| Let's start this series on how to make money with a | | | | By this time, banks had been invented and they were |
| quick definition. It may seem painfully obvious (even | | | | the nice folks who lent out to others at a price. At first |
| ridiculous) to ask the question - what is money? | | | | you could only get money from the funds they had in |
| If you ask several people, you'll get several answers. | | | | reserve. But then some brilliant fellows came up with |
| Some will say it is used to buy stuff; others will say it is | | | | the idea of lending over and above their reserves. |
| a measure of success; to others it means security, or | | | | Nowadays they actually lend money that doesn't exist! |
| ability to buy pleasure. Some will say "money is the | | | | True - and there'll be more articles to come on that. |
| root of all evil." Actually, the correct quote is, "love of | | | | Thin air! Really. |
| money is the root of all evil." | | | | Enough bla, bla. Modern folks want to make money. |
| So what is it? And why does it exist? Silly question, but | | | | They want, but how do they get? How to make |
| needs to be asked... | | | | money? Well, some exchange their time for money. |
| Quick history A few thousand years ago, money didn't | | | | These are the people who have jobs. Now you know |
| exist at all. People used the barter system to swap | | | | that JOB means "Just Over Broke" or living pay check |
| what they didn't want, or need, for stuff they wanted. It | | | | to pay check. |
| could have been a camel for ten sheep, or whatever. | | | | Some nice and well-intentioned fellow said we really |
| The problem was that the camel and sheep had to be | | | | should have at least six months living expenses |
| physically available to conduct the business. There | | | | stashed away for a rainy day. Uh uh. Yes. OK! But ... |
| were at least two problems. Camels and sheep are | | | | What happens if you can't get that money together? |
| kind of heavy and slow to carry around and they stink! | | | | What if you need to work two jobs just to pay the |
| Hey, if you love these animals, sorry for being so rude! | | | | bills? What happens if your rainy day turns into a rainy |
| One major item of value that was widely used to | | | | year or two? |
| represent "money" was good old salt. Yes, salt! | | | | What happens if your rainy day turns into a rainy year |
| Because it is great for preserving food and these | | | | or two? |
| guys didn't have refrigerators. So salt saved the | | | | Well you could try to make money fast by selling |
| bacon, so to speak. | | | | something. How many of us would honestly say we |
| I don't know if the salt got to be a nuisance or what, | | | | love selling? Be honest. My bet is less than 5%. Most |
| (bulky for one) but one day some guy came up with | | | | folks hate the idea of selling something. But wait. |
| the idea of using metal coins to represent value. The | | | | When you sell something, don't you get money for |
| idea was great. Carry around a few coins and you | | | | that? |
| can buy stuff. No more carting camels around the | | | | Pause for thought. |
| country! | | | | WHAT IF, you could find a way to sell automatically on |
| Then the coins got to be too heavy (these rich guys | | | | the Internet and never have to speak with / feel |
| had too many and their pockets fell out! So they | | | | embarrassed about / face a client? |
| thought, let's print money on paper. Paper is light and | | | | WHAT IF, you could find a way to sell automatically on |
| we can put any value we like on its face. Great! But | | | | the Internet! |
| who would have the right to print it? Guess who? The | | | | Guess what, that is exactly what my friend Daegan |
| government... surprise, surprise! | | | | Smith has created - an automatic system for selling on |
| Even bigger surprise is to find that the good old US | | | | the Internet that any regular Jane or Joe can do. He |
| dollar is printed and controlled by a private corporation | | | | has created a great system where he will teach you - |
| called the Federal Reserve! That sounds like | | | | and you can learn - how to make money. You can |
| government but it's not! Food for another article - later | | | | make extra money, or unlimited money, you decide. |
| - I promise. | | | | Want to know more? |