Money Thoughts


coins
My thoughts have turned to money this morning.

Not the usual mega-bucks thoughts that I constantly carry around with me: the thoughts of ‘When I win the Lottery’, or ‘Imagine finding ancient treasure whilst walking across a field somewhere’, or even ‘When my book becomes a international best seller’ (I haven’t started writing my book yet, it is still an idea). No. Although these thoughts are still there in the background, I’ve been thinking of money from a different angle.

From the pence perspective.one penny

Actually, from the ‘throwaway’ pence perspective. old penny

The money that is spent, without a moment’s notice. And I have come up with quite a nifty idea. OK, it won’t scrape the surface of my mega-rich thoughts, but it will go a little way towards clinging on to the side of it.

Each day, I buy a newspaper. 45p a day. Throwaway money. 45p is neither here nor there; loose change.

In my mind, the daily paper has now doubled in price. Or, to think of it another way, I have to buy two newspapers to throw away.

Each day, the extra 45p is to be put somewhere safe – in a jar, a box, a lock-up. These 45 pences will be allowed to grow and grow and grow, without being touched once they have been stored in their special place. Well, without being touched until I want to touch them…

Everything adds up… five days at 45p means a weekly total of  £2.25; Multiply this by 52, and I’ll have an extra £117.00 after one year. £117.00 after ‘throwing away’ 45p a day isn’t a bad result. 45p doesn’t seem that bad after all.

pennyNot only do I save some more money, I also have to discipline myself into doing this daily routine. A little ritual each morning to allow my pot to grow may sound like the basis of a magical incantation, but this is real magic. Creating something out of nothing (well it would be nothing if it really was thrown away) is manifestation, however you look at it. And if I want to manifest a nice amount of money somehow, I have to start somewhere.

There’s a proverb that says “Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves”. Another saying goes “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. A new, as yet unheard of, saying is “Forty-five pence a day will a hundred pounds bring one day”.  They are all very true.

Charities have caught on to this notion. You can very often hear the words “for as little as so many pence a day” blaring out from their adverts on TV. Not to put a dampener on any of the work the charities do, charity begins at home. You can’t help anybody else if you can’t help yourself first.

The figures above only account for the newspapers from Monday to Friday. The weekend papers, and the weekly papers are extra, which will mean further money into the pot by the end of the year.

coins2

Simple but effective. A quick way to feel good. And I love to feel good!

4 responses to “Money Thoughts”

  1. bex avatar

    really like this post Tom.
    read an excellent book about finance a while ago that suggested when putting together a personal budget that you track everything and would be surprised about how much money people actually “throw away” on things like a coffee a day or a newspaper and whatnot. it is incredible how much money we don’t think twice about – i think most of forget the first saying you offer and only think smart about their pounds/dollars…

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    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Thanks, Bex.
      An interesting way to look at things when budgeting is to work out the spending down to the last penny, and if there is any money left over, even a penny, we have more than enough money. It’s not rolling in it rich, but more than enough is good!

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  2. penpusherpen avatar

    As I started reading, the ‘look after the pennies etc’ jumped into my mind, (one of my mums favourite sayings) … great idea Sir Aquatom, you’ll be rich one day, and your best seller will add loads to the kitty (when you start it that is) … also sending you lucky wishes for a lottery win, (I just won £3 .. from little acorns big um,. … winnings will um.. grow? 😉 ) …. xPenx

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    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Well done on your win, Lady P!
      This is just a little way to build up a nice amount over time without really being concerned with the pennies, Pen. My best seller on the other hand is where the big bucks be… are… is. When I get started…

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