Money

Dean Loh
1 min readJan 21, 2025

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My message to my sons

There’s a saying: “If a problem can be solved with money, it isn’t really a problem.” While this might hold some truth, it’s not always so straightforward. Having money can solve many issues, but the way we manage it plays a much bigger role in avoiding problems in the first place.

Some might argue, “If I don’t even have money to begin with, how can I solve my problems?” In many cases, though, people find themselves in financial trouble due to choices they made early on — choices that created the problems they now face.

What do I mean? Consider this: when many people receive their first paycheck, they don’t prioritize saving or investing it wisely. Instead, they might rush to buy a car or a house — often stretching themselves beyond their means. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting these things, problems arise when those purchases come without proper planning or affordability.

When someone ends up in a financial crisis, it’s worth asking: is the crisis itself to blame, or the poor decisions that led to it?

To avoid falling into such traps, start by carefully thinking through your financial decisions, especially the first steps you take. If you consistently make smart, informed choices, you’ll find that fewer things go wrong in the long run. And even if challenges arise, you’ll be better prepared to face them than those who acted impulsively.

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Dean Loh
Dean Loh

Written by Dean Loh

I’m using this space for jotting down my messages for my sons, for them to read when I’m gone.

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