About saving money

[nearoanoke]

All,

I think some of us are on the careful side in spending money. We tend to save more with a worry for the future; just in case we lose job in the future or need it for an emergency.

Again there are some others who spend almost all of their income with no worry for the future.

Many might say it is hard to save but it is hard to spend too; not everyone can spend freely. We might end up saving all our money to loose it all one day But again saving is important too. On a practical level both sides make sense. What are your views on this (Spiritually or otherwise)?

- Near

[maheswari]

quote:We might end up saving all our money to loose it all one day

true with the bad economic situation all around the world,one may wake up in the morning and find out that all his savings are worthless....

the middle way is the best solution....when spending money one should be happy that one is treating himself because one deserves to be treated and 'spoiled' from time to time ...money is a tool so use it ,spend it ...

also one should save up a portion of his income..but not get fixated about the need to save...a bit like Samyama,you do your best but then you release into Stillness...surrender and let Him take over...

giving away money to the needy also is very fullfilling... when one gives away money,He always provides more....like Jesus said dont let your left hand know what your right hand is doing....just  give spontaneously without thinking....and it is not really the amount of money you are giving it is more your mental attitude...your Bhav ...

Love

[Etherfish]

Where i live sometimes it is hard to tell who is needy - there are people on almost every corner with cardboard signs telling of their hardship. Most are scammers.
But if you go down to the rescue mission, you can easily recognize them - they are there 24 hours a day and have shopping carts full of possessions.

If you have enough faith in God - or what might be called faith in stillness inside, you don't need to worry about your future. You might become needy if you sit on the street and do nothing, but just do the work that is given you, and you will be taken care of. You should save money because large amounts are sometimes needed unexpectedly, but not out of fear. Fear will cause it to go away.

[HathaTeacher]

I agree with Maheshwari. Remember the gunas when dealing with money: rajas (too much control), tamas (no control), sattva (contentment, relaxed awareness, clarity of mind & purity of body). A very practical thing with money is divisibility: you can save just enough, give just enough, and spend just enough. Aparighraha means non-hoarding behind locked gates, and avoiding unfair methods such as bribes. It's wise to save and spend with common sense, no point in risking homelessness, and no point either in becoming the richest guy of the whole graveyard - if everybody were saving all they earn, it would deadlock the economy. It's about trusting the universe, including our ability to ride out storms.

Also, attachment/non-attachment is just as much in the mind as in the amounts. Before the fall of the Wall of Berlin, there were many West Berliners quite detached from their Mercedeses, and many East Berliners clinging to their Trabis (4-seated plastic minicars with extremely pollutant engines, and some farmers who parked those in barns got holes in them, eaten by mice)... It's all in the mind.

My 2 pre-Euro Pfennig :-)

[maheswari]

quote:no point either in becoming the richest guy of the whole graveyard

so true