Warding Off the Money Thieves
by Catherine M. Kasper and the Angels of Abundance™
The heavy brass bank was shaped like a treasure chest. It had a small hasp and a solid looking lock. A white glass cabochon was affixed to the lid. From within its depths, the face of the bank’s protector, a swarthy pirate, sneered at anyone who dared touch it.
My older brother, Michael, would laugh with glee that none of his siblings could break in. He’d tell us stories of the terrible things the pirate would do in the middle of the night as we slept in our beds if we touched it. Our imaginations would run wild and we’d leave the bank (and Michael) alone.
“But I’m not a little kid!” you say.
Oh really? Have you got a miniature plastic card that looks like it really belongs to a Barbie doll swinging from your keychain that allows you to “swipe and go”? You know, the one that’s sort of like the thing you used to have hanging off the zipper of your jacket or purse just for fun?
Did you choose the design that’s on the front of your credit/debit card?
Do you feel special because you’ve got a “platinum” or “gold” card?
Hmmmm???
Let’s identify some of the modern day money thieves you might love to have a real pirate protect you against. They include:
- Things that encourage us to be sloppy about our money record keeping and unaware of what we’ve actually spent: Not writing a transaction made with a debit card down, not balancing your account. Using “swipe and go” types of payment systems.
- Having multiple charge cards.
- Remaining unaware of the latest scams, rip-offs and online pfishing schemes.
- Failing to shred all discarded documents.
- Giving up control of your money:
Not reading or understanding the tax returns someone else prepares for you.
Allowing someone besides yourself complete control over your finances.
- Confusing social events with wise investments:
“Party Plan” parties: Tupperware, Candlelight, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, etc.
- Remaining ignorant of how and where your money is invested.
Where’s that Pirate when you need him? Who protects you from this stuff?
You do.
As the Pirate on the bank would have said, could he have spoken, “Beware! Stay Alert! Keep Watch!”
Take action now to protect your money by paying greater attention to who is scheming to make it slide right out of your hands so quickly you hardly notice you’ve let go of it!
Copyright 2008, Catherine M. Kasper
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