With the economy steadily plummeting, and the government using a $700 billion bailout as a financial Band-Aid, it’s time to face the music folks. We’ve got to stop stuntin’ and start saving.
Gas prices soared, and a few of us traded in the H3 for a Honda, but having the Honda wasn’t enough. Because you see, you’ve got to have all the luxuries that come with it; a new sound system, fresh paint, a hot set of rims. By the time that little hoopty is all fixed up, even the guys from “Pimp My Ride” would have to give the car a standing ovation. Now and of course you had to take a few dips into the good ol’ savings account because investing in the car that gets you to the job, that hands you a paycheck is an excellent investment.
However, what if the owner of that tricked out Honda had an account with WaMu? You know, the guys who just got bought out by Chase Bank? Sure, it may not matter to you if you’re with Chase, or Wells Fargo, or whatever bank you’re with, but for one second imagine yourself at the short end of the stick. You wake up every day, glance over at your pride and joy in the driveway, and then suddenly you hear on TV that in one second your bank was not strong enough to survive among the fittest.
You look outside at that Honda and now you wonder, “Was getting a makeover on the car really all that important?” Or how about that brand new pair of jays in your closet, even though you still haven’t worn the ones you bought last week? Or all those other so-called necessities that you carelessly blew all your money on?
Yes, the economy is failing, but isn’t this what those financial counselors always told us to prepare for? Save, save, save so that when a crisis pops up, you’ll be ready. Yet still, a lot of people say they would love to save if they didn’t have all those bills to pay off. Which leads to another question; why is it so many of us find ourselves in debt?
But then again, why do we spend money that we know we don’t have? You know you don’t have a dime to your name in your account (others a nickel) and still you head on down to the club, trying to come off as the “big baller” you aren’t. Some say that their reasons for shelling out so much cash is because they grew up as a “have-not” and now that they have some they want to treat themselves to the life they never had.
News flash: Just like Kat Williams in the song says, “You are not pimpin’,” you are not ballin’ if you have a negative balance in your account. Come on now let’s be real. You cannot live a caviar and champagne lifestyle on a Spam budget. Sure, we all should be able to treat ourselves now and then, but at what cost? Is it really worth losing your house just so you can have “Fabulosity” status? Again, stop stuntin’ and start saving.
Then again, there are others who are obsessed with the labels and having the trendiest clothes. You know, the people who wouldn’t be caught dead in Wal-Mart and would happily spend more than $200 to $300 on one item. “If I look good, I feel good, and the more I feel good, then the better I’ll be.” If you find yourself racking up bills just because of the feel good-look good theory, then it’s time to wake up. One should feel good about himself or herself regardless of how they look or what they own. Self-esteem can’t be bought, and trying to do so is costly and pointless.
When you receive that phone call from the bill collector they are not concerned about how you’re feeling. They want to know when they can expect payment. So, once more again from the top, stop stuntin’ and start saving. Because less bills means more dough to put in the bank, more dough to put in the bank means more money to have when a crisis pops up. Like a struggling economy for instance.