The Other Side Of The Coin

More on "are you prepared to retire". I asked another person about financial health. Here's what he said:

"Let me give you an example. Look at my parents. They don't have any savings at all. But they get through day by day, just fine."

How come? Because they have filial children who look after them.

"Don't worry too much about it. The data is taken from 'ideal models', targeted for upper bracket people. It's for people who want family holidays. People who want to live in dream homes. Those who want to give their children the 'best education.' "

I guess in some sense, it's true. If you are the type who wants to go for vacations... If you're the type who thinks about having a second or third piece of property... If you're the type who believes in enrolling your kids in the best colleges for the best courses... If you're the type who drives an Alfa Romeo... And lives like a Romeo... The you gotta have more money.

"When you are of age, what's most important is your health. You may have a lot of money. But if you don't have health, you can't enjoy anything at all."

True also. If the money you've accumulated all these years are blown on medical expenses, you'll never have enough money. But if you have good health, you don't even need that kind of money.

"The most important thing is, to live righteously. Don't lie, don't cheat, don't cut corners, don't chiak chua. Be kind, give to the needy, honour God."

"If you do unscrupulous things, if you are dishonest or selfish... Yes, you may get more money. But you will lose something elsewhere. For example, your motorbike rosak. You need to repair your watch. You need to pay up here. Or you owe some money there. In the end, you get nothing."

He told me how in his past, he tried to cut work ethics just to earn more money. And true enough, as long as he did that, he never had enough.

"But if you do the right thing, and be generous, you'll find that somehow, your money will come back to you. Sometimes, even more. Like, everything you do will go smoothly. You won't encounter many problems in life. You'll find opportunities coming your way. You'll get blessings that you never thought of. In the end, you're better off than those who only think about hoarding money."

He gave examples of people who lived only for themselves. People I knew who loved to hoard money. Real people who lived selfishly. They either lived alone, or died alone with no one at their funeral. They are successful people. But nobody likes them.

"Have you ever heard me saying 'I'm really in need' or 'We don't have any more money?' "

Thinking back, it's true. He never said that at all.

"The bible says the wicked do not prosper. Even if they do, they only look as though they are prospering. But actually, they have other problems that you don't know of."

The bible also says it's true:

A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken
But the Lord upholds the righteous.

The Lord knows the days of the upright
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

But the wicked shall perish
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish
Into smoke they shall vanish away.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Not his descendants begging bread.
His is ever merciful, and lends
And his descendants are blessed.

(Psalms 37:16-20, 23-26)

Well... I think it's good advice. Coming from a man who has lived for more than 5 decades.

That man is my father.

He owns 4 cars.

All of them, old cars :)