Why did the chicken cross the road as a financial metaphor.
Here are 3 financial reasons the chicken crossed the road. Feel free to comment and add your own in the comments section!
Reason Number 1 – To learn how to prioritize money.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get to the other side.
Financially speaking, this is the equivalent of asking “Why do we have to go through so much emotional stuff when it comes to money?”
So that we can learn to manage money to live, not live to manage money. Too often we are conditioned to love things and use people, when it should be the other way around.
When we put things in the right order, we love people and use things. This revelation can help us learn how to prioritize money.
Sometimes love can mean saying “no” or “not yet” or “not now” rather than automatically going into instant gratification mode. One family member may take priority over another. These “crossing the road” situations may help develop character in ourselves and others.
Reason Number 2 – To develop financial expertise.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To lay it on the line.
Financially speaking this means “why did you get into so much debt?”
To reach for the stars in life – the college education, the new car, homeownership… retirement….. often means taking out loans and getting into debt. Some say this is “living above your means” which is ill-advised.
On the flip side, people who take on debt are actually expressing self-confidence in their ability to repay loans. They are laying it on the line.
Sometimes the chicken hits a home run and the loans are paid back early and at a reduced interest payments. Other times the pain of “messed up credit” and debt collection haunts a person for years. That’s enough to make anyone feel egg-tra cautious.
“You don’t learn to walk by following simple rules, you learn by doing and falling over.” Richard Branson
There are a myriad of ways to learn how to use credit wisely. Some of these include falling down and getting back up again. Nothing teaches this as much as laying it on the line – the line of credit. There’s a lot at stake!
Reason Number 3 – To get to a better life.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get to a better life.
This could be interpreted as “Why did you take out so much credit?”
Sometimes we think of “good credit” as education loans, mortgages, car loans, etc.
Other times the “bad credit” is for the shoe sale, holiday, impress the boss (or just keeping up with the Joneses, who might also happen to be broke).
Regardless of the reason for taking out “good” or “bad” credit, we use it in the hopes of having a better life. Personally, I have enjoyed the benefits of credit and thank the lenders for their trust and oh yeah – the money.
The Credit Card Act of 2009 helped consumers by mandating that lenders provide better credit terms for consumers, including stabilized fees. By the way, it pays to research competitive fees.
I am delighted that many organizations are helping people understand money management before they get that first card. An important part of child development is learning what credit is and how to use it wisely. “Can I Have Some Money?” explains credit to young minds and the differences between a credit card, debit card, gift card, rewards card and all the fun stuff that makes plastic a good thing.
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You can take a peek at the first chapter of my new book LEMONADE SOLD OUT if you like.
