As a black race, we are easily hoodwinked!
Growing up impoverished has taught me firsthand how to manage money, credit cards, and debt. Although there were a couple of occasions when I could have been more prudent with my savings, for most of my life, I have been meticulous with my finances.
How?
Simplicity has been my mantra!
I don’t loan money to anyone. I don’t consume beer, wine, or liquor. I don’t buy drugs nor do I smoke cigarettes. I don’t spend money on lottery tickets so obviously I despise gambling.
I don’t have any insatiable urges, indulgent habits, unmanageable hang-ups, or unconventional must haves. Neither do I throw “good” money at “bad.”
I don’t clamor for “name brand” fashions nor do I splurge on the latest cosmetics, expensive shoes, designer purses, and bedazzling jewels. I ignore fads. I rarely go to the movies. You won’t find me hanging out at night clubs or concerts where yesterday’s singers are howling off-key while huffing and puffing across the stage dragging a sagging belly!
I hate shopping malls so I am never tempted to purchase “sale” items. Besides, have you been on the receiving end of customer service lately? Worse than a rotten fish!
I am not an impulse shopper so you will never see me browsing through catalogs or websites searching for the latest contraption, gadget, or gimmick. My husband and daughter will vouch that it’s extremely difficult for them to entice me to dine at a restaurant. Who can cook and bake better than me?
Watching television leaves one in a depressive and deprived state so I opt for commercial-free programs like C-Span and Book TV.
Merchants hate me because I resist their marketing briberies and ploys. Religiously, I pay cash for everything thus avoiding the stores’ bait and switch schemes, false advertisements, flim-flam exploitations, and pricing scams.
Because I have a hard time being phony, pompous, pretentious, and kissing a**, you would be hard pressed to find my name on any social, civic, or political registries around town. Thus, I am able to save lots of money by avoiding the obligatory and perfunctory requirements associated with being a bourgeoisie.
Following the Joneses is not my forte so the notion of peer pressure is null and void in my life, as well as, in my lifestyle. Happily, I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually secure, thereby, avoiding the stresses, pressures, and strains attributed to money woes.
Remaining debt-free is a mind-set that requires much discipline. Proverbs 22:7 states that “the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Being a descendant of enslaved blacks makes me super sensitive about evolving into a modern-day slave!
Which brings me to the “prima donna” profiteers—– LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal or any other black athlete that is pimping on behalf of Madison Avenue and China!
Let’s send those “prima donna” profiteers a universal message that, effective today, we will leave their profane and overly priced tennis shoes and athletic apparel on the freaking shelves!
Instead, let’s tell those “prima donna” profiteers that, effective today, we plan to use our cash flow to invest in something tangible that will yield a return on our investment such as books, computers, a skill, or advanced training at a school, college, or university!
Finally, let’s show those “prima donna” profiteers that, effective today, we are now turning the “point spread” in our favor.
How?
By debunking their subliminal messages and hype that brainwashes us into the belief that purchasing their merchandise increases our manhood, value, worthiness, popularity, and acceptance into the mainstream!
To the contrary!
Buying their merchandise sends us to an early grave—literally and financially!
Isn’t that right—Chicago, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Detroit, New York City, Newark, St. Louis, Tulsa, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Jackson, Atlanta, Columbia, Columbus, Kansas City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Denver, Charlotte, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Montgomery, Huntsville, Little Rock, Memphis, Wilmington…?
