Billionaries Lost Money too in 2008!

The following is a link to an article I found on Yahoo this afternoon! Now, please don't misinterpret me, I would NEVER wish ill on anyone, least of all, financial hardship. But, it's also no secret that EVERYONE (including myself & my family) had money trouble this year; even if you managed to keep your job and your house, and had nothing invested in the stock market (and therefore had nothing to lose); still, it was a rough year for all of us, financially speaking. So, when I read this article it made me feel good, because it reminded me of one of the upsides to not having (a lot of) money; you don't have a lot (if anything) to lose.

I hope 2009 is better for all of us in terms of finances, but I don't know if it will be. I know myself and my family have cut WAY back on our own spending, and constantly thinking of ways to save money, instead of spend it, and I think everyone is in the same boat we're in. We're lucky, his job provides enough (sometimes just enough) to house, clothe & feed us, so I really can't complain.

This article about billionaires losing tons of money made me feel four things:

a) if you don't have money to begin with, you can't lose much in the end.

b) I'd rather be middle class, or lower class even, than be in these guys' position, used to being rich and watching my fortune seriously decline.

c.) EVERYONE felt the pinch this year; businesses, large & small, the housing market, "Main Street & Wall Street," financially poor people and even philthy rich people who are not so (or as) rich anymore. Therefore, no one was immune to the financial crunch that was felt (qutie globally I might add) in 2008!

d.) If billionaries are going broke, perhaps the gap between the very rich and the very poor will decrease, which would be a good thing because than we'd all be forced to walk in each other's shoes (okay, perhaps I won't be walking in billionaires shoes in my entire lifetime, but then again, you just never know).

The gap between the rich & poor is the root of most all prejudice, resentment, hatred, crime and ugly stuff in this world; at least in this country, it really is.....decreasing, or eliminating, that gap can only help our cause to better oursevles and our society.

Like I said, I wouldn't wish decreasing fortune on anyone, I know first hand what it's like to have no money, and in all reality, all of these guys STILL have more money than most of us will make in a lifetime; but not all of them do.

And the fact that even the philty rich guys felt the pinch, well, that makes enduring my own financial pinch a little less bothersome!

So, here's to all of us; whether we gained or lost financially in 2008,...let us remember that money truly cannot buy happiness, it only buys experience; and lack of money buys one of the most important character building opportunities of a lifetime! Except next year, Lord, I think most of us have all the character we need for now!

God Bless Us Everyone and here's to better finances and let's face it, hopefully more money in 2009! (Or at the very least houses & jobs and heatlhcare and food!)

Billionaries Lose Tons of Money in 2008:
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106352/Billionaire-Blowups-of-2008

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)