Do you or have you watched a hip-hop music video? Chances are you have, and what’s the common theme other than the sexy dancers? Yea, MONEY! Maybe drugs, but we can discuss that in another topic. My favorite long time rapper, since I am from New Orleans, is Weezy F or Little Wayne or Carter or I don’t even know anymore. Now a days I follow christian rappers like Lecrae, Dee1 and Trip Lee. Go check them out if you don’t know who they are. Just the Wayne titles alone let you know what the songs are about; Duffle Bag, A Milli, Money On My Mind, Rich As F&%*, need I go on? These songs and videos have us imagining what we can have. You may say I know that’s not real, but you subconsciously dwell on those images. Otherwise they would not have put it in their videos. It’s rapertising (new word of the day).

I never believed I was wanting to have a rapper lifestyle until I was mad at the world. I was in a dark place. while I was looking at some of Lecrae’s music, he mentioned the life style they sell us in the videos and how it could change your perception of reality. They boost how the money and fame is from the gangster lifestyle of selling drugs and robbing to get by. None of which impacts our inner-cities in a positive light to the rest of the world. Now, I’m not saying you have to be a christian to have this perspective. However, I am saying you will need a better motive than that money brick imagination. What your really after is wealth and security. Both are obtainable whether you make 20 grand or 100 grand+ a year.

First things first…

Everyone is different! What works for a college student isn’t going to work for middle aged person with three kids. They have different responsibilities. I here you saying, duh whats new? Well I’m just surprised at how many think a living wage is a certain number for everyone. No, math doesn’t work like that. Also the spending habits of the individual and the area they live in will greatly effect those factors. Lets be practical, that is why Los Angeles has a homeless problem greater than most American cities. Its multiple reasons not just, ‘Oh my gosh, like whats a man gotta do to get 50 an hour? Suck cucumbers? Let me get high first.’ Bad humor, egh get over it. They have the same problems as every other major city(drugs, mental illness, poor money management etc), the thing that sets them over the top is very high cost of living. If you took someone with a relatively low income and placed them in Monroe, LA. You’ll think they were middle class by how much of a raise they thought they were given!

Next…

Very important, is for anyone who is maturing in their financial lives, is to know thy selves weaknesses. Keep it real for a moment, at least be honest with yourself. What do know you spend money on that you really don’t need? Where do you go that you need to cut back on? I had so many when I was younger, honestly when I cut them off I think that is what depressed me. I wanted to see movies AT the movie theater when they first came out. My budget didn’t allow for that! My justification was, well I worked hard for this, I should enjoy it. Those same movies will be at a dollar or budget movie theater in a few weeks. Same movie, same screen, same actors, same sticky floors with just slight amenity differences. That’s right you could’ve had a projector in your home for the difference and pocketed the rest! But everyone yelling and booing at a non-live picture is fun. I also over spent on fast food, restaurants and trying to impress other people that I don’t even know anymore! Yeah, honesty, honestly sucks! When you realy take a look at your spending only than can you realize, ‘money doesn’t grow on a tree, but I’ve been giving my bricks of money away to everyone!’ Whats your bad money habit?

Then we have those…

‘I wish we could afford a budget movie Joe! I have food stamps and trying to make ends meet with no car’. This is truly an impoverished circumstance that makes me sad. It’s so easy to spiral down to this with some bad choices and even bad luck. However, you are still among the grateful because you are not homeless. As long as you are healthy( I will address unfortunate health issues in a later blog) there’s nothing to stop you from reaching your dreams. That’s one of those things that makes America great is the programs that we have to help you. “There not easy to get or keep Joe”. Silence, I know, I wouldn’t want them to be when my taxes are paying for them. You may feel the same way when, not if, you get on the other side. If not either way I agree with Cardie B. I don’t trust the government to take more money from me and claim your going to get it. Solutions Joe, what are they! I’ll be honest, you need to really evaluate the reason your here NOW. You will have to take everyone else you think got you here out of the picture. ‘THATS ALL YOU GOT, YOU DON’T KNOW WHO DID WHAT TO ME!’ Damn straight I don’t, and I know there is not a M%^$#@ F%^&*$% thing you can do about them! We have to work on you moving forward. Your all I care about! The brick we need in America to succeed! Now that that’s out the way. If you are not getting assistance of any kind, please seek out any in your are(especially if theirs children involved). If you can not find any government assistance next would be close family and relatives to help you out with the next task. We have to get your income up short term, long term (with a trade, schooling of some kind or my preference your own business) or preferably both. Unfortunately, this juggling act is very hard, BUT IT CAN BE DONE. I’ve seen stories and know a few people personally (men and women) that have done so. It amazes me and lets me know, when we get our stuff straight, life gets straighter. Once we get the income up, help where we need it, patience, determination and a budget is key no matter who you are!

I hope some of this inspired anyone in a position of helplessness or just someone who needs encouragement. My favorite financial person, Dave Ramsey says, ‘No matter how big, small, bright or dim, it’s light at the end of the tunnel not an oncoming train‘(paraphrased). In the comments section, let us know what issues you face and if anything said helped you to be better positioned to be an American Brick!