I recently got back from a vacation that included a family wedding on the Central California coast and a sightseeing trip around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Of course, one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco is the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. It’s absolutely breathtaking to behold in all its majesty.
On our way back home we stopped to admire this view at Battery Spencer, on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ironically, the gorgeous span is also an extremely popular suicide location; more than 1300 people have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge since it was completed in 1937.
And while most people would never consider committing harakiri by any means, there are more than a few folks who unwittingly choose to commit financial suicide every day.
1. Having children too early.
There is nothing more destructive to one’s financial future than bringing children into the world without having an established and stable means to support them. Raising children requires a tremendous investment of not only money, but time as well. Unfortunately, when those resources are in short supply, it becomes extremely difficult to start a business, or gain the necessary experience, on-the-job training and/or education required for the type of career advancement opportunities that lead to significantly increased earning power.
2. Abusing credit cards.
There are thousands upon thousands of careless people who have been driven to financial ruin after burying themselves under a colossal mountain of debt via credit card abuse. In most cases, it’s because they lacked the financial acumen and discipline to understand that credit cards are a double-edged sword that must be treated with respect and used responsibly.
3. Maintaining financial dependency on others.
We are constantly being admonished by officials to avoid feeding bears, squirrels and other wildlife in order to prevent them from eventually becoming dependent on handouts. For the exact same reason I’m absolutely convinced that, the longer we stay dependent on government assistance or friends and family for financial support, it becomes tougher for us humans to achieve financial independence.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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