What is your own approach to get rich?
(1) Continue to save up
(2) Start my own business
(3) Inherit a fortune
(4) Win o lottery
(5) Marry a rich person
(6) Get a good education that will lead to a good job
Sample answers
(A) I want to run my own business. I‘m sure that I could do very well developing software solutions for the general public. I already know a lot about the subject, and the start-up costs are pretty low. And I think that earning money through one's own talent and hard work provides much more satisfaction in life than just having someone else give you a salary or having a rich parent or spouse.
(B) Saving money is simply a matter of habit, just like spending it. Years ago, I decided to set aside five percent of my salary every time, no matter how little that was. I would spend the rest of it, wisely or foolishly, as I saw fit, but that five percent would always be my payment to myself, to squirrel way for future use. In a short while, I never even thought about the five percent, and I never missed it; to all practical purposes, from week to week it just never existed: if I didn't have it, I certainly couldn't spend it. But now this small figure has grown into quite a fortune, and I know that I never have to worry about my finances again, even if I lose my job.
Speak your mind
1. Is it important for you to get rich? Why or why not?
2. Are you saving money in the bank? Why or why not?
3. Do you buy lottery tickets regularly? Why or why not?
4. How much money is enough?
5. What do you think about the rich?
6. What do you think about the poor?
7. What's the difference between the rich and the poor?
8. Do you think the rich have a responsibility to help the poor? Why or why not?
9. Is society responsible for taking care of the poor?
10. What is your idea on how to narrow the gap between wealth and poverty?
11. Which do you think is more difficult, making money or spending it? Why?
Speak your mind helpers
1. Is it important for you to get rich? Why or why not?
(A) I must get rich. All my friends are rich. They get to do anything they want. They travel to Europe every year, they live in nice houses, they own fancy cars, and they eat in the best restaurants in town. I enjoy doing these things too, so I don't have any choice: I must get rich.
(B) When I think about all the hard work and the dishonesty and cheating needed to become truly rich, I just get a headache. As long as I have enough money to take care of my basic needs and have a little left over for pleasure, that‘s quite enough. At least I have a clear conscience and the time to enjoy it!
2. Are you saving money in the bank? Why or why not?
(A) I used to. But then I realized how low the return is. Saving money in the bank may be safe, but no one will ever get rich that way. So I prefer to invest in stocks and bonds. The risk is higher, but so are the rewards.
(B) I talk to my friends about their investments all the time. It's always the same: they wish that they had bought some stock before it took off, or that they had sold some other stock before its value plummeted. They never seem satisfied with the choices they make. As far as I‘m concerned, I'd rather just put my money in the bank and know that it's going to make me a small profit every month. That way, I don't have to constantly second-guess myself.
3. Do you buy lottery tickets regularly? Why or why not?
(A) Buying lottery tickets is just a waste of time and money. The odds of getting struck by lightning or of going to the moon are better than winning the lottery. Almost everyone will spend far more on tickets than he will ever get back in prizes.
(B) I know that I will never be rich no matter how hard I work. My only chance is if I win a lottery. My odds are just as good as anyone else's, and I know that someone will always win. It doesn't cost very much to enter, and I'll never notice not having that money: I would probably just waste it on something foolish, anyway. But if I buy a ticket, at least I have hope. Even if I never win anything, having hope is a very valuable possession. It's better than carefully saving my money and, in thirty years becoming only slightly richer than I am now, without any hope of improvement.
4. How much money is enough?
(A} The amount constantly changes. However, much money we have, we always want more. For just a little more money, we can always get a slightly better car or live in a slightly better apartment. Our appetites always expand with our wallets.
(B) Everyone needs to eat and drink, be protected from the environment, and avoid disease. But would living at that level really be” living”? Human beings also need beauty, companionship, intellectual discourse, and comfort. These things may not cost a lot, but they are necessary for our happiness.
5. What do you think about the rich?
(A) Rich people are greedy, conceited snobs who care about nothing except their own bottom line. Wealthy people know how to live the good life and have the capacity for doing so. If money is no object, then why not enjoy the best?
(B) Rich people have earned the reward for their own hard work and intelligence. At the same time, they tend to be community leaders. If something needs to be done, these are the people most likely to find the ways and means of accomplishing it. They are often extremely generous in giving money to charity, religious organizations, medical research, educational development, political causes, museums, and so forth. They do not make money from these activities, but they feel a sense of responsibility.
6. What do you think about the poor?
(A) If people would work hard, go to school, and look after their own affairs in an intelligent manner, they would never be poor. There is no difference between poor people and rich people, except that the poor Iacl‹ opportunities to get ahead. Usually, their parents were poor too and could not afford to educate them well. Most of the time, they have serious health problems that affect their ability to succeed. If their life had been different early on, their lives today would also be different.
