Financial Planning

WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE A CARPENTER MEASURES TWICE AND CUTS ONCE?

For those of us who are intellectuals the answer to that question does not come easy... 

although, to a writer, it makes a little sense when we think about the tedious process of editing a manuscript... 

yet, neither of those areas reflect the true meaning of the carpenter's work because the true meaning revolves around and is totally dedicated to the concept of PLANNING.

Whether we are College educated, Trade School educated, Military educated, or simply High School educated, we are taught and have been exposed to the concept of PLANNING but seldom use it for our PERSONAL FINANCES.

Why do I suspect this?

BECAUSE Americans do not typically save money...  in fact, most Americans tend to borrow more money than they really need since they WANT more than they can AFFORD.  The has the same affect/effect of NOT PLANNING AT ALL.

Americans do not plan to have children, but they do like and often desire to have SEXUAL INTERCOURSE...

Americans don't plan to have heart issue, liver issues, or lung issues, but they do like and often desire to NOT EXERCISE, SMOKE CIGARETTES, and DRINK ALCOHOL...

Americans don't plan to keep working because they do not have the money to retire, but they do like and often desire to spend more than they earn.

HARDLY ANYONE HAS A FINANCIAL PLAN for the next 5-10 years let alone a plan that takes them into retirement....

Why do you suppose AMERICANS are like that???

BUT...  But...   but...   I have a 401K at work...  doesn't that count?

More about this in a later post.