When you look at today’s yields, you can finally say, “Self, this is your grandfather’s treasury bill rate.” Because it’s been a long time since we had rates that you can sink your teeth into.
Yet, that doesn’t stop the howls and jeers for lower rates from the talking heads. “Houses are too expensive,” they complain. But you remember a time when your first mortgage rate was in the teens. You got through it. You figured it out. And here you are.
In a world of instant gratification, where every asset was going up, and everyone was a stock market trader, now we’re seeing a taste of reality. Investing, before the easy money days, was never supposed to be entertainment. It was not talked about like it is today. And it certainly didn’t have its own cable television stations. If you go back to the 60s and 70s, never mind the 30s and 40s, investing was not much fun at all.
Which brings us to you, dear reader. You are a culmination of steps you’ve taken to get to where you are. You did without and saved ‘til it hurt. I know this because you tell me your stories of how tough it was. You, unlike the younger generation today, didn’t “play” the market (maybe some penny stocks until you learned your lesson). No, you were too focused on getting through the week with a little money left over after paying all the bills. Now, after generations of doing that, you have some savings to show for it. And you do not want to lose it.
It’s why my focus is always on your individual path, not the other guy’s. You know what it took to get to where you are. You know others resent your success and say to themselves, “There’s no way he deserves it.” That’s none of their business.
You deserve every single bit of your success, and it’s not anyone else’s place to tell you what to do with it. You weren’t the one sitting around waiting for life to happen for you. No, you made it happen yourself.
You took action.
Action Line: You are a success story. And therefore, you, and not anyone else, must protect every bit of it like your life depends on it. Because it does. Slow and steady wins the race. Stick with me.
Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.
