Imagine the money you have in your pocket deteriorating to dust by the second. The longer your money is held outside of an investment vehicle, the more buying power and value it loses due to inflation. Let me paint a picture for you with an example that might spark your interest. The 1st pair of Air Jordan Retro 1’s was released in 1985 for $65. When you factor in inflation over the years, these same pair of Air Jordan Retro 1’s were released again in 2019 for $160. That’s 146% increase in the price of Jordans over 35 years from its first release date. This is an example of how your money loses buying power and value over time. The same shoes you were able to afford are no longer in your price range if you held on to that $65 from 1985. Inflation causes prices to increase due to a higher cost of living. But there’s a way to fight inflation by putting your money to work.

Imagine buying $65 worth of Apple stock in June 1985 for $0.07 each share instead of purchasing Jordans. You would be able to afford 928 shares. Apple shares are trading at around $177/ share today. Imagine if you kept all 928 shares from 1985 until today. Those 928 shares that you bought for $65 is now worth about $164,000 from just the change in the stock price, not including the dividends paid over the years.

These are the type of things that run through my mind when I see someone with thousands of dollars hanging out of their pocket. The thousands of things they could do with that money to make more money, or formally known as ‘opportunity cost’. Money in the mattress, a shoebox, or your pocket will lose buying power and value overtime due to inflation.


Cash can be king but in the same breath cash can be trash depending on the person in control. Making good financial decisions earning a return on your investment is kingship. Living in the moment flaunting loads of cash is trash because that money will soon turn to dust. Determine what are the best alternatives available to you today that will multiply in the future.