WorldWide Drilling Resource

Money Let me be perfectly clear - we all need money to survive. Some people need it to thrive, and others need it to spend. Still others need it for the ap- proval of others, but in the end it’s just money, and it doesn’t buy success, happiness, inner peace, or even security. What it does buy is the ability to spend it, and herein lies the real issue. How you spend it - whether a hundred dollars, a thousand, or even a million - determines its value. Let me give you a quick statistic before I share some of the really stupid things people do with money. Research indicates two out of every three lotto winners are bankrupt within five years. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, and here’s why. Give someone a million bucks who has a history of earning ten dollars an hour and guess what - they think it will last forever and they can buy what they want, when they want, and how they want - HELLO folks - it’s not just money which determines how you live, but choices, decisions, etc. Last week, I was in Walmart doing a little shopping and the person in front of me in line had the following conversation with the clerk when their credit card was declined. “Sorry ma’am, but your card was declined.” “Well, try it again, there must be something wrong.” “Ma’am, I have already tried it twice, I’m sorry. Do you have another card or form of payment?” “No.” “Then I’m afraid we can’t complete your purchase.” “Listen lady, I have to have this stuff. I am out of candles, pop tarts, and perfume.” Well, it only got worse from there and the people in line behind me were really getting annoyed. Here’s another one, quite common I might add. While I was filling up my gas tank recently, this guy drove up to me in a Mercedes-Benz and said the following: “I am from out of town and almost out of gas, and I have lost my wallet. Can you loan me five bucks?” I’m serious. This really happened. Did this dude think I was crazy or on drugs? Give me a break. Now, let me be clear. I am not against giving or sharing with homeless people, but a Mercedes? While I’m at it, one more quickie. A friend who works at a local bank shared the following with me: “This customer came in wanting a mortgage, telling me they had decided to upgrade to a bigger home. I asked them about their credit rating and he replied, ‘It really sucks, but we need a bigger house.’ I told them they might want to fix their credit before trying to buy a bigger home, and you know what he said? ‘Look, we need this house. We are entitled to this house. There has to be a way to get us approved.’” Sound familiar? Let me close with a simple thought - If you don’t have it, you can’t spend it. Stop relying on what you may get tomor- row to pay for today. Billy Bob Contact him via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com “A fool and his money are soon parted ” ~Thomas Tusser The “Idiots” Corner by “Billy Bob Smith” 59 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MAY 2016