It is Only Money and It Grows on Trees!
by Cara Macmillan, MBA
Halcyon Consulting Publishing
Trade Paperback“Open your workbooks. The first thing we need to do is write down your first memory of money. This should be easy for you. Write down the first thing that comes to mind.”
Catherine watched as the students began writing.
“The reason that we do this assignment is because we want to see what memory first formed our relationship with money.”
Angela spoke up. “My first memory with money is actually a feeling; a feeling of fear. Let me tell the story. My first child was born, and on the second day of his life, I locked us in my room and refused to come out. I was terrified. As long as everyone left us alone, I was calm. His father somehow understood that I just needed to be alone, so he graciously brought me my meals and sat quietly with me. I fed our son, but I would not let him out of my sight. It was weird, but we both just knew it was something that I had to get through. A few years later, I met my birth mother. She told me that on the second day of my life, she left. ‘I would have kept you if I had had the money.’
“At that moment, so much made sense. When we became a family, I was driven to build financial security. I guess for me money meant belonging.”
Then Sean spoke up. “My parents always paid for everything. They made a big deal out of picking up the bills when we visited family from out of town. It was all show all the time. I wanted a pair of skates, and they bought them for me. But they were three sizes too big. I remember always being in pain and discomfort. I had the basics, but they never really gave me anything that I wanted. Presents were practical. I am not complaining. But then, when they were with extended family, they would buy and buy. I guess money was love.
“But later it was so sad. When my mom was in assisted living and could not afford to buy and buy, she was no longer invited to family events, and few people came to visit. She was angry, and I could understand why. The only ones who visited her were her immediate family, who she had taken for granted.”
Amal then spoke. “Money was our ticket out of there. In order to qualify for economic-based immigration, we had to have a certain amount of wealth as a family and bring it to our new country. My parents worked so hard to save so that we could come. They wanted us to grow up without violence in the streets. But it was so sad. Dad was a doctor in our country, but here he drives a taxi. Mom was an engineer, but here she works in retail. We no longer wonder if we will be shot today, but we are poor.”
Zoe said, “My first memory of money is different. I had a new dress for Easter and I hated it. My grandmother kept telling me how beautiful I was. It was the first time I remember her paying much attention to me. She said that she was proud of me. So I learned that if I wanted her to be proud of me, I needed beautiful clothes.”
“You see,” said Catherine, “our memories are the reactions that we had to money or what it could buy when we were younger. And we carry the extra baggage of our memories and our feelings with us into the present. But we can move on from here if we choose.”
“How?” asked Zoe.
“Well, we need to decide who we truly are today. Remember, money is used for the exchange of resources. The resources that we need and want are based on who we are and how we live. To define who we are, we need to know what our values are. This can be different from our parents’ values, our grandparents’ values, or our memories of them. Our values can be based on our culture and what we are taught, but they are also based on our experiences.
What is your first memory of money? How were you raised to view money?
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It Is Only Money and It Grows on Trees!, by Cara MacMillan, is a narrative that explores how the concept of money differs throughout various world religions and cultures. It also looks at ways in which readers can increase their own wealth through consideration of these practices.
The story takes place in a classroom where a teacher named Catherine has written the word, Money, in large capital letters on the blackboard. She invites her students to help her define what money is. The students propose varying answers, and Catherine explains how each of these different definitions comes from our cultural, religious, family, and economic backgrounds.
“This is not a get rich quick book – it is a book about authenticity,” says MacMillan. “When we learn to break free of our patterns and choose to recognize that money is just a resource, we too can become rich and truly enjoy today.”
Praise
“It Is Only Money is a well-written and imaginative multi ethnic and multi-cultural look at acquiring wealth. I loved the give and take between Catherine, the teacher, and the diverse group of students who are in her class. Through this device, the author explores the role of money in Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religions….” – 5 Stars, Readers' Favorite
“I have absolutely loved reading It Is Only Money and It Grows on Trees by Cara MacMillan. I definitely recommend it. It’s a fun, quick and easy read.” - Eat, Drink, and Save Money
“It Is Only Money tackles personal finance from a perspective I had never really seen or thought about before, providing stories of how money and finances are viewed by various cultures and religions around the world.” - Ditching the Daily Grind
“For as much time as we spend talking about what to do with money, I think we’d all benefit from taking a step back every once in a while and having a discussion about what money really is, what it means to us, and how that meaning shapes our behavior. It is Only Money and It Grows on Trees by Cara MacMillan does exactly this. With a super-readable narrative, Cara explores how different cultures, religions, and personal backgrounds shape peoples’ views of money… Overall, It is Only Money and It Grows on Trees is a great resource to help you to pause and reflect on where your views about money come from and what you can do to approach money in a healthier way. With that new knowledge and the lessons you’ll learn about the other views out there, you’ll find yourself in a better position to make sound choices about how to handle your money and build a better future for yourself and those around you.” - Keep Thrifty
“The story keeps your interest, while the classroom stories and discussion will keep you thinking. If you are looking for a break from the normal personal finance book, with ‘how to’ steps I would suggest It Is Only Money.” – Debt Discipline
“Honestly, this is one of the only books that deals with finance and money that I could not only read cover to cover, but also understood and enjoyed reading…Totally a five-star book!” – Dhwani Swadia, There and Their
About the Author
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| Cara Macmillan, MBA |
As an adjunct professor in the School of Business at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada, her vision is to empower people to think and act for themselves financially.
She also serves as a Climate Reality Leader in The Climate Reality Leadership Corps. This group is a global network of activists committed to taking on the climate crisis by providing training in climate science, communications, and organizing to tell the story of climate change and inspire communities everywhere to take action. The result is a dynamic group of world-changers shaping the conversation on climate in forums from family dinners to international summits and building a 21st-century movement for solutions.
Cara lives in Ottawa with her life partner and best friend, David, and their two children. She is currently working on her next book, Make Big Money and Make a Big Difference, for readers who want to learn how to invest in responsible companies and opportunities. It is due out later this year.
Readers can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
To learn more, go to http://caramacmillan.com/.
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