A New (or Is It Old) View on Finances

There's an entertaining little book being read recently.  It's not your ordinary book, but a collection of parable like stories from the richest man in the city of Babylon, at one time the richest city on earth.  "The Richest Man in Babylon" can be easily read in one sitting or picked up like a Reader's Digest to read a bit at a time, but it is full of wisdom and good advice about finances.  This sage advice is very relevant for our time when the economy seems topsy turvy and consumers are nervously realizing how precarious their financial situation is. 

The decision to suggest "The Richest Man in Babylon" to my readers was affirmed while reading Sam Glover's Caveat Emptor.   Sam asks, "What Would You Do If You Lost Your Job?"  That question was right in my face when my husband experienced two lay-offs in the last 4 years.  Thankfully, we had learned SOME of the rules of gold taught by "The Richest Man in Babylon".  Sam Glover touched on two in his blog post.  To discover the rest, check out the "little" book. 

George S. Clason authored "The Richest Man In Babylon" published by BNPublishing.  I've finished it and still don't know if the book was transcribed from original tablets found in archaeological digs from Babylon (I'm guessing not) or if that tale is part of the fantasy of the entire book.  Nevertheless, in the book the king of Babylon recognized that too many of his people were poor and hired the richest man in Babylon to teach how to become rich.  (Well, duh!) 

Arkad, loyal subject of the king and the richest Babylonian started his lesson:

"The first storehouse of my treasure was a well-worn purse.  I loathed its useless emptiness.  I wanted it to be round and full, clinking with the sound of gold.  Therefore, I sought every remedy for a lean purse.  I found seven . . ."

If you're struggling with how to get out of debt or how to save a down payment for a house, I highly recommend "The Richest Man in Babylon".  The seven remedies for a lean purse are simple to hear, take commitment to apply, but can produce wealth for those who forebear!