Nah! This isn’t about shopping at Walmart or getting discount coupons from Carrefour (pronounced in a French accent CAR-FOO). Besides merging opportunities with tools and strategies that work (and other things), most self-made millionaires do not live beyond their means. That is what seperates them from non self-made millionaires (like me – heck I am not even a millionaire!) Why do I say this?
Pick any self-made millionaires on the Forbes list and do an “observation”. I pick Warren Buffet. Warren Buffet may be living in a very big luxurious house but:
1. His house is considered “middle class” (not very rich)
2. He’s been living there for more than 30 years although he can well afford another bigger. more posh and more expensive house!
Look at the real self-made millionaires – they don’t drive brand new cars either. The limousine is only reserved for red-carpet occasions. Their wives still use discount coupons!
Stingy? No.
In actual fact if they weren’t frugal, they wouldn’t be where they are with their millionaire husbands.
There’s a very big difference of being ‘ethically frugal’ to ‘unethically stingy’. An employer who has never given a salary raise to a loyal staff of more than 20 years can be branded and labeled as “unethically stingy”.
Some employers who fail to pay accident and emergency expenses (my ex-boss was one of them and they are presently considered BMWs of the art-framing business in Singapore!). Such employers save and “get rich” at the expense of others! Don’t let the ‘rich and stingy’ pull the wool over your eyes! If one can treat their employees like doormats, imagine what they are doing behind your back to your orders!
Talking about discount coupons, my Fatty’s son told me discount coupons are no longer in fashion. I looked at his big brown eyes and he pointed to my mum’s collection of supermarket stickers on the table. “Collect 10 and get $9 off your next shopping of groceries!”
The Chinese also have a saying,”The size of your head will decide the size of your hat/cap.” Luckily for you, you don’t need to wait for your heads to swell before you start to change your mindset.
Changing your mindset may change your “economic status”…and I am doing exactly that. (I’ve changed my mindset – I eat at home whenever I can now!)
Want more related info? I can’t remember the name of the book, but I think it’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People you may want to get your hands on. Google for it!
Other recession and money-related blogs/articles:
- Expect the worst Singaporeans – property prices will crash
- Salaries of Singaporeans based on occupations – I don’t find this to be very accurate though. I’ve never heard of “Office Cashier” – only bank tellers and shop/restaurant cashiers! Most Customer Service Managers earn lesser than $3k (except for those in MNCs), and not $5k as published.
Itching to talk back or throw torches of flame, or sing praises? SHOOT ! Sometimes I DO put a shoe in my mouth so I am wearing a bullet-proof vest! lol
