I was very young, maybe 5 or 6 years old.
My dad and I were at a fireworks stand, just to check it out, not really to buy anything.
We were standing there, discussing all the really cool things that go bang in the night.
My eyes were wide and I could hardly stand still from the excitement.
It was only a few days before the fourth of July.
I was remembering the excitement of previous Independent day celebrations.
Dad was asking if I was going to be brave enough to hold the Roman Candle this year.
It scared me, so I didn't think that I'd be able to do it but I didn't tell him that.
My big brother always did it, he was a lot braver than I was, he is two years older than I am.
I am aware that no one knows what the Roman Candle is anymore, this all happened in the 1950's and they were banished in the 1970's.
I'm third generation California, so they might be available in other jurisdictions, I don't know.
For those of you who don't know what it is.
It is a tube that is lit at one end while being held by a person.
It sends out a huge shower of sparks and makes a lot of noise.
To a little guy it's pretty daunting.
I know my brother was scared, I don't think he would admit to it to this day.
He always hid it pretty well and stood there for all of us to enjoy it and teased me ceaselessly about my fear.
So, my dad and I are standing there, checking out all of the fireworks and visiting quietly.
My dad decided to buy each of us, his four children, and himself a small something, don't exactly remember what, it doesn't matter.
It's what happened next that had the big impact on my future.
The state sales tax at the time was 4%.
He went up to the counter and asked for the five items at 20 cents each.
The man behind the counter said that it would be $1.
04.
My dad said that they were advertised at 20 cents each and he wanted to pay one dollar.
The man said that the other four cents was for sales tax.
My dad asked what the tax was on one.
The man said there isn't any tax on one, twenty cents fell below the minimum.
So, my dad said, "I've changed my mind, I want one.
" The salesman gave it to him and collected twenty cents.
Then my dad ordered another one and another one until he had five of them for $1.
00.
The man behind the counter said that it wasn't fair because he was going to have to send in the tax anyway.
My dad reminded him that part of the joy of being in business for yourself is that you always have that silent business partner reaching into your pocket and we walked away.
At that young age I didn't really have any idea what a great lesson I had just learned.
I thought that I had just been humiliated, watching my dad go through all of that for four cents.
Since then, I have come to realize that any money that you spend over and above what you have to spend, regardless of the amount, reduces your current and future lifestyle.
It leaves you with less money to spend on other lifestyle choices and leaves you with less money to invest for the future.
My dad and I were at a fireworks stand, just to check it out, not really to buy anything.
We were standing there, discussing all the really cool things that go bang in the night.
My eyes were wide and I could hardly stand still from the excitement.
It was only a few days before the fourth of July.
I was remembering the excitement of previous Independent day celebrations.
Dad was asking if I was going to be brave enough to hold the Roman Candle this year.
It scared me, so I didn't think that I'd be able to do it but I didn't tell him that.
My big brother always did it, he was a lot braver than I was, he is two years older than I am.
I am aware that no one knows what the Roman Candle is anymore, this all happened in the 1950's and they were banished in the 1970's.
I'm third generation California, so they might be available in other jurisdictions, I don't know.
For those of you who don't know what it is.
It is a tube that is lit at one end while being held by a person.
It sends out a huge shower of sparks and makes a lot of noise.
To a little guy it's pretty daunting.
I know my brother was scared, I don't think he would admit to it to this day.
He always hid it pretty well and stood there for all of us to enjoy it and teased me ceaselessly about my fear.
So, my dad and I are standing there, checking out all of the fireworks and visiting quietly.
My dad decided to buy each of us, his four children, and himself a small something, don't exactly remember what, it doesn't matter.
It's what happened next that had the big impact on my future.
The state sales tax at the time was 4%.
He went up to the counter and asked for the five items at 20 cents each.
The man behind the counter said that it would be $1.
04.
My dad said that they were advertised at 20 cents each and he wanted to pay one dollar.
The man said that the other four cents was for sales tax.
My dad asked what the tax was on one.
The man said there isn't any tax on one, twenty cents fell below the minimum.
So, my dad said, "I've changed my mind, I want one.
" The salesman gave it to him and collected twenty cents.
Then my dad ordered another one and another one until he had five of them for $1.
00.
The man behind the counter said that it wasn't fair because he was going to have to send in the tax anyway.
My dad reminded him that part of the joy of being in business for yourself is that you always have that silent business partner reaching into your pocket and we walked away.
At that young age I didn't really have any idea what a great lesson I had just learned.
I thought that I had just been humiliated, watching my dad go through all of that for four cents.
Since then, I have come to realize that any money that you spend over and above what you have to spend, regardless of the amount, reduces your current and future lifestyle.
It leaves you with less money to spend on other lifestyle choices and leaves you with less money to invest for the future.
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