Money Quotes

•             "Money can't buy happiness; it can, however, rent it." – Unknown

•             "The only thing money gives you is the freedom of not worrying about money." – Johnny Carson

•             "It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed." – Kin Hubbard

•             "Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping." – Bo Derek

•             "If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some." – Benjamin Franklin

•             "Money couldn't buy friends, but you got a better class of enemy." – Spike Milligan

•             "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." – Emo Philips

•             "Every morning I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work." – Robert Orben

•             "If you owe the bank $100 that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem." – J. Paul Getty

•             "I've got all the money I'll ever need, if I die by four o'clock." – Henny Youngman

•             "He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money." – Benjamin Franklin

•             "Finance is the art of passing currency from hand to hand until it finally disappears." – Robert W. Sarnoff

•             "If you marry for money, you will surely earn it." – Ezra Bowen

•             Money won't make you happy... but everybody wants to find out for themselves." – Zig Ziglar

•             "Money is always there but the pockets change." – Gertrude Stein

•             "When a person with money meets a person with experience, the person with the experience winds up with the money and the person with the money winds up with the experience." – Harvey MacKay

•             “A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist." – Franklin Jones

•             "In order to get a loan you must first prove you don't need it." – Murphy's Law: John's Collateral Corollary

•             "I just need enough to tide me over until I need more." – Bill Hoest

•             "Part of the $10 million I spent on gambling, part on booze and part on women. The rest I spent foolishly." – George Raft

Happy Investing!

Happy Independence Day!

Independence. Freedom. These are values that all Americans support. As investors, we believe that freedom includes financial freedom - the freedom to live our life as we choose because there is enough financial security to do so.

But exactly what is financial freedom, financial independence? And how do we attain it?

If you are like me, summer is a wonderful time to catch up on more reading on topics of interest. So here is another book recommendation for you, dear Blog Readers: Lifeonanaire: Real Prosperity by Steve Cook and Shaun McCloskey.

"Life -onaire," like "millionaire," but with the emphasis on LIFE, rather than money.

Lifeonaire is the subject of some special training that the Real Estate Association of Puget Sound will offer this month to its real estate investor members in a special three-day retreat. For more information, go to www.reapsweb.com

The book itself is written in the form of a story, taking its characters on a journey of financial self-discovery. The premise is that debt enslaves the borrower, and to truly live a prosperous, abundant and financially free life, one must focus on the things in life that are most important. Too much time may be spent chasing after money, instead of after one's passions. Simplify and de-clutter your life. Focus on what you want. Do not believe everything about the American dream.

My favorite quote on money and happiness comes (not from this book, but) from Jonathan Haidt:

“Those who think money can't buy happiness just don't know where to shop … People would be happier and healthier if they took more time off and spent it with their family and friends, yet America has long been heading in the opposite direction. People would be happier if they reduced their commuting time, even if it meant living in smaller houses, yet American trends are toward even larger houses and ever longer commutes. People would be happier and healthier if they took longer vacations even if that meant earning less, yet vacation times are shrinking in the United States, and in Europe as well. People would be happier, and in the long run and wealthier, if they bought basic functional appliances, automobiles, and wristwatches, and invested the money they saved for future consumption; yet, Americans and in particular spend almost everything they have – and sometimes more – on goods for present consumption, often paying a large premium for designer names and superfluous features.” 
― Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

Happy Fourth of July!