The Life Journey and Matters of Money

He who knows how to be poor knows everything.
Michelet, French historian

            My beginnings as a ‘poor black child’ provided me a few insights about all things financial. Watching my mother and grandparents constantly trying to ‘make ends meet’ was a tricky as well as tedious process. But they did it— we were sheltered, fed and clothed. For them money wasn’t just about the dollar bills. There were many non-monetary ways that helped our family survive.

        Connecting with neighbors to borrow and lend were well used methods that mattered. “Can I get $5 from you until I get paid?” was a question that could come from anyone. There was no ATM; instead it was ‘ANM - Ain’t No Money.’ Checks floated and crashed. Reserve funds were limited to quarters tied up in a handkerchief that the adults pulled out as a last resort. I watched my family share resources such as food or household items with others in need even when we didn’t have much—literally ‘counting pennies’, or measuring cups of sugar.  

            As kids, when we went to the local store, we learned how to bargain with each other or make loans when someone else didn’t have enough for their treat. Sometimes we were entrepreneurial—collecting soda bottles to turn in for money. A nickel could buy you a soda or candy bar back then.  If you had a quarter, you felt your ‘ship had come in’!

            My mother and grandmother sold boxes or tins of candy and at times used the ‘green stamp’ exchange to acquire funds or household items. Lay-a-way programs with the local merchants gave my mother and grandparents a way to purchase needed clothing or household items over a period of time. This was their planning method, requiring them to look ahead for our needs. Stewardship in church, whether it was putting a nickel in our offering envelope or helping count money from the collection plate, was emphasized as a way of giving to the Lord.

            These experiences provided a mindset for elements of my financial strategy: Share, improvise, prioritize, identify resources and plan when you can.

            When I worked for fifty cents an hour at my first job at the Waverly Diner, I used my $20 dollar a week salary to buy my school clothes and share some of the money with my family.  The next summer I got a raise to sixty cents an hour because I moved up from dishwashing to grill cooking. Boy was I excited. A 20% salary increase!            Financially, my attendance at William and Mary was made possible through the existence of educational grants, academic scholarships and national defense student loans that were available as part of a federal education thrust for minorities in the early 1970s. Yes, government handouts got me through college with the funds for tuition, room and board. It was definitely advantageous for me to be poor, black and smart.

            A part-time job at the college post office provided through a work-study program helped me pay for other educational and personal survival expenses.

            Mirroring what I’d seen in our household growing up, I willingly worked hard, used available resources and shared.

            During the summers between my years in college I worked at the chemical factory with my mother. This was definitely a better opportunity for making money to keep my school needs met and still help my family. That foundation of principles and skills to use in other monetary situations that I’d learned in my youth continued to build. Sacrifice and don’t hoard. 

But as the years went by I also started the gaining and losing cycle of dealing with money.           Even still I went back to school, realizing another degree would help in my career and business pursuits. I decided to use my MasterCard over a two-year period to finance this master’s program. I was also able to secure a part-time job on the campus. Win-learn! Once my training/consultants projects stabilized and rewards were reaped, I was able to pay off my credit cards. “Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain,” according to an English proverb.

            In continuing to watch my own and others’ financial issues through the years, I’ve come to several conclusions. We can’t separate ourselves from living life by building our personal Fort Knox. Yes, in looking out for our financial future, saving and finding ways to create wealth is important. However, ‘tomorrow isn’t promised’ so enjoy what you can for today and splurge a little. Earn money while reaping joy and making memories too. 

            Share, improvise, prioritize, identify resources and plan when you can.

Excerpted from my motivational autobiography, Navigating Life’s Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey in print and Kindle eBookhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FQDPYE