(B) Most pool people are doomed to repeat their poverty no matter how much money they make in a lottery or by other means. They are poor because they make bad choices. They play around when they should be studying or working hard. They spend their money on frivolous activities or unneeded items. When they get a job, they act irresponsibly. They never quite seem to realize that getting money is a long- term project that requires constant, diligent attention.
7. What's the difference between the rich and the poor?
(A) There is only one difference: the rich have more money. A rich person may not be any smarter or better educated than a poor person. He may or may not be more ethical. Perhaps he came from a socially prominent family, or maybe he is a self-made man. But he has demonstrated his ability to use his talents to make money: that is the only thing that sets him apart from the rest of us.
(B) The poor are a problem in every society. Because they don't have money, they often don't get enough to eat. Because they don‘t get enough to eat, they have health problems. Because they have health problems, they miss a lot of school or, when they are older, they miss a lot of time at work. So, they don't have much opportunity to get out of poverty. The rich, however, have advantages most of their lives. They live in comfortable homes, eat well, have their medical problems taken care of by the best doctors, and get good educations and jobs. Unfortunately, a lot of wealthy people do not try to make life better for the poor; they only want to make themselves even richer.
8. Do you think the rich have a responsibility to help the poor? Why Or why not?
(A) We all have a responsibility to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. This obligation does not vanish among the wealthy; ¡f anything, it is an even greater responsibility, since they actually have the means to make a significant difference.
(B) People have the freedom of choice. If a rich person wants to give away part of his fortune on charity, that is entirely his own decision. But it is also his own business if he decides to keep his own money or spend it on himself. After a|I, he worked hard to get his wealth; he risked his own capital/ or had the courage and skill to introduce some new item or service. (And, of course he pays more in taxes than others, and a lot of that money is used for social welfare.) So, why should he feel obligated to contribute any more?
9. Is society responsible for taking care of the poor?
(A) Poverty is an expensive drag on any society. Providing free food, housing, and medical care is an enormous burden on the economy. If we could provide jobs for everyone, poverty (by definition) would disappear, and all the goods and services the working people provided would be more plentiful as a result, so the entire society would benefit.
(B) One can argue about economics if one likes, but the real issue is a moral one. How can anyone live with himself if he selfishly allows other human beings to starve to death? How can any decent person sleep at night if he knows that others are dying due to lack of medical care? There is only one human race: we owe it to ourselves to help each other in times of distress. If we have the ability to provide relief but do nothing, how can we expect any aid for ourselves when we are in need?
10. What is your idea on how to narrow the gap between wealth and poverty?
(A) At the low end, we should take an active role in making sure everyone has decent housing, education, health care, nutrition, and the opportunity to enjoy the arts as well as the time to look after the family. These are the qualities that define our humanity. To pay for this, we should not be afraid to impose high taxes on the super- rich, eradicate tax shelters, and discourage conspicuous consumption.
(B) Social engineering just does not work. Humankind has had lots of experience trying to construct utopias. Nevertheless, in every society, there are relatively rich and relatively poor people. The difference is often a matter of personal choice and dedication. To imagine that we can close the gap is like believing we can make all people the same height or give everyone the same I.Q.
11. Which do you think is more difficult, making money or spending it? Why?
M: Bills, bills, bills! Why don't people send me checks in the mail instead of bills?
F: You exaggerate. Your salary is far more than these bills. But in return, we live in this nice home, our kids go to good schools, and we can take pride in our appearance and status. A small price for these advantages!
M: But don't you realize how huge our debt is? If something happened at work, or if I had a medical emergency, we'd quickly lose everything we've worked so hard for. We really need to start saving substantial amounts in order to put outside or a rainy day. I'm not going to work forever, you know!
F: But it's just temporary. Aren't you expecting a promotion soon? I think we should just maintain our current level of expenditure for the time being and save the surplus from your next raise. That way we don't have to give up anything, and we'll still be able to put something ahead for later.
M: We've had this discussion before. Every time I get a raise, we say that we'll continue our old level of spending and save the rest, but it never works out that way, does it? Within a few months, we're spending more than we ever did and falling even further into debt.
F: But it's not as though we're spendthrifts! We don't waste money on things we don't need. If we can't have nice things, why bother to have money at all?
M: Look, I don't want to live like a monk, either. But I do think we could be a little more careful. Do we really need to entertain guests so often? Can't we stay home for once instead of taking an expensive vacation? two you really need another pair of shoes right now? Can’t I get by with the car we have, or do I have to get a new one right away?
F: Oh, we're fine. But, if we cut back too much, our friends will think something is wrong. They'll be worried that things are not going well at your company. They won't want to burden us financially, so they will see us socially less often. This could affect our kids' status at school, and our daughter would no longer be considered such a desirable catch. Is that what you want?
M: Well, when you put it that way, I guess we'll just have to keep things the way they
are, won't we?
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