Six Words: Your Money, Your Life
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
One of our most recent six-word prompts was also one the SMITH community responded to most passionately: Six Words About Work. Your smart, sensible and surprising Six-Word Memoirs on why you do what you do, lessons learned and bosses who helped you survive and thrive led to our most recent book Six Words About Work, with our partner in this project, Mercer consulting.
With work and money on the mind, I was excited to receive a copy of the new book by The Today Show’s Jean Chatzky, Money Rules. Chatzky’s one of the smartest, most sensible and accessible money advisors out there, and her latest book breaks down the complicated puzzle of personal finance into accessible, bite-sized bits (something we here at SMITH can get behind). Better still, some of her rules are in … six words.
Date your stocks; don’t marry them.
Spend less: carry Benjamins, not Jacksons.
Can’t explain it? Then don’t invest.
”More money” doesn’t mean “more happy.”
That got me thinking: from spending to saving to investing to planning for retirement, what are your six-word money rules? Leave your Six Words on Your Money Life in the comments section of this blog and Jean Chatzky herself will select six of her favorites and send you a signed copy of Money Rules. We’ll also add SMITH Magazine’s new Six-Word Memoir game as a bonus prize for one of the six winners, selected at random. You can enter up to ten times (each entry should be a separate comment below) and the contest closes on April 9. We’ll announce the winners on tax day.
Marry for love not for money
Can’t pay cash? can’t afford it!
Make three piles: Save, spend, give
Harder to make than to spend.
Am I going to use it?
Save by living beneath your means.
Is it really NECESSARY to have?
Weigh the cost against the need.
Fewer things, fewer worries, more money.
Stop! Think responsibly before spending money.
Don’t pay anyone for common sense.
Marriage is the longest term investment.
Marry someone with money…for love.
You’ll always need more…much later.
Piggy banks root our security blankets.
Think through all “personal” purchasing options.
Pack lunch to be less tempted!
Save the shiny change for later.
Treat credit card like debit card.
You still can earn rewards but write purchases done in check register like you used your debit card.
Over-spending shortens quality of life span.
Taxed. Spent. Nickeled and dimed daily.
Break even analysis. Wishbone’s longer side.
Beware: “$1 store items often more.”
Pay off debt and bounty hunter.
Bankruptcy. 7 years. How very ironic.
Never put money where mouth is.
Don’t put your 2 cents in.
Marry and Divorce a Republican Congressman.
Never spend penny for someone’s thoughts.
Always buy on sale. Use coupons.
Money doesn’t buy happiness? Switch Malls!
Have an affair with a CEO.
Root of evil? I’ll risk it.
Little house, little bills. Big life.
After my divorce, money problems disappeared!
Money does buy happiness- our vacations!
Don’t pay for other people’s mistakes.
Never share bank accounts with lover.
House upsidedown? Make basement your attic.
Have quintuplets. Nike factory in basement.
Electric car. Long cords. Thanks, neighbor.
Take shooting lessons from Jed Campett.
Cut mouse trap cheese in half.
Recycle euthanized pets. Hello, chop suey.
Borrow money from really old people.
Our daughters’ future: maids in China
Quit spending when the money’s gone.
No, you don’t really need that.
Internet shopping? ALWAYS check coupon codes.
Buy the best, cry once. Hopefully.
Pay yourself, bills,not the piper
Romance without finance has no chance.
Love hate relationship, dollars and I
Rainy days will surely come: save!
He who mentions money first, loses.
Always searching the couch for change…
My name says it all! Ha!
Nothing is free. Always strings attached.
Kids in college. Parents in debt.
Stop paying penny for someone’s thoughts.
Work available overtime. Put in Bank.
don’t break the piggy bank prematurely.
Loose change in jars adds up!
Always save the kid’s birthday money.
Deep pockets quickly becoming empty pockets.
Remember when gas was in cents.
Model your ski-mask for a teller.
Take shooting lessons from Jed Clampett.
You can’t take it with you.
First abolish poverty by abolishing IRS.
