In our daily life, we use one magical thing to trade with different kinds of people, develop the whole world’s economy and make the country powerful. This thing is the money that people always think how to arrange it is suitable for them in the future.
However, different countries have different factors to affect them, especially the policy of the government. Therefore, we need to talk about different ways of enjoying money or saving money.
In western country, it is better to enjoy money when they earn it. People at here can get better protection that ignore the payment of trivial things in the future, never worry about the basic life safeguard. They can spend half of wages on enjoying life because they not fear the government will not give the retirement pension. In one family, they have 3 children to feed, every month; the family can get children life’s money from countries. They can get not only the money for children, but also for medical treatment, education and so on. Franklin said that time is the money, if we waste time; we are waste money, so the western people think the time need to use for meaningful things, the life is short and we have to enjoy it.
Unfortunately, in the eastern country, especially in China, a country that likes saving money. It is the Chinese traditional thinking ways. They afraid of some bad things happened and they feel safety when there are have money save on the bank. In a Chinese family, parents from working age to retirement age, first, they need to save money to buy house and car, then, the next plan is to save money for feed a baby, following, and the education, medical treatment and future of themselves will cost lots of money. A Chinese people are always in saving money and saving money.
Different culture and history, it will have different ways for people to arrange money, they will decide what is the most reasonable plan for them.
Beijing15, I enjoyed learning from your journal about the difference between the way westerners understand money and the way easterners understand it. You seem to have a good understanding of western culture. I am interested in seeing how our country's inability to save money will affect us in the future, because our government may not always be able to support us. When that time comes, we will wish we had learned some lessons from the East!
It sounds like you agree with the western way of thinking, right? Why is that? What do you like to spend your money on? Is there anything you are saving for?
I am looking for a job right now so that I can pay for rent. Because my parents will not be supporting me for much longer, I have started paying more attention to how I spend my money. It is so easy to buy whatever I want when I’m not using my own money—chocolate, magazines, books, clothes. I also spend a lot of money eating out. It almost feels like I have to spend money to enjoy myself. What do you think? Can we enjoy life without spending a lot of money? What kinds of things could we do for free?
Great job on your journal, you have some valuable insights into various cultures. I look forward to reading the other entry you've written!
Thank you for your reading; I am so happy that you interested my opinion. It is true that I agree with the western way of thinking, it is real life that you can enjoy money, and at the same time, you also earn it. In china, Chinese people frightened use most of money on enjoying life. They worried about too many factors that lead them tired. If you are a white collar lived in a big city, especially in Shanghai, a biggest city in china. The housing price is so high. The housing price in the middle of city cost almost 20000 to 30000RMB for each square meter. It so expensive and hard for a white collar that to buy a more than 100 square house for living. They need to spend most of their years to return loan. I think it is amazing in western. Unbelievable, this kind of huge money can buy a good house in the western. Therefore, I think the western way is more humanitarian than eastern. For myself, I just a student, the money I got is from my parents and red packets. I like spend money on eating and buying some little things, including magazines, hair clips and funny toys. I will save money for things I really want to have, like this year; I want to buy a special present for my friend, from now, I start to save money for buying a huge surprised for her grow up birthday. I think I will use money suitable, I know I do not earn money now, all the money I get is from parents, and we need to use it allowed by the parents, and have a good plan to spend money. There are lots of things for me to enjoy my life without spending lots of money. Everything is magical for me; I would like to do everything I never try it before. I like walking after supper with my grandparents, most of time; my friends and I will stay at a shop and eating ice-cream and talk about the program we need to prepare next week. It is all belong to enjoying my life. Have a good friend is for free, that will be a good way for enjoying life. (Thank you)
Beijing15, it was so fun to read your response to my questions about saving and spending money! I have heard Shanghai is expensive. Actually, one of my best friends is from Shanghai! Wow, I just looked up the exchange rate from RBM to US dollars—over $300! That’s amazing. Do you want to live in China for the rest of your life or would you like to live somewhere else for a few years or permanently? My friend from Shanghai is getting her Canadian residency and she thinks her parents will try to move here too so they can be with her. Next time she goes back to China though I might come with her. I hear it is really beautiful and that the city is very fun. I wish I remembered move of Chinese history from when I studied in grade school.
I think it’s great that you are saving your money so you can give it away. Can I ask what it is you are saving to buy for your friend? And what kinds of magazines do you like to read? I’m glad you like walking with your grandparents; I wish I could see mine more. Your last line sounds like a proverb—it’s so true! Friends are worth more than all the things that surround us.
Thanks again for the great conversation! It is fun getting to know you.
China is my hometown, and lots of my relatives live in here, especially my lovely grandparents. If I leave them, I will miss them. Perhaps I will choose a place not far away from SuZhou, because my home is in SuZhou. I know I must be independent, but I think SuZhou is a wonderful place to live in china. It is called a land flowing with fertile resource, a really suitable place to live. My school now is near a mountain. The view in school is really beautiful with bridge, spring water and traditional SuZhou house. My mother hope me to stay in Canada, it has fresh air, less pollution and good welfare. If I have chance to stay in Canada, my mother support me to stay here. My dream place to stay is SuZhou. I will be attached to my hometown with me to take care of me.
The money I saving to buy my friends, sometimes, I will choose to buy some models. I can make them buy myself. Sometimes, I will buy her favourite toys or books. At the school time, I live in the school dormitory, so I will bring some magazines to read when I am in school. The magazines I read are “The Reader's Digest” and “Youth Literary Digest”. There are many interesting and affecting stories in books. O(∩_∩)o ~ Thank you for your reply.
Wow, SuZhou sounds like a really nice place! I think I would want to stay there too if I were you. Do you think you will study or work in Canada for a short time and then move back to SuZhou? That is very generous of your mother to offer to help you stay in Canada, but I am glad that you like your hometown.
What are models? They sound interesting!
That's nice of you to show your friends you care for them by giving gifts.
I like The Reader's Digest too! I enjoy the joke sections most, how about you? I've never heard of the Youth Literary Digest. What kinds of articles do they have?
Nice hearing from you again!
I think I will study or work in Canada for a short time and then move back to SuZhou. I never visit Canada before, may be I will love Canada also. There are many little kinds of toys models in china. The cute and little house models are my favourite. My favourite doll called Barbie,I like to decorate her house instead of I bored. The Youth Literary Digest is more similar to the Reader's Digest. I think the joke section in the Reader’s digest is funnier than the Youth Literary Digest. When I first time get the book, I will look the jokes in the book instead of reading articles.o(∩_∩)o
There are many types of stories in the book. The love between family and friends. Some stories tell you how to success, there are some interviews about famous successful people. The poem section is my favourite part. I like enjoy reading poem that is full of author’s deep feeling.
Thank you~
I feel really disappointed to say goodvye with you……thank you for reading my journal during this long time.
We can still keep in touch if you would like! If our teachers don't shut down this website, I would be so happy for us to keep writing to one another. Plus, I still have to think about what books I would like to recommend to you.
What do you think?