Pull Your Pants Up and Yourself Up Too!
By Maceo Keeling –
As a nation within a nation, people of color often find themselves caught up with whatever trend(s) that come along.
Many times we concern ourselves with what is cool, in style, or wanting “the best of the best.” Often, we spend money for too little in return. Many people spend money needlessly at the expense of saving, or paying off their debts, living a showy lifestyle to impress, only to be stressed out trying to make ends meet.
Not everyone—particularly those who can well afford to—wants a Brooks Brothers suit, Prada shoes, or an expensive purse. Neither are they concerned with driving a luxury vehicle they can’t afford. People who actually can afford these luxuries sometimes opt to wear denim blue jeans and possibly drive a ‘hooptie.’ They tend to invest their money in tangible assets, like education, real estate, businesses, or investments that will allow them to become more economically self-sustaining. This article only attempts to suggest that we save money, educate ourselves, and change the perception of being undisciplined both monetarily and economically.
There are many factors that can contribute to your wealth-building future that are more rewarding than spending irrationally. Take time to reevaluate your priorities in keeping up with trends and pricey economic depreciating proposition.
Here are some serious options to consider:
Don’t go through life without adequate education or training.
Running away from education means that you’re running TOWARDS poverty. A person who doesn’t want to put in the effort to get an education and/or life-sustaining skills will eventually pay the price in exchange for what they will endure while playing catch-up monetarily for their entire life. Spending money on education is a future investment in personal economic freedom.
Money is valuable and powerful, so don’t spend unwisely.
Money is not in itself an absolute end to acquire; however, it has enormous power. Explore your own values and determine what use of money will bring you in the sense of a sustainable lifestyle that people really long for. There isn’t one answer. Having ‘Money-Power’ economically tends to affect the behavior of other people.
Money is a power source, like electricity, which can be used for good, but which can also be fatal if mishandled. So don’t spend it on depreciating assets. Use your money to open up opportunities for yourself, family, and your community. Create businesses, and linkages of sustainable economic networks. Develop baseline skills about how money works, and know enough to understand what a dollar can do!
Wake up, stand up, stay up, and answer the call!
For more information on how to develop a great wardrobe and still look respectable, a business, or save money, contact the Conscious Call at: (www.theconsciouscall.com) or phone (828) 989-6999.
The Conscious Call radio program airs every Monday at 11:30 a.m. on WRES-FM 100.7. In a collaboration with the radio program, the Urban News will help keep readers informed about events, programs, news, and the progress of The Conscious Call. The opinions and statements made in this column are solely the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Urban News.
