As you probably know, Leonard Nimoy passed away on Friday. It wasn’t long before lists of Spock quotes came out — many of which were funny and even insightful.
Being a PF blogger, I feel it’s only fitting to take those quotes and pervert them into personal finance lessons. I’m sure it’s what he would have wanted.
1. “Insufficient facts always invite danger.”
If you don’t know what your expenses are, you don’t know what you can afford. Meaning that each purchase is flirting with disaster, whether you define that as overdraft fees, more debt or simply living paycheck to paycheck.
Even after you have your budget squared away, you still need to know what to do with your money. Should you invest in stocks or annuities? What about CDs, bonds and T-bills? Are you even saving enough for retirement?
If you don’t know the answer to those, you’re in danger of a very miserable future.
2. “Change is the essential process of all existence.”
Nothing is static in this life. You have to be flexible — including your approach to personal finance.
Circumstances will change, for better or worse, imperceptibly or radically. You must be able to evolve your habits and goals to match your new situation, or you’ll never succeed for long.
3. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”
There’s a good chance that your finances won’t be just about you forever. You may find a partner, have children and/or need to support family members.
And even if you’re a solitary orphan, you still can’t escape the truth in this quote. The “many” can just as easily refer to the years you have left, which need to be planned for.
In short, the things you want today shouldn’t come at the expense of what you (or others) will need in the future.
4. “In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.”
We find something we want — I mean reeaaally, reeaaally want — and our brain goes into rationalization overdrive. We ignore the voice of logic, which is busy shouting that we don’t have the money or that we simply don’t need it.
Instead, all we can think about is how much happier and more fulfilled we’ll be with the item in our life. Not to mention how unhappy and envious we’d be without it.
So we paint ourselves a picture in which there are plenty of ways to find money in the budget. Or perhaps the picture just shows us that the enjoyment will outweigh any credit card interest. Whatever it takes to rationalize the purchase.
Which we may regret when you consider the next point:
5. “You may find after a time that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.”
Let’s face it, humans tend to romanticize things: situations, people, etc. So when we want something, it becomes to us the be-all and end-all, the route to our supreme happiness.
And really, what can live up to that hype?
In fact, studies have found that the anticipation of the purchase can be more enjoyable than actually owning the item. In which case, all you’re left with is the bill. Definitely not so pleasing.
6. “As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.”
Building financial safety requires time, attention and discipline. Destroying your financial safety just takes a few really good shopping sprees.
Destruction is certainly easier, but creation is usually far more rewarding. Unless you’re Godzilla. And I don’t think he had a very solid retirement plan.
7. “Live long and prosper.”
An excellent goal for everyone, to be sure. And something you simply cannot do without careful financial planning.
Do any of these sayings resonate with you? Do you have any favorite Spock or Leonard Nimoy quotes?
the article 7 personal finance lessons doesn’t seem to be there
Sorry, it’s been fixed now.
Love it!
Spock would have been proud of this list, but he would not have shown it. ;o)
Well said. And very logical!
He will always be remembered. Big fans in our family. I love what you did there with the quotes! Especially love the ‘Live Long and Prosper’!
Felix Money recently posted…Good life = Good habits
Thanks, Felix. I have to say, he was always my favorite too.
Love this one, especially as a very illogical human being
I fear I’m quite illogical too, but I think Mr. Spock would approve of our approach to finances anyway.
Wow, I hope a major news outlet gets hold of this article. It’s awesome what you did there! 🙂
RIP Mr. Nimoy. You are one of my fondest early childhood TV memories . 🙂 (Yep, I’m old enough to have seen them in first run ~ loved that show so much and still do!!) 😀
kay ~ lifestylevoices.com recently posted…Does Everyone Look The Same To You?
Aw, thanks. I never saw the original series, though I’ve seen a couple episodes here and there. But he always stole the show, I think.
wow so many resonate with me! I was never into star trek so save for a couple, I never knew he said those things. But so many things are so true! For me the one that stands out the most though is the quote on change. Its so much easier to flow with life if you are open to change. Resisting it only creates more struggle.
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…How to Handle Growing Pains
Yeah, I was surprised by many of them too. But they’re pretty cool, taken from any perspective.
