I’ve heard it way too many times, and it bugs me.
Just a little.
“I want to teach my kids the value of a dollar.”
“If you understand the value of a dollar, you can be more successful.”
There are so many ways that we throw around such phrases that involve those keywords.
Value of a dollar.
Now, do you know what the value of a dollar is?
I can almost guarantee you don’t know, even if you think you do.
And through this simple post, I want to go over a few things just to show you why you have no clue as to what you are talking about.
What is a Dollar?
Being a part of the United States, we use the actual U.S. dollar.
Going through Japan or Europe, I then have to switch currencies.
So a dollar is a dollar, and it does not change.
A dollar is simply money and/or currency used to obtain the finer things in life.
It is not veered towards a single country, and it is not valued differently throughout any part of the world either.
A dollar is a dollar.
Understanding what it’s worth and using it is a completely different ballgame.
If you don’t understand it, you will remain on the treadmill for as long as you live.
Trying to figure out why you can’t get ahead and why you are even falling back on your bills.
It can all be prevented, and you shouldn’t be stressing about stupid things.
The truth is, you don’t understand the value of a dollar.
Follow some of the simple lessons in this post, and you will see how easy it is to win at this thing called life.
The Value of a Dollar
A dollar can do a lot of things.
For you, your family, and even those less fortunate.
Let it work against you, and you won’t be able to do a damn thing.
Literally.
No eating out, no strolling the mall, and definitely no giving to those in need.
Why?
Because you don’t know the real value of a dollar.
Not because your job pays crap and not because God gave you too many bills.
You completely control things, but you don’t know how to control them.
That is exactly why I want to show you how I understood the true meaning of the value of a dollar.
But what is the value of a dollar?
Is it simply saving money?
Understanding money, or anything for that matter, is not something you just come across overnight.
It is not done just because someone told you that you should value the dollar.
Telling your kids to value the dollar is just as good as telling them to clean their room.
Understanding the value of anything requires a lot of real-life experiences and, most especially, the right knowledge.
The same people you are around will probably not know the value of a dollar themselves as they probably don’t know it either.
However, with some simple things I am about to discuss, I hope you can see the bigger picture.
Your life will be that much easier, and you might actually know what you are talking about the next time you try to teach anyone about understanding the value of a dollar.
Frugality
I remember when I first heard this word.
It didn’t come in elementary, middle, or high school.
I don’t know if it was just me or if any of you have experienced the same thing.
It looks like we aren’t taught how to win at a young age, and it isn’t going to happen when you get older.
The only way for you to win is through the experience yourself.
Frugality is something I ran into when I started my journey to making money online.
I’ve heard the word thrown around a few times, but I never took the time to see what it really meant.
I thought I was living a frugal life when I was doing the opposite.
And even if you have the definition of being frugal right in front of you, don’t think that it is something you do.
Being frugal requires a complete understanding and, most especially, the right mentality.
If you can understand and actually put it into action, you might just be able to understand what the value of a dollar really is.
If you feel that you NEED to spend extra for all the brand-name household products, you might want to really think about things.
Try to use all the excuses as to why you spend more on unnecessary things and you can not say that you understand the real value of a dollar.
Be more frugal, and you might just be one of the few that does.
Saving Money
I have a very different approach to this word as I am more on the investing side of things rather than saving for college or a new car.
However, I think that savings are also a big part of an entrepreneur’s life as they will help you accomplish one simple thing.
It will help you understand the value of a dollar.
Saving money is a great way to prevent spending, but keep in mind that saving money is not related to being frugal.
Maybe the next topic, but saving and being frugal are two different things.
Saving is a way to understand money, but it is probably the last thing on my list regarding understanding value.
Make sense?
Don’t Be Wasteful
You can say that you value the dollar, but your way of life can say otherwise.
I don’t care how good you are at saving money, what you do outside of that money will say a lot.
Do you constantly overcook and throw out leftovers?
Are you conscious about saving on your energy bill?
Do you leave the water on while you are shampooing your hair?
Asking yourself these simple questions will allow you to save money and understand how much money you are throwing away.
Leaving the water running or letting a lot of food go to waste is in no way, shape, or form understanding the value of a dollar.
And if you have kids as I do, you need to understand that you are setting an example for them.
They will do exactly as you do, so remember that when you see yourself getting wasteful.
Do You Understand the True Value of a Dollar?
By not conserving on any of the simple things in life, do you think you are showing your kids how to value a dollar?
I didn’t think so.
So the next time you even think that you are showing them how to value money, think about how you live before you say anything.
The best way to show anyone how to value the dollar is by doing it yourself.
Saying it and doing it are completely different things, so think about what I just said.
Let that sink in, and really understand things for yourself before you go trying to teach others.
Also remember that the value of a dollar is not necessarily focused on any specific amount of money.
There is no number but rather a substance that you will need to be aware of every single time you spend or try to save.
Saving on fuel is a great place to start, but just be aware of everything else you do.
Using too much toothpaste and shampoo is another example, but I think I can go on and on about how to be frugal, and that is why I will be doing another post on it.
Conclusion – Be Frugal
There is no better way to understand and value a dollar than by being aware of what you do in life.
The soda you buy.
The unnecessary trips in your car.
There are so many ways that you are constantly throwing money away, and this is done daily.
Imagine how much money you could save if you knew the simple things.
You are talking thousands of dollars on things that can easily be saved.
And if you are living paycheck to paycheck, this is a great time to understand the true value of a dollar.
Don’t go preaching to the choir until you, yourself, understand what you are doing.
I don’t care how old or young you are.
Understanding the value of a dollar is not something you learn.
It takes experience and much messing up to grasp such a thing.
Remember that frugality will take you a long way, so think twice before you go trying to dine out to snap a pic for everyone else to see.
Life is too amazing to live for others, so live for yourself, understand the true value of a dollar, and you will see how easy it is to win at this thing called life.
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