Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
Part of the current American dream has become the notion that it is possible to just stumble into wealth. I know a lot of people with money; none of them became wealthy by winning the lottery. Some were born into families with money, but in most cases, the wealth in their family continued because of the hard work of the next generation. Of course, there are those who are born into money and squander it, but the majority still appear to understand that work is a required element of financial success.
Much has been written about Millennials and Gen Z individuals not having the work ethic of preceding generations. Edison’s quote is a reminder that generations have often been suspicious of others’ dedication and perseverance. Please understand that I am not taking anything away from Edison’s astute observation. Opportunity is most often identified in the trenches by those doing the work. I believe part of what is happening now is that members of the Baby Boom and Gen X experienced work differently, and it is difficult for us to appreciate the changing dynamics in what work looks like today.
When it comes to personal finance most of us need a reminder that some financial opportunities may indeed come in the form of work and overalls. The good news is that overalls are back in stores this summer. Ha!
If your budget is feeling tight because of inflation, remember you still have the opportunity to save a bit of money by taking a pause from using the services of your friends at Uber, DoorDash, and Amazon. Don't worry, they will be there next month! It may require you to do a little more work, but it's an opportunity you can appreciate when the credit card bill is a bit lower!
Until next time, keep looking for opportunities and a cute pair of overalls!