Inre: change, one of my favorite songs for awhile started with “Buildings and bridges are made to bend in the wind/To withstand the world, that’s what it takes/All that steel and stone are no match for the air, my friend/What doesn’t bend breaks, what doesn’t bend breaks” When I’d get stressed out and rigid, I’d sing that to myself.
Starting in fifth grade my best friend and I watched “Star Trek” in reruns and we became besotted with the show. She used to call me “Mr. Spock” because I was fairly logical even then — sometimes a little TOO logical for her tastes.
Wow, I’d forgotten that until reading the comments.
As for the quotes, I’d say “having is not so pleasing a thing…as wanting” is my favorite. Nowadays we call it “hedonic adaptation,” but any way you look at it it can be trouble.
I don’t know what you mean. I love every single item I’ve bought. Cough, cough.
Glad to give you a little trip down memory lane, though I’m sure now you go by Ms. Spock.
I love it! I’m a huge Star Trek fan so this was perfect for me.
Mike Collins recently posted…Costco Gas Hours and FAQs
Thanks, Mike. This definitely took me back, though I was more of a STNG girl myself.
My favorite is the “easier to destroy than to create” quote. It reminds of when I was a kid and it would take me days to build a town out of Legos, but only a few seconds to Godzilla the town to pieces.
Perhaps if a financial question comes up in our lives, it would be wise to pause and think, “What would Spock do?” 🙂
BE Pennypacker recently posted…Everyone Should Try to be a Hero Like James Robertson
Haha, that’s brilliant. A lot of times we fail to apply logic to personal finance. Sometimes that’s okay, but we should probably all at least *think* about it more often.
As a huge Star Trek fan, I loved the characters and how they were played. So it’s a little weird, but my favorite quote from Leonard Nimoy is a really simple one.
“I am not Spock.”
He was actually a really interesting man in his own right. His acting in one particular role gave us a lot of joy, and sparked the imaginations of many people, but it isn’t all he was. His work as a poet, and his photography, are somewhat overlooked when people talk about him. He was, by all accounts, wonderful to the fans of the show, and looked at it with a sense of humor.
That being said, I think it’s good to remember that we don’t have to be the way people expect us to be. That lesson applies to finance as well as many other things. There are things that work for a vast majority that may not work for you. Figuring out what you need to do is important.
It’s a good quote to be sure. (Though I think it’s interesting that his next book was “I am Spock.”) Unfortunately, iconic characters tend to pigeonhole actors. Even if the actors go on to do more.
I’m at least happy that most news outlets have been emphasizing the non-Star Trek activities. That’s a start.
This is awesome!! I am not a Star Trek fan; however, I am a big Spock fan – there is just something to be said about the unemotional advice he gave.
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Music Mondays – Accidentally In Love
I was never very into the original series, though I did enjoy the movies when growing up. But yeah, there’s something comforting about knowing one source will always give unbiased, unemotional information.
‘The “many” can just as easily refer to the years you have left, which need to be planned for.’
Such a great way to relate to delayed gratification. Think about the many years ahead of you. If you are considering a purchase that will be worthy of your attention in those years down the road, then perhaps it’s worthwhile. Otherwise, think about what your money can do for you then!
Mrs. Maroon recently posted…Don’t Treat Diet Like a Four-Letter Word – Same Goes for Budget
Thanks. I definitely think that the best motivation is to picture yourself when you’re older and may not be able to support yourself. That’s scary enough to keep me going.
I grew up without a television in our home so I can’t say I knew much about Star Trek or Mr. Spock but it looks like he was loved by many.
“You may find after a time that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.” This is so true! Oftentimes, we are so eager to have but when we do, it isn’t all that we thought it would be.
Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It recently posted…Two Kids, A Dog and a Teacherâs Salary
Yep, I learned that lesson early. I saved and saved for a pricey doll when I was like 8. Took months, but I finally got the money. Two hours playing with her, and I was bored.
Later that day , I ended up in the hotel room alone for an hour or so (we were out of town for some reason). I turned on the TV, and one of the Chucky movies was on. The doll, which had a recorded set of messages, started malfunctioning, and the voice came out weird.
I freaked out, put it in the corner and piled some pillows on top of it. Point being, I learned a lot about how disappointing (and apparently terrifying) long-awaited purchases can end up being.
Ah these are all fabulous ideas
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