Remember...You Can't Take Your Money With You When You Die

"You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse...I can't take it with me and neither can you. It's not how much you have but what you do with what you have."
 - Denzel Washington

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who reads my blogs. This person asked why I talked about money so much in my blogs. This person was under the impression that I was completely obsessed with money and he confirmed this when he told me, "Allen, you can't take your money with you when you die."

I completely agree with that statement. It is definitely true, you won't be able to take any wealth with you when you die. So why try, right? Perhaps it might be better for me to explain why I even write these blogs on money in the first place. Secondly, I want to explain why I truly feel that money is important. Finally, I want to explain what, I believe, you do take with you when you die.

Why do I write blogs on money?
I am not rich. I don't consider myself wealthy, either. However, I do consider myself blessed. God has given me the strength to learn quickly, apply what I learn, be brave, work hard, persevere, believe and achieve. Although I have not yet accomplished all of my goals in life, I have accomplished most of them. Although I am not financially independent yet, I have made great strives to get there. Over the last three years I have read books, watched videos, attended conferences and was mentored by others about money, finance, leadership, management, investments, etc. I have accumulated (and am still accumulating) an abundant amount of knowledge about many topics - money being one of them. I write blogs on money to share information and knowledge to those that might be struggling personally. I write about money because I know there are many people around me, people in my family, close friends that do struggle financially. I write about money to help people. I write about money to teach people how they can change their situation. I write about money to share my experiences with others. I write about money because I care about you. I don't want to live in a world where I achieve all my dreams and those that I love do not. 

Why is money important?
Unfortunately, we need money. We need money to provide for our family. We need money to pay rent, bills and our debt. We need money to attain the things that we really like. We need money almost every day. However, my philosophy on money is different. My intention is not to get rich. My intention is not to become the next top billionaire and buy a private jet. I believe money is important because it can lead to financial independence. If I am able to make proper investments, have a consistent positive cash flow and control my expenses, then I can achieve financial independence. To me, financial independence simply means that you do not have to depend on a paycheck or someone or something else to have money in your pocket. Instead of working for money, I would rather have money working for me. The only reason I want to achieve financial freedom is to have the ability to design my lifestyle. What would you do with your time, with your life, if you never had to worry about money? What would you do with your life if your investments took care of you? If I achieve financial independence by having enough passive income, I would spend my days helping people, spending time with my loved ones and trying to make a difference in the lives of others. I would wake up on Monday morning ready to go take care of my niece's kids so that she can take care of her errands. On Tuesday, I would go to an orphanage and spend time volunteering. You get the point. To me, money is a way to get to that ultimate goal.

What do we take with us when we die?
Nothing. Nothing tangible, that is. We can't take our money with us. We can't take our wedding rings with us. We can't take anything. Yet, we have been given life. Life is not a video game where we have 5 lives to live and then we can press the 'restart' button. Every minute is precious. Every moment counts. My goal is not to get rich. My goal is not to try to make a fortune so I can take it with me. My goal is to touch as many lives as possible while I'm alive. I can't take my pride, my glory, my accomplishments with me when I die either. I can, however, leave many things behind for others to have - from smiles, to money, to knowledge and assets. I'm not worried about what I'll be taking with me when I die. God will take care of that. I'm concerned with what I will leave behind. 

My intention was not to try to defend myself in this blog. My sole purpose for writing this piece was simply to give you an idea of what my true goals in life are. It's all embedded with a purpose. What is your purpose in life? Have you thought about it? Share. Comment. Have a great three day weekend. 

Don't forget to share this blog so you can encourage others: family, co-workers, friends. Give them something to get motivated! You never know what they might be going through. A few words of encouragement can go a long way.