Our elders always strive to teach us the value of money and its frailty①frailty 英 ['fre?lt?] 美 ['frelti] n. 虛弱;弱點(diǎn);意志薄弱.
Save for those rainy days, they say. Do not spend too much,live within a budget②budget英 ['b?d??t] 美 ['b?d??t] n. 預(yù)算,預(yù)算費(fèi), refrain③refrain 英 [r?'fre?n] 美 [r?'fren] vi. 節(jié)制,克制;避免;制止from credit no matter how small and save for the future.
Since the very first time we earn our own money from a summer job or earning our first salary and filing taxes for the first time, the lessons start.
In fact, the pocket money that we receive when we are children initiates④initiate 英 [?'n???e?t] 美 [?'n???et]vt. 開(kāi)始,創(chuàng)始;發(fā)起;使初步了解the process of learning how to best manage one's money.
Future, future, future, that's all they talk about, but what about the present? What about our current desires, wants and needs?
Wasn't our present once our future? Didn't we dream about this tomorrow, which has now become our today?
One day when I have enough money, I will buy myself a car. One day my luck will shine. One day I will have enough money to travel the world.
Then, once we do earn enough money from living like misers⑤miser英 ['ma?z?] 美 ['ma?z?] n. 守財(cái)奴;吝嗇鬼and refraining from outings, tomorrow's plans start shadowing our present ones.
However, is it wise to keep living for that future? Will we still enjoy or even be able to backpack in our 50s?
What will be the use of those professional cameras when arthritis⑥arthritis 英 [ɑ?'θra?t?s] 美 [ɑr'θra?t?s] n. 關(guān)節(jié)炎takes over our joints and our mind grows dull?
Will our liver be able to cope with the meat and alcohol in our advanced age? What if our life ends abruptly?
How will we ever enjoy our present if we are constantly living for the future?
A good question, isn't it? Should one live in the present or keep saving for the future?
I say travel but don't let yourself run dry, indulge⑦indulge 英 [?n'd?ld?] 美 [?n'd?ld?]vt. 滿(mǎn)足;縱容;使高興;使沉迷于……in the luxuries but also keep enough for your necessities⑧necessities 美 [n?'s?s?ti] n. 必需品, and enjoy your present but with a plan for the foreseeable future.
Beyond that, life is not in our control and we shouldn't fret about the unseen. Life is for the living, so live it sensibly.
我們的長(zhǎng)輩總是努力教導(dǎo)我們珍惜金錢(qián)、警惕它們的脆弱性。
人們總說(shuō)要存錢(qián)以備不時(shí)之需。不要花太多錢(qián),收支平衡,無(wú)論款多小都不要貸,存錢(qián)以備將來(lái)。
自從我們第一次從暑期打工中賺到錢(qián),或者第一次拿到薪水、第一次交稅的時(shí)候,這一課就開(kāi)始了。
事實(shí)上,當(dāng)我們還是孩子,拿到第一筆零花錢(qián)時(shí)就已經(jīng)開(kāi)始學(xué)習(xí)該如何管理自己的資產(chǎn)了。
將來(lái)、將來(lái)、將來(lái),這就是他們一直在談?wù)摰臇|西,但是現(xiàn)在怎么樣呢?我們現(xiàn)在的渴望、夢(mèng)想和希望呢?
我們的現(xiàn)在不也是我們?cè)?jīng)的“將來(lái)”嗎?難道我們沒(méi)有夢(mèng)想過(guò)這個(gè)已經(jīng)成為我們今天的“明天”嗎?
總有一天我存夠了錢(qián)給自己買(mǎi)一輛車(chē)??傆幸惶煳业暮眠\(yùn)會(huì)來(lái)臨??傆幸惶煳視?huì)有足夠的錢(qián)去周游世界。
但是,一旦我們省吃?xún)€用像守財(cái)奴那樣來(lái)存足夠的錢(qián),我們今天的計(jì)劃就被置于明天計(jì)劃的陰影之中了。
然而,為那樣的未來(lái)而生活是明智的嗎?等到我們50歲的時(shí)候還可以享受生活,還有力氣背起背包嗎?
當(dāng)我們患上關(guān)節(jié)炎、大腦變得遲鈍時(shí),那些專(zhuān)業(yè)相機(jī)還有什么用呢?
當(dāng)我們老了的時(shí)候,我們的肝臟還能夠應(yīng)付肉和酒嗎?如果我們突然就死了怎么辦?
如果我們一直生活在未來(lái),那么我們?cè)趺聪硎墚?dāng)下的生活呢?
這是個(gè)好問(wèn)題,不是嗎?一個(gè)人是應(yīng)該活在當(dāng)下還是存錢(qián)以供未來(lái)?
我認(rèn)為應(yīng)該旅行,但是不要弄得自己筋疲力盡;用奢侈品寵溺自己,但是也要留下足夠必需品的錢(qián);享受當(dāng)下的生活,但是也要為可預(yù)見(jiàn)的將來(lái)留有計(jì)劃。
除此之外,生活并不在我們自己的掌控當(dāng)中,我們也不應(yīng)該為看不見(jiàn)的東西而煩惱?;钪褪菫榱松?,因此聰明地活著吧!