Money is a useful tool, but it will not buy the most valuable things…like happiness.  Or good friends.  Or security.

Sadly, money has become the way we value things. (We need a refresher course on what VALUE means.)

If, instead, we see it as just a trading tool: trading our labor for a roof over our head, or trading our services for the food a farmer labored to grow for us – we can make smart trades, purchases and investments. We can even invest in things that will eventually bring in more money; like education, buying a typewriter, or starting a business.

Learning how to be careful with our trading tool is the trick. 

When we think ‘things’ are more important than relationships, or that we can gain relationships through having things, then we need to re-evaluate how we allow money to influence our sense of control over our lives.

“Balancing your money is the key to having enough.”  ~ Elizabeth Warren

“Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.”  ~ Voltaire