Almost everyone you ask will tell you they want to be rich. They want lots of money so they can never work another day the rest of their lives and can lounge around eating bonbons all day, saying so long, suckers! to all the working people.

Life is not this simple, however. If you look at the daily actions and thoughts of these same people, you will see that they do NOT want to be rich, and that their every action and every sentence they speak keeps them EXACTLY where they are in life. Anyone who spends their time gabbing at the water cooler, especially about other people, is destined to go nowhere.

Does this sound harsh? The reality of waking up 10 or 20 years from now and seeing with horror that you have not moved a space on the game board is HARSH. Facing poverty or financial struggle as you get older is HARSH. I’ve seen it happen to people who never expected it…people who had good jobs and thought they were set, but who ended up losing those jobs and had not built a financial web to protect themselves in the event of a catastrophe. It is painful to watch, and no doubt even more painful to go through. Let this not be you.

Our top five reasons today for being rich are:

You will NEED it: According to statistics, by the time you retire or stop working due to disability, the government will NOT be able to help you. Millions of people have been brought up to believe they can rely on pensions and programs such as Medicare, and this is simply not true. Wake up, because an old age with no money will NOT be fun.

Money talks: Let’s face it - money begets money, and money can get you places, things and results that just cannot be achieved in any other way. As my friend who won the lottery recounts, everyone’s answers change when they know you have money. Suddenly everyone wants to help you, and doors open that would not have otherwise. It’s one of those strange ironies. In the wise words of Richard Templar (author of The Rules of Wealth), “money is simply the oil that makes life run smoothly”.

Protect your family: As motivational and financial coach Jim Rohn so rightly says, it is important to build a financial wall around your family that NO ONE can breach. Money acts as protection. When we are poor or struggling financially, any little blow can be devastating. With enough money to cover emergencies and contingencies, we can breathe easier, sleep at night, and not lie awake worrying. How much is peace of mind worth to you?…

Never be afraid again: Further to the above point, would it not be nice to have the credit card companies calling you to beg you to be their customer, rather than threaten to take you to court? What about bill collectors, and the IRS? What about being afraid that your revolving debt crisis is going to catch up and bite you? What of even deeper, unspoken financial problems such as loan shark or drug dealer debts? We are none of us above fear of repercussion, and a few wrong choices can lead to very unpleasant circumstances. A few well-considered choices, on the other hand, can make all the difference.

It takes money to enjoy the finer things in life: Many of the pleasures human beings are capable of enjoying cost money. Yes, you can have love for free, but watching your kids scramble around a new place when you take them on an adventurous trip, or sailing down a river on a romantic cruise with your sweetie, or seeing the countless exotic and stunning places in the world takes resources. It takes money, and it takes time, and without money we have no time to do these things.

There are more reasons of course, and all are food for serious thought. Our next top five will be more philosophical in nature. Stay tuned!