough to sustain me...until I get ill and it all goes to medical bills...ack!

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

I guess it boils down to what you want and want you are willing to put up with to get it. Some people are glad to have the golden handcuffs I am sure. The heavier the better because it means more gold. We are lucky to have so many options available to live.

Dave said...

I can't believe people see winning the lottery as a financial planning tool. It is nothing more than flushing your money down the drain. I always get a big laugh when I see the media play up a big jackpot in the state or multistate lottery. How many thousands of people play the lottery every week, often with lots of money, and win little or nothing? THOSE people never get in the news.

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

He does look cute,even in his nappy.
When the lottery first started here, i think it was around 10 years ago, my husband actually thought there was financial planning!s a reasonable chance to win it. Even he didnt think it
Lizzie

Dave said...

Forty-nine degrees sounds downright balmy now. Here in New York, we had about a foot of snow yesterday. I am sooo glad I don't work any more because the trip to my old office would have been horrible.

Daizy said...

Dave, and then the media loves to write stories about lottery winners who have miserable lives or worse, like the guy in Florida who just ended up dead. Winning the lottery sounds like horrible thing.

A foot of snow? I wouldn't leave the house for a long time. Hope you have enough food.

Daizy said...

Lizzie, I used to day-dream about winning one million dollars when I was in high school. I'd try to think of ways to spend it. I think I have only bought tickets twice in my life and it didn't work out. I guess I'll have to think of other ways to get rich.

Dave said...

Daizy, I have plenty of food. I did do some shopping Tuesday night before the storm hit. The stores were pretty crowded.

I did venture outside Wednesday night near the end of the strom to move my ladyfriend's car to another spot in the village parking lot (after clearing off the snow). Thursday was the big cleanup day but things are returning to normal. Monday is a holiday and the public schools are closed next week.