Ben Franklin’s Financial Advice
I found an old primer in a bookstore, and among its selected readings was “Advice to a Young Tradesman” by Benjamin Franklin. Here are a few excerpts.
Remember that time is money. He who can earn ten shillings a day by his labor, and goes abroad or sits idle one half of that day, though he spend but six-pence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or thrown away, five shillings besides.
…
Remember that money is of a prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings is turned six; turned again, it is seven and three pence; and so on till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker.
—
If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully small, trifling expenses mount up to large sums, and will discern what might have been, and may, for the future, be saved without occasioning any great inconvenience.
—
In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them, everything will do.


March 25th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Very inspiring indeed and at the same time very informative too.March 27th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Its great stuff like this that just confirms how great Ben Franklin was.March 31st, 2009 at 1:45 am
After reading this, I seriously feel inspired.April 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am
It is amazing how timeless the information is. It all can be applied to today.P.S. Love your blog
February 20th, 2010 at 4:00 am
It is a fact that cigarette smoking is injurious to health but if you go with reputed brand like Marlboro then the harm is less as compared to harm which other cheap and harmful cigarettes can do. It is so because Marlboro’s quality standards are high and it uses the right nicotine content and menthol which gives the real pleasure of smoking. In addition with the help of discount coupons you can even buy them very cheap.