Money is important in cash strapped Singapore and poverty is not a joke. However, some people can get overboard with money and let it rule their lives. Here are 5 signs to know if you are a cold, money-minded person.

“It’s all mine! MINE! If I give you 20 cents, I will be bankrupt tomorrow.”

1) You are a money-minded person if….. THE WORD “BELANJA” IS NOT IN YOUR VOCABULARY.

You do not have the habit of giving anybody a treat. The last time you paid for a Pepsi for your close friend was in 1994. You are convinced that if you spend an extra $1.50 for your friend, you will experience severe financial hardship in the future. You totally believe in the slogan “There is no free lunch.” Which is a load of BS of course.

You do not have to wait for a birthday, special occasion to part with your money and buy your friend a free meal. Even if you are cash strapped, a cup of coffee can strengthen the bond between 2 human beings. You don’t have to “belanja” every single time but be aware of the moments when you can

Belanja your friend today. Belanja your friend right now!

2) You are a money-minded person if….. YOU THINK IN SALES TERMS.
I’ve heard my boss say that everything in life is a business transaction. He has this annoying mindset that every effort you do is an “investment” and the reward you get is a successful “sale”.

Eg. “As a son, you sell yourself to your parents by getting good grades and if your sales approach is good, your parents will reward you with toys, money and /or overseas education.”

Another eg.
“The flowers you buy and time you take off work to meet your girlfriend is an investment and if she agrees to be your wife then you have made a successful sale!”

As you can see my boss is stuck in his SME for far too long and his view of life is warped. Talking like that will just make you look like a money-minded, favors-for-favors a$$hole.

Even though it is a fact that human beings do need a carrot and a stick to stay motivated, this “sales-business transaction” mindset can and will backfire.

What happens if the parents gets too old and all they can give their son are endless soiled adult diapers? What then? What sale is he to gain from 2 moaning arthritic parents? Ship them off to a home? You need to take care of them regardless because you love them and it’s the right thing to do, that’s why.

And I don’t want a girl to marry me because of the flowers I buy and sacrifices I make. I want her to marry me because she loves me! Duh!

I would do it for $1.50. Business mind. I HAZ IT!

3) You are a money-minded person if….. YOU SET MONEY-TRAPS FOR YOUR FRIENDS.
A money-trap is a fake bait that a lousy friend would resort to if he wants a favor done.

Money traps can be in the form of promising a potential big project , a new job vacancy etc.  He’ll set you up by saying; “I need to meet up with you because I have a customer that is willing to pay $10,000 for a website and we’ll work on it together and split the money 50/50.” Once you actually make time, there is no client, no deal, no $10k.. no 50/50 split. Just 3 hours of random chatter at Starbucks.

Another despicable money trap can be in a form of a treat. He would lure you to help him out and he promise to cover lunch at McDonald’s. Being a good friend that you are, you help him nonetheless, not because of some damn Big Mac, but because he is your friend. But after the deed is done, he will back track on his words. You are not angry because you got no free french fries. You are angry because your friend would stoop that low.

4) You are a money-minded person if….. YOU THINK MONEY CAN SOLVE EVERYTHING.
Most of the time money CAN solve life’s little inconveniences. Broken sink? Call the plumber. Aircon not working? Call the repair man. Flat tire? Buy a new car.

But if you think you can make a depressed person feel better by buying a new watch or having an expensive dinner, that just means you mind is trapped in money land. Human beings need more than material things. A ski trip can mask the hurt for a while but good sound advice that hits the heart will permanently cure them from any emotional burdens they bare. Wah lao eh, I sound like a counselor. Next point please.

You have a problem? Here is $5 billion dollars worth of gold.
Where is this “emotional burden” you speak of?

5) You are a money-minded person if….. YOU THINK HAVING A PET IS A WASTE OF MONEY
Lastly, if you never had a pet before because you are convinced that keeping a dog or cat is a waste of money, I’m sorry to break the news to you, but you are one cold, money-minded person. A pet can give you things money can’t buy, besides shed fur on the sofa. Pets encourage social interaction, make good companions and develop empathy for growing children.

That means, if your whole family is contemplating to get a pet and you stop them because you prefer your Dad spend his money on a new iPhone for you… that just means your parents have the right to bring you to the SPCA and exchange you for a kitten they find there.

If you don’t find this cute… your heart is dead.