Millionaire or Pauper Next Door?

Have you ever looked with a tinge of envy, when your neighbor drive up to his driveway in a new BMW or some other expensive car? This neighbor seem to have it made. Nice car, nice clothes, nice wife and just about everything makes you believe that they have made it.

Then you begin to imagine and wonder, if you could afford a nicer car than the one you are driving now. I know, I have on occasion. But don’t let this image fool you. Yes, there are those who are really rich and make a show of their wealth.

Let me tell you a true story of two fellows. I’ll call them M and B. By the way, these are not their real names. M and B have financial habits that are miles apart. M is the guy you think is rich on first glance. Looking at the clothes he wears, the car he drives and the places he frequents, screams “rich”.

On the other hand, B is a simple guy. He dresses simply, eat and lives simply. On the first look, you’d never give him a second glance because everything about B says “middle class”. After knowing them a little longer, wealth wise, M and B are totally opposite.

While M flaunts his so called wealth, M have debts up to his eye balls. At anytime, his image can just crumble. B on the other hand, could survive just about any financial disaster since B don’t have any debts to speak off. Meeting B the first time, I’d guess he was low profile and have a bit of cash.

Did M or B get to where they are financially overnight? Surely not. While M has been accumulating debt, B has been accumulating assets. M choose to live a lifestyle to please friends and perhaps his ego, and B choose a simple life, to not have too much “stuff” and spends his money on things that grows in value like land and property.

Next time you see a person in a nice car, don’t look on with envy. You can never tell if that person is a millionaire or a pauper?