10 Things I Hate About Money

Money is physically dirty

99.9% of all paper money is covered in germs and bacteria including E. coli and salmonella. Money isn’t just dirty because of the microorganisms; it’s also covered in bits of fecal matter and grains of cocaine. You would probably be just as well off licking the bottom of your shoe as you are putting a well used dollar bill in your mouth. Think about that while you eat the sandwich that some guy who handles money just fixed for you.

Money doesn’t go as far as it used to

When I was a kid, a pack of gum was a nickel. Now you’re lucky to get a piece of gum for a nickel. Of course, I didn’t really care what the price of gum was then, but I care now. Those nickels add up.

Money is hard to keep up with

When you are trying to become debt free, you naturally become more conscious of every penny. I hate keeping up with the change that my husband tends to discard in various places like the couch cushions, the car, the dresser, the counter and generally any empty spot where he throws it. I also hate keeping the checking account balanced and keeping track of my spending. I have spent an hour trying to match the bank’s balance with my own running balance.

Money is manipulative

Money wants to be spent. It begs, cajoles and demands to be used. It influences how you look at someone else and to someone else. Money manipulates those with weak wills or weak moments to spend now and worry about the consequences later. Money manipulates your desires, it seduces people into thinking that something is better because it costs more or that someone is better because they are rich.

Money is a poor excuse

Money is used as an excuse every day. When I hear people say that they can’t better themselves because they don’t have enough money, it makes me angry. Money has nothing to do with becoming a better person. Poor folks can be educated, articulate, well loved and able bodied. Rich folks can be lazy, untrustworthy, shallow and sick. People are what they are, with or without the money. Stop using it as an excuse.

Money traps people

Money puts people in a social class; you’re rich, extremely rich, middle class, poor or poverty stricken. It’s pretty difficult to move from one class to another, especially if you’re moving up the ladder. Money determines how you are thought of and whether you deserve to be respected. Money can make you feel ashamed of who you are or where you came from. It traps you into thinking that you don’t deserve certain things or positions. It traps you into a cycle of debt because you are trying to move up or attain things beyond your financial means.

Money messes with your priorities

In the ever increasing need to make more money, millions of mothers and fathers spend extra hours at work while their children are left alone or with uncaring attendants. They just want a better house or better car or more clothes or whatever is the next thing on the material list. Meanwhile the children just want mom or dad to spend time with them as a family. Money makes the material world go round. All that really matters is home and family. The rest is extra. Money makes us forget that.

Money can kill a relationship

55% of all divorces are about finances. 35% of all domestic violence is the result of disagreements over money. One cheap date and that relationship is over before it started. A wife doesn’t get the perfect diamond ring for her anniversary and thinks he doesn’t love her as much as he used to. Money can make a sane person insane with worry or guilt. Suicide is committed daily somewhere in the world because of money worries.

Money makes you worry

Think about it and I’ll bet you find that 90% of the stuff you worry about has to do with money. Will there be enough? How should I invest to get the best return? Will I have enough to send the kids to college? Can I afford a new pair of shoes? Should I eat out or just cook something? What’s my credit score? Is Wal-Mart cheaper than Kmart? Will the poor folks next door have enough to eat for Thanksgiving? Did I cut the coupons from last week’s paper? Will my husband or wife be mad that I went over budget again on groceries? Life is just too short to worry about money, but the two words seem to go hand in hand.

Money is power

No one can live without some form of money. It is truly a necessary evil. It governs our society, determines the health of nations, controls governments and buys freedoms. I realize that money has some good qualities, but the immense power that it wields is the main reason I hate it. The power that money holds over all peoples is comparable only to whatever Supreme Being people choose to worship. No one system should have that kind of power.