Chapter 3. Knowledge
The week before my next meeting with Aunt Katherine was enlightening. Somehow it seemed I thought about financial issues every day—money going in, money going out. I snapped at Jennifer once at the drive-through when she bought an extra cheeseburger for the kid who mowed our yard. He had been out mowing all day without a lunch break, and she felt sorry for him. But I didn't think it was time to start being charitable when we didn't have any money left over at the end of the month.
I drove to work and thought about money. I drove home and thought about money, always calculating. I lay in bed that week and calculated how much I'd earn that month and how much we needed for bills.
Why isn't there a money bible that everyone can read and follow? I wondered about this and why things had to seem so complex. Why couldn't there just be a manual somewhere that gave you all the answers?
Jennifer and I met Aunt Katherine on Wednesday with a renewed purpose. Her words had stayed with me all week, and this time, I had done my homework. People's behavior is the single greatest factor that impacts financial success, she had said. Think about your attitude. Think about the things you know about money and the things you don't.
My knowledge list was long. I had a host of things I had learned about money from all those years studying up on it. I knew the stock market pretty well. I was looking forward to our lunch.
After we sat down and ordered, I pushed my homework assignment across ...
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