bluntmoney.com

As the old saying goes, money doesn’t grow on trees. But it can grow LIKE a tree.

The wildflowers are in bloom, the desert is green, and spring is definitely here. We bought a jacaranda tree last weekend, and had it planted this week. Here’s what it looks like:

“It’s so tiny,” said my husband.

“It looks so scrawny,” said my son.

“Sniff sniff sniff,” said our dog.

“Isn’t it beautiful?!” said me. “I’m so happy about it.”

Why the difference in our points of view? Well, I see that the tree is already six feet tall. I see a nice straight trunk. I see resilient little leaves, blowing cheerfully in the wind. I see the stakes, supporting it. I saw the men dig a deep hole for its root ball. I know it has fertilizer, mulch, and something to make the soil less alkaline so that the roots can go down deep. And most importantly, in my head I see what it will be when it grows up:

(Photo of full-grown jacaranda tree by Kahuroa.)

Isn’t it beautiful?!

Of course, it’s not going to get that way overnight. But with a little luck and a lot of work, it WILL get that way.

I intend to water it regularly and deeply, every single week, because I have it in my calendar. I’ll have to fertilize it, check it for pests, wrap it in burlap when freezes are predicted, and find someone to care for it if we go out of town.

Growing your money is very much like planting a sapling. You can view a little bit of money as being like a stick with a few leaves, or you can look down the road and see what those dollars can become if you tend them carefully.

How does this work? Your emergency fund is like the stakes that support the young tree. Learning about your money is like the fertilizer. Regular savings and investments are like the water that you give it so it will grow. Checking for pests is like making sure you understand the terms and conditions of any financial documents you sign. Allowing the roots to go down deep is like building a firm foundation for your finances. Insurance is like wrapping it in burlap to protect it from disasters. And the picture of the full-grown tree in bloom is your goal.

Keep that picture in your head, and take the necessary steps to reach it, and you’ll have planted a money tree.

• Sunday Money Roundup - Winter Is Getting Close Edition. I get up around 6am every morning, feed the cat, make the coffee, and then sit outside for a few minutes with said coffee to...
• Personal Finance Education: What's Wrong with this Picture? My local paper ran a lifestyle piece yesterday titled "Use Santa to Teach Lesson on Money."   The writer of the article quoted Susan Beacham, the...
• Saving a garden First off, I do not have a green thumb, but if I know what a plant needs or find the right spot for it, it...