The next chapter of "The Mindful Money Guide" launches into
personal finance, insurance, and other money matters. I wish
the author had defined wealth at this point and pointed out
that money and wealth are not the same thing. One can have
lots of money and still be poor. Wealth includes knowledge,
health, happiness, friends, ecological environments, (etc.)
and goes beyond things easily measured by money. If we
define wealth before looking at investments then everything
changes.
Anyway, the book continues on into conventional investments
based on money. The next few chapters go like this:
1. Basic budgeting
2. How to be cautious (insurance and savings)
3. Retirement plans
4. Stocks
In the area of investing there are thousands of good
investments besides things like: insurance, stocks, bonds,
IRA's, etc. Starting a small business or investing in
self-reliance can be very safe investments and rewarding.
Community loans or loans to locals are much easier than most
people realize. Funding a persons retirement in exchange for
their farm can be a win-win investment and i found it easy to
do. All these things can also be ecological and local. The
key is to think independently and understand the fundamentals
of economics. None of this was mentioned in the book.
Back on the topic of budgeting, what i found useful is to
begin the following process:
1. Review/List the things money is needed for.
(What is important in my life?)
2. Compare the list to current activities.
(Does my actions match my beliefs?)
3. Accept that money control is an ongoing process and
daily choice. (It only gets real when we "do something").
Return to step one.
(to be continued)
----
jeff owens, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.xprt.net/~jko
underground house, solar power, self-reliance, edible landscape
to leave ecopath: unsubscribe ecopath -> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
