What most people don’t realize is that wealth isn’t the same as income. If you make $ 1 million a year and spend $ 1 million, you’re not getting wealthier, you’re just living high. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend.
The most successful accumulators of wealth spend far less than they can afford on houses, cars, vacations and entertainment. Why? Because these things offer little or no return. The wealthy would rather put their money into investments or their businesses. It’s an attitude.
Millionaires understand that when you buy a luxury house, you buy a luxury life –style too. Your property taxes skyrocket, along with the cost of utilities and insurance, and the prices of nearby services, such as grocery stores, tend to be higher.
The rich man’s attitude can also be seen in his car. Many drive old unpretentious sedans. Sam Walton, billionaire founder of the Wal – Mart Store, Inc., drove a pickup truck.
Most millionaires measure success by net worth, not income. Instead of taking their money home, they plow as much as they can into their businesses, stock portfolios and other assets. Why? Because the government doesn’t tax wealth; it taxes income you bring home for consumption, the more the government taxes.
The person who piles up net worth fastest tends to put every dollar he can into investments, not consumption. All the while, of course, he’s reinvesting his earnings from investments and watching his net worth soar. That’s the attitude as well.
The best wealth-builders pay careful attention to their money and seek professional advice. Those who spend heavily on cars, boats and buses, I’ve found, tend to skimp on investment advice. Those who skimp on the luxuries are usually more willing to pay top dollar for good legal and financial advice.
The self-made rich develop clear goals for their money. They may wish to retire early, or they may want to leave an estate to their children. The goals vary, but two things are consistent: they have a dollar figure in mind-the amount they want to save by age 50, perhaps – and they work unceasingly toward that goal.
One thing may surprise you. If you make wealth – not just income – your goal, the luxury house you’ve been dreaming about won’t seem so alluring. You’ll have the attitude.
1.Which of the following statements is true?
A.Wealth is judged according to the life style one has.
B.Inheritance builds an important part in one’s wealth.
C.High income may make one live high and get rich t the same time.
D.Wealth is more of what one has made than anything else.
2.By the author’s opinion, those who spend money on luxury houses and cars_____.
A.will not be taxed by the government
B.have accumulated wealth in another sense
C.live high and have little saved
D.can show that they are among the rich
3.The rich put their money into business because_____.
A.they can get much in return to build their wealth
B.they are not interested in luxury houses and cars
C.their goal is to develop their company
D.that is the only way to spend money yet not to be taxed by the government
4.The U.S. government doesn’t tax what you spend money on _____.
A.cars Bhouses C.stock D.boats
5.To become wealthy, one should______.
A.seek as much income as he can
B.work hard unceasingly
C.stick to the way he lives
D.save up his earnings
答案：DCACB
