When my forefathers first set foot on this land, I believe they wasted no time in getting to work.
Some went to mine tin in Selangor and Perak, while others planted gambier pepper in Johor, or rubber trees in other states. Some got together to form “labour consortiums” and others set up shops to trade.
Those were the early days when life was hard and every ounce of survival depended on what they could scrape by at the end of the day. With hard work and perseverance, life became better and, fast forward to today, the new generation could look forward to a stable income.
Some have made it to the millionaires’ club. Everybody had an equal footing — misers, illiterates and philantrophists. All could find their place in the ranks of the wealthy. We are all too familiar and inspired by their success stories.
But fortunes rise and wane, and this year is no different from the days of yore.
Before the monkey can even begin his year, dark clouds of an economic downturn are looming, forcing the government to readjust the 2016 Budget. In this challenging time, I have been pondering on my fortune and future.
Here are some points that I’ve been reminding myself of.
FIRST, little drops of water make a mighty ocean.
Most millionaires, if not all, have built their fortunes through discipline, self-denial and fengshui.
Nevertheless, from what I read
in books and heard from me granddad, rich people of olden days
can be queer birds with unique habits of making and keeping their money.
They always remember their humble roots and frugal practices.
If you want something as good as a leather belt to keep your pants up, wear a gunny string.
Forget about monthly haircuts. Just shave bald so you see the barber once only every three to four months. You don’t need a bed when a cheap foam mattress is comfortable enough. Food and cigarettes are not to be wasted. Every grain of rice must be eaten and tobacco stick smoked till the butt burns.
House visitors must not expect to be served drinks and tidbits.
Oh yeah, a man should wear only one suit three times in his life — his wedding, his children’s wedding and his own funeral.
I don’t think I can live to those extremes. But I know it is a big deal to constantly keep an eye on my expenditures, and think what is worth it and what is not.
SECOND, tomorrow’s money is not for today.
When I was a teenager, I came across an episode in the Doraemon comics (Yes, teenage boys do read about the robot cat from the future by manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio).
The comic begins with the not-so-bright and misfortune-prone Nobita receiving a “futuristic cheque book” from the dorayaki-loving robocat, because he desperately wants to buy a toy.
Being sceptical, he scribbles a big sum to test it. To his delight, the shopkeeper accepts his piece of paper with a joyful leap. Feeling confident, Nobita begins writing more cheques to buy everything for his friends — narcissistic Sinyu, bully Giant and the pretty Sizuka.
Later, things begin to get weird when he opens his wallet and finds it empty, even though he remembers receiving his daily allowance from his mother. He runs home, breaks his piggy bank, and is shocked to find nothing inside.
He complains to Doraemon and, to his horror, learns that all his purchases will be deducted from the money he has in the future, hence, the
purpose of issuing a “futuristic cheque”.
Doraemon calculates Nobita’s spending spree and tells the poor boy that he will never see a single sen until he reaches a ripe old age!
I cannot remember how Doraemon helped Nobita out of his quandary, but if anybody can do so, I’ll write you a cheque.
LASTLY, I share the millionaire’s dream.
What’s the difference between me and the millionaire?
Obviously, it’s the amount of money we own. But making money begins from a dream and everybody can afford to dream.
Some have dreamed of becoming property kings and some of becoming sales tycoons, while others just want to experience memorable things that make life count.
Of course, we have to plan and put those dreams into motion, and
persevere in our quest to realise them.
But make no mistake, it is dreams that fuel the passion.
In summary, I suppose the first RM100 is always the hardest to make and, as the saying goes:
Big wealth comes by chance,
small ones come by thrift,
man’s legs can only walk,
coins roll...
Gong Xi Fa Chai and may the new year yield good returns for your efforts (and please be generous with the drinks, tidbits and angpow).
Kenny Goh is an NST sub-editor
