According to Marco at mysharetrading.com, Warren Buffett's set to donate a vast portion or his fortune, $54 billion to be exact, to charity.

I may have been a little hasty a while ago when I posted this article accusing the man of being a tight-fisted twat but if his frugality has a purpose far greater than his own needs and influence then Mr Buffett you need a big pat on the back.

I am intrigued though that the two richest men in the world, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have decided to step away from their companies and begin to help those in need. Why is this? Have they just become aware of the world's disenfranchised nations or are they sensing that there is more to life than power and money?

Whatever the reason, it's a great outcome for those living in the poorest nations and should be celebrated and embraced by other world powers. Let's look after those who can't look after themselves.

Posted by Stuart at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am still yet to ascertain the wisdom in saving mobs of money only to bestow it on others after your death, however I'm sure that if I were a recipient I wouldn't be making too many waves about it. Two women on opposite sides of the globe have performed such an action in the past few months.

The first frugal endowment came from an 96 year old English woman who shocked her family when she bequeathed nearly £11million to her nieces and nephews. She had lived a very simple life and her only luxury possesions were a £2500 jewellery collection and a Picasso etching worth £2000.

Her friends and family were staggered that she had horded that amount of money without spending it on herself or tothers during her lifetime. The reason; she didn't want to be treated differently.

The second bequest came from a 90 year old public school teacher who gave more than $1million dollars to a Milwaukee college and established a $440,000 scholarship fund at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a fund at the West Allis Public Library.

Marian Breskvar had amassed her fortune through frugal investing and had not lived life of luxury either.

It astounds me that some people are like this. While I wouldn't need to have a Porsche in the driveway to feel content with life, I would probably consider it if I had these ladies wealth. While being frugal should be a quality that is taught and respected, hording wealth should not.

These women's money had been tied up for such a long time, both of them were 90+, and could have done more good in the community earlier than saving for the final exit. Each to their own, but that's my view...

Posted by Stuart at 8:01 AM | Permalink

Yes. I have a sponsor child. Do I write to him? Not as often as I should. Do I pray for him? Not as often as I should. Do I consider his plight against the backdrop of my own western materialism, never having need for anything?

Sponsor children can become like fashion accessories for the western family. "We have three!" you may boast to your friends as you scour their refrigerator door. It gives us a sense of "We're doing the world a favour here." That $40 a month may mean you miss out on a couple of extra latte's each week but you won't need to question whether dinner will be served tonight.

I have this picture on my wall at home. It's there for a number of reasons but the main one is to remind me that I'm blessed. More than that though, it reminds me that I have an obligation. An obligation to remember that this little life could have been mine, or worse - the life of my child. If that were me I would've desperately wanted someone to reach out and help me - not just take a photo of my plight to sell to some newspaper.

Kevin Carter picked up a Pullitzer prize for photojournalism in 1994. Read his story here...

Posted by Stuart at 6:40 AM | Permalink