Would you rather work hard for your money, or have your money work hard for you?

Donna Summer (whom maybe a foreign name to my readers) sang a song that will help me illustrate an important point many of the younger generation should seriously listen to:

She works hard for the money
So hard for it honey
She works hard for the money
So you better treat her right

You know you’ve heard it, right? Well, when I listen to this song I picture a lovely young black gal, bustin her butt waitressing, night after night and day after day. This hardworking lady is caught up in the grind, and probably lives paycheck to paycheck. She can never figure out why she works so hard for that money, but never seems to get anywhere, like “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray repeating the same shit day in and day out. Alright, I’m certain I’ve beat it into your head by now, all that hard work is senseless. If only that poor gal took some of her money, even if it was only $100 a month, and invested the same amount for a few years, she would have several thousand dollars making her money without her doing hardly a thing. Granted, she had to work to get her funds flowing into her investments, but after only the first investment, that money is making her money.

There are two types of people in this world, people who work for money, and people who have money working for them. There are some small upfront sacrifices, perhaps not being able to buy the next trendy thing to wear. However, given the time, your money will be making you money and you could buy those dresses or new slacks with money you’ve earned with your money.

Check out my calculator above, mess around with the numbers, see the power of compound interest and investing for yourself. With proper discipline and time, before you know it you could be sitting back watching your stack grow without lifting a finger. Don’t kill yourself working hard your whole life, rather stash that loot in the market and watch it explode.

Right now more than ever is a wonderful time to get in the market, stock bargains are a dime a dozen and prices are so incredibly low you could easily retire in 10-15 years if you manage your money right.