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MMM's got it backwards!

MMM talks about using your little green army the most efficient way possible. In other words, making your money stretch to the fullest extent, it can. Certainly words of wisdom! Similar to that of Nassim Taleb's Silver rule, rather than the golden rule, which states do unto others as you would want to be done unto you, reverse it, and it is much more powerful, do not do under others as you wouldn't like done unto you. 

Allow me to "Silver Rule" MMM's stretch your dollar to the pay yourself a reasonable wage. Instead of looking at spending with a microscope, look at earning with a microscope. This brings me back to Benjamin Franklin's ol' adage, "A penny saved is a penny earned," nevermore relevant than in today's world of conveniences. 

Let's elaborate; we engage in choices that either cost us money or save us money. Every morning we choose to eat a meal someone else prepped for us, or we choose to cook our own breakfast. This can boil down to a hot pocket or McDonald's or your favorite b-fast joint that runs 15 bones a plate and 5 for a cup of joe.  No matter the choice, home-cooked food is better for you and costs less. Therefore, I conclude that we should pay ourselves the wage that we deserve, not the wage said the chef would receive, whether it be the factory, McDonald's or Snooze, 7,10,20 respectively per hour, instead the bill you would pay for your labor. In this example, if you were to microwave an egg, put it on an English muffin, and add a slice of Bolognia, and brewed a pot of joe, you'd have paid yourself  3 bucks, minus the cost of food, a buck, you paid yourself two dollars. 

Ok, I'd rather pay two bucks than have to go buy English muffins, eggs, and Bolognia, ahh, touche! So you unhealthy eater you! Let's get to the point, multiply that by 4, as most of us have families or significant others; 8 bucks suit your fancy? No?! Ok, let us play. This very morning I cooked up some sweet potatoes and Yams, tossed in Olive oil, cooked on a skillet battered with butter, nine over-easy eggs, a pour-over winter roast coffee. For my wife, I served up a hot latte, and kids got an organic cup of milk. This meal at Snooze, our favorite b fast joint, would run about 60 bucks (before tip). We aren't getting out of there for less than 75 bucks! Hot Diggity Dawg! Minus the cost of food, electricity, and whatever you could find (other than conveniences as that is the point!), let's call it a cool 10 dollars in expenses (which is outrageously high, but organic costs a lot!). I paid myself this morning approximately 65 bucks. Tax farrrreeeee! 

In conclusion, as Americans, we put a value on everything, including time. Is my time worth more than $32.50/hour? Irrelevant to the discussion. And that is my point! Look at everything you are doing as a "do I have time to do x y or z," and if you have the time, then fucking do it. If you do not have the time, then and only then do you bring out the time vs. money calculator and decide whether or not you should do something that adds more value to your existence than what you would be choosing to do. 

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