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MoneyLet me confess that this blog is 'inspired' by RGV's blog on money and the views, incidents are purely mine. This blog is all about how much I value money and materials in life. Like everybody I too agree that money is THE important thing in life no matter whomever may claim that money is immaterial to them. But how much you value money is something that depends on person. Some people are happy with the money they had made to live in a contended life whereas some people chase money no matter how much they have in abundance. The number of people in the former category is very meagre whereas the latter has more. We are living in a materialistic world, so we can't rule out the necessity of money but must learn to balance between the necessary and a luxury.
I have a cousin who had a broken childhood because of the lack of attention of his seperated parents. Also he was not treated well by his relatives too. He came up in a hardway and managed to build a decent lifestyle for himself. I used to admire him till this stage. May be he grew up in a penury state and felt that people will acknowledge him only if he is rich, he managed to make money in all possible ways through his Government job. But his intrests for materials turned into obsession that he started buying / replacing so much of electronic gadgets at an alarming frequency, which he doesn't know even to operate or worse that is he is not bothered to know. Any gadget you name he will be having it and will flaunt it. How much I admired him, he reduced himself to a laughing stock. All I feel is a big sorry for him that he might feel rich monetarily but he is the poorest one because he lives his life for other's acknowledgement.

I do value money but till now I had been successful enough not to let money rule me. I was happy when I was earning Rs. 7000/- p.m equally when I was drawing Dhs. 4000/- p.m 2 yrs back. I am happy that I am making enough money to pursue my art pursuits. Since I am aware that the field I am currently in (IT) is highly unstable and vulnerable, I make sure that I save something to cushion me atleast for few months if something untowards happen in future. Thankfully my parents gave me a decent and noble upbringing, I want to raise up a child from lower strata and gift her a decent upbringing I got. That's all I need money for. Whatever I get more than this is a surplus for me. May be I have my feet grounded, I am able to mix up with people of all strata comfortably. Infact I am uncomfortable with people like my above mentioned cousin who would rather flaunt than actually use their luxuries.

At the end of the day it is just how your attitude towards money keeps you happy. There is no point in slogging to make money and not enjoying it. There are many people for whom the increasing numbers in the Bank balance alone gives happiness. No matter how much more they earn, they will be living a skinflint & miser life. All it takes is a moment to die and we are unsure of when it will happen. It may come in next second or by the age of 100. So let me live a happy life as if I am going to die next second rather than piling up money unused and passed off to next generation. Regarding the next generation let us give them a good upbringing with fair values, knowledge and a confidence to live their own life. All we have to do is to support them is starting a life, not decide on how they should live or how much money we must inherit them.

Does this mean I can work for free if I get a job which will give me immense happiness? The answer depends on the time the question is put forward. At this moment it is a NO. I have few responsibilities like securing a decent future for my family and ensure that enough money is there to maintain the simple lifestyle I live now. I can't come down from it for the sake of doing it. But once I feel that I had enough money that my beloved can live a decent life, they can take care of themselves anymore, I will definitely start pursuing the activities that will give me immense happiness no matter how much meagre the income will be. I am least bothered about the number of zeroes that add as suffix in the bank balance but bother much about the kind of life I lead.

{oshits} readers for my views on money