Money has no bearing on me.
Make do. Re do. Buy new.
Listen Listen Listen to your wife
If it ain’t broke, keep it.
Money kept in bras earns zero.
I love, love, love, these RULES!
Money doesn’t matter. Pigs might fly.
Nickel picking. Dollar tripping. Clock’s ticking.
Life’s too short to trip over dollars while picking up nickels.
Lost it all and then some.
I do better when well off
Invest wisely, divest slowly, inhale deeply.
Good fences make good investment bankers.
If I had money, I’d manage.
Money often levels fields and friendships.
Respect money (just don’t worship it).
Money? I gave at the office.
Dad’s advice: don’t charge your liquor
Don’t spend more than you make.
Is this debt worth the stress?
Target: the one hundred dollar store
Keep some cash under your mattress.
Money is the mother-in-law of necessity.
Monopoly taught me everything I know.
Recovering lost credit isn’t for wimps.
Money can’t get purchase on me
Nest egg has flown the coop.
Piggy bank, savings bonds, financial beginnings.
health family friends over money always
Live within your means; pay cash!
Save all you can tax free!
No debt, income changes, no problem!
Cut up credit cards…sleep better!
Shopping not a form of entertainment!
Save annual raise…don’t spend it.
Don’t keep up with the Joneses!
Match your money to your GOALS!
Win Mega Millions = different money problems?!?
Prioritize retirement over kids’ college funds.
It will be on sale soon.
Inflation: penny for thoughts, now $1.
Generosity of spirit makes great gift.
Finance…It’s a Personal Thing!
Finance…It is a Personal Thing!
The two-dollar bills are still good.
Can’t afford it? Don’t need it!
Money isnt happiness. Happiness is money!
Recyling paid off–bought used motorcycle.
Found a dollar…invested it wisely.
They lied. Money doesn’t buy happiness.
Went bankrupt in game of LIFE.
My rainy day consists of Franklin’s.
Make friends with the stock dividends.
Forgo products labeled “Made in China.”
Spare changes adds up, keep saving.
Stay afloat despite underwater living conditions.
Sorry folks, but money DOES matter.
COLD hard cash is super HOT
SMALL change makes a BIG difference.
Found a penny, picked it up.
Using pre-tax accounts saves all year.
Tax refund makes great vacation money!
Model spending habits so children learn.
More money? Nice, sure. But necessary?
Lots of free things bring happiness.
Impulse spending? You can’t afford it.
Stimulate economy by expending creative energy!
Bills stacking up? Decide what’s essential.
Write a check. Balance the checkbook.
Do what costs you the least.
Choose quality over quantity every time.
Wants vs. needs. Know the difference.
On deathbed, more “stuff” doesn’t matter.
Start IRA with your first job.
Invest with eyes and heart open.
Avoid late fees and parking tickets.
Elbow grease often most economical method.
Money is a state of mind-your-business.
Money makes the world go global.
Money rules, talks and never sleeps.
Chasing of money pollinates the flowers
Found passion. All work IS play.
Childhood poverty drove my adult success.
Mister CEO, can you spare $1,000,000?
Avoid ATM, overdraft, annual, late, fees.
Never ever ever ever pay retail.
Savings? Gone. Slouching toward Social Security.
Financial Meltdown, Slouching Towards Social Security.
I’m about to outlive my money.
Outlived my teeth and my money.
Old is bad. Poor is worse.
Remember, experts make money for themselves.
Eschew extravagance, live simply, share w/others.
Generic means you’re smart, not cheap.
Adult children’s inheritance was their childhood.
Sink money in now, float later.
Eat in. Work out. Save money.
Favorite Six about money? Six figures.
No, I actually could not stop myself from posting this.
Never learned how to make money.
Don’t over-haggle. Time isn’t worth it.
Poor people scoff at using coupons.
Remember to save your memory “cache.”
Squirreling away; not just for squirrels.
Squirreling away means you’re not nuts.
Self deprivation is your self preservation
Tax day has come and gone. Where have you hidden the winning memoirs?