Tale of the Hunters and the Gatherers

I couldn’t remember exactly when I fell love with money. Not the money in its physical being, but the notion and the dreams of being rich, extremely rich. I just remembered the freedoms of richer people back in my village –well, okay it was a capital of a province somewhere in Borneo. There they seemed to be able to say, order, and do anything that they wished for. I always wanted to be one of them, even when my background was so far-off from where they were. Anything valuable that could be accumulated in any sustainable growth over time is worth considering as money or assets for me. At the end isn’t it what we are paying for? To have the freedom to choose. To have the key to unlock any door you wish to open.

Further more, crazy enough, I would observe them. How these people talked, walked, and behave in public. Some were appropriately well-mannered, some were just money-whores without class (the type that get your respect only because their worth was in gazillion digits). What I found interesting lately is how people would actually behave not only according to their personality types, but more true to their money personality. On how they are spending their money.

Rita Puspita had accumulated nine types of money personalities in one of her journals in PS Magazine recently:

1. The Achievers: Their best pay-offs are their careers, efforts, and integrity in achieving their wealth. Seldom interested in risky investment schemes.

2. The Entrepreneurs: Love their Money. Balancing their life between works and lifestyle enjoyments. Love the position, power and status that money may buy.

3. The High-rollers: There is no such things as limitations. Not only answering challenges, this type is seeking for them. Extremely competitive, creative and open minded. Get this, money is their vehicle to channel their emotions. Don’t mind the ups and downs, even the friends and foes that they amassed along the way.

4. The Hunters: Well educated. Well informed. Enjoying the modern lifestyle. Very ethical, especially in financial decisions. Do not posses strong enough self esteem. Look at success as a path of destiny or by seniority. Not based on what they can personally produce nor self-worth evaluations.

5. The Money Masters: This wise type may be able to balance financial risks and their safety nets. They believe in trust, consider recommendations and suggestions and do not believe in plain luck.

6. The Perfectionists: So afraid to make any mistake or failure. They only know how to work hard and to work harder. Extremely considerate in making any decision and will find a hard time choosing the perfect investment (since it involves risks) for them.

7. The Producers: High work-ethics but uncreative in finding ways to develop their fortunes. All they may do was just to save, save and save and at the end were forced to spend it all.

8. The Optimists: The no-worry-ers. Very impulsive in spending. Do not like taking risks. May not care enough about finances that would make their head spin or affect their lifestyle.

9. The Safety Players: Average money makers. Everything goes to savings or safety deposits or safer investments. Taking opportunities where chances/ risks are minimal. The employee type that would work forever and will depend on corporations as their bread and butter.


Gosh. Where am I today? Did I make any wise decision in my recent past? Do I save enough? Did I make my savings in the right place? Can my money grow faster?

Back then, I wanted to be served like a king, like one of them -especially when entering a financial institution. Wealth-management for me was more of a status than a necessity. Looking at this today, I felt that if you couldn’t handle your own finances, then let someone capable perform that for you. That is if I have anything left in the bank account to be managed anyway.

Day by day we are getting older (and expenses are piling up like the falling leaves of autumn). Some dreams were successfully achieved; some went into the dustbin. How are you going to get through the rest of your life? How will you maximize what you have today?

At the end of the day, we all know that controlling urges are easier said than done.