7 cures for a lean purse

more from the richest man in babylon
by george s. clason

1. start they purse to fattening

   “For every ten coins thou placest within thy purse take out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and bring satisfaction to they soul.” [p.27]

2. control thy expenditures

   “That what each of us calls our ‘necessary expenses’ will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary.” [p.29]

   “All men are burdened with more desires than they can gratify. Because of my wealth thinkest thou that I may gratify every desire? ‘Tis a false idea. There are limits to my time…strength…distance I may travel…what I may eat…the zest with which I may enjoy.” [p.29]

   “…just as weeds grow in a field wherever the farmer leaves space for their roots, even so freely do desires grow in men whenever there is a possibility of their being gratified.” [p.29]

   the purpose of a budget: “…is to enable thee to realize thy most cherished desires by defending them from casual wishes. Like a bright light in a dark cave thy budget shows up the leaks from thy purse and enable thee to stop them and control thy expenditures for definite and gratifying purposes.” [p.30]

   “Budget thy expenses that thou mayest have coins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy worthy desires without spending more than nine-tenths of thy earnings.” [p.31]

3. make thy gold multiply

   “…a man’s wealth is not in the coins he carries in his purse; it is the income he buildeth, the golden stream that continually floweth into his purse and keepeth it always bulging.” [p.32]

   “…put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse.” [p.33]

4. guard thy treasures from loss

   “…it is wise that we must first secure small accounts and learn to protect them before the Gods entrust us with larger.” [p.33]

   “Study carefully, before parting with thy treasure, each assurance that it may be safely reclaimed. Be not misled by thine own romantic desires to make wealth rapidly.” [p.34]

   “Before thou loan it to any man assure thyself of his ability to repay and his reputation for doing so, that thou mayest not unwittingly be making him a present of thy hard-earned treasure.
   “Before thou entrust it as an investment in any field acquaint thyself with the dangers which may beset it.” [p.34]

   “Guard thy treasure from loss by investing only where thy principal is safe, where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where thou will not fail to collect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasure from unsafe investments.” [p.35]

5. make of thy dwelling a profitable investment

   “…I recommend that every man own the roof that sheltereth him and his.” [p.36]

6. insure a future income

   “…it behooves a man to make preparation for a suitable income in the days to come…and make preparations for his family should he be no longer with them to comfort and support them.” [p.37]

   “He should plan certain investments or provisions that may endure safely for many years, yet will be available when the time arrives

7. increase thy ability to earn

   “Preceding accomplishment must be desire. Thy desires must be strong and definite. General desires are but weak longings. For a man to wish to be rich is of little purpose. For a man to desire five gold pieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfillment…In learning to secure his one definite small desire, he hath trained himself to secure a larger one. This is the process by which wealth is accumulated: first in small sums, then in larger ones as a man learns and becomes more capable.” [p.40]

   “Desires must be simple and definite. They defeat heir own purpose should they be too many, too confusing, or beyond a man’s training to accomplish.” [p.40]

   “Always do the affairs of man change and improve because keen-minded men seek greater skill that they may better serve those upon whose patronage they depend. Therefore, urge all men to be in the front rank of progress and not to stand still, lest they be left behind.” [p.41]

   “Such things as the following, a man must do if he respects himself:

   • “He must pay his debts with all the promptness within his power, not purchasing that for which he is unable to pay.
   • “He must take care of his family that they may think and speak well of him.
   • “He must make a will of record that, in case the Gods call him, proper and honorable division of his property be accomplished.
   • “He must have compassion upon those who are injured and smitten by misfortune and aid them within reasonable limits. He must do deeds of thoughtfulness to those dear to him.” [p.41-42]

   “Thus the seventh and last remedy for a lean purse is to cultivate thy own powers, to study and become wiser, to become more skillful, to so act as to respect thyself.” [p.42]