Strength in Numbers

Meet Martian Martuskawicz.
Just one of the many riches in my life.

A while back, when we still lived in Minnesota, we joined with five other people and met every so often to try to learn how investments work. Most of us knew nothing about investing, and B and I didn't know when we could start or where the money would come from to begin with. As far as I knew, all of us were community-minded idealists, and none of us were ruthless money makers. With a little guidance from a seasoned and successful self investor, some websites, and a book (Conquer the Crash, if you are interested), we got a peek into the Wall Street system and dreamed of the day when we had made our fortunes. It was affectionately dubbed "The Billionaires' Club."

It was interesting to learn about the stock market. But the biggest benefit I got from the Billionaires' Club was having the opportunity to gather with other like-minded people who were concerned about financial security. We often got distracted from the mechanics of investment and talked instead about the state of the world, what we would do with money if we had it, how to find a little extra to invest, and what lifestyle changes we could make to reduce our expenses.

Investing never really panned out for me. But one of the things I miss from Minnesota is my fellow club members. When I passed them on the street I knew they were also trying to find ways to ethically and responsibly eliminate their debts, increase their incomes, invest in their futures, and get out from under the weight of feeling like there isn't enough. That commeraderie is empowering.

Through our name, I felt like we were manifesting a change. Perhaps the change would be that we would all get rich. Or maybe the change would be that we would all realize how rich we already are, not financially, but in every way that counts: health, support, relationships, love, community.

Alone, it is easy for me to get overwhelmed by the negative and hopeless feelings I associate with  money. Brainstorming and daydreaming with others helped me to worry less about finances and get excited about the real wealth that surrounds me. Those people made me feel like a billionaire, and I wish I could have brought them with me when I moved.

Do you have a support network, financial or otherwise? What do you get from the group that you weren't able to find on your own? And what do you feel makes you rich?