Financial Superstitions for Friday the 13th

I admit it.  My mother and her mother were very superstitious women.  It used to drive them batty when I would walk down the sidewalk with them, stepping on the cracks, as they warned, “Step on a crack and you break your mother’s back.”  Since they were my “mothers”, I couldn’t resist testing this theory and the null hypothesis was always accepted.  On any given Friday the 13^th, they were beyond disbelief.  They would refrain from anything the least bit risky, including hosting a party – for fear people wouldn’t come - or going to the doctor – for fear he would discover a dread disease.  So, in honor of the barrels of salt I’ve watched being hurled over a shoulder, should you accidently spill the salt, it seems like a good idea to see what “money superstitions” exist and have some fun on Friday, April 13, 2012.  (These are from the “Don’t Mess with Taxes” website.) My comments are in italics.

1. Never give a person a wallet or purse without money in it, or they’ll always be poor.  One thing is certain, if you don’t put any money in it, you’re not helping them be rich.

2. If the palm of your right hand itches, you will soon be receiving some money, if you don’t scratch it. If it’s your left hand, you’ll be paying out some money.  My advice is to keep your hands in your pocket if you are carrying your wallet and in a bad part of town.

3. If your front door faces your back door it means money in, money out.  Huh? If you live in such an oddly designed house, you are definitely poor.

4. If you put your handbag on the floor/ground you will never have money.  While this is from Trinidad and Tobago, Americans have also been known to leave their purse behind.

5. Money attracts money, so never leave your pockets, purses or wallets completely empty and never completely empty your bank account. Always have at least a coin or two.  This is from Greece.  Apparently, they did not pay attention to the advice of their mothers.

6. Placing a piece of snake skin into your wallet will help you become rich or find money. Snakes are a symbol of money and wealth in Japan. If you kill a snake, you will lose your money.  While this is from Japan, what does one do if they live in Ireland?  How do you get the snake skin for your wallet, if you don’t kill the snake?

7. Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck!  OK, I was told that it has to be “heads-up” for good luck and “tails-up” was bad luck.  Actually, I never pass up a coin on the ground.  For, a penny found is a penny found.

8. Write with a green pen whenever you can, and profits will flow from your hand.  If this were true, President Obama would be passing out green pens to every American corporation.

9. Shooting stars are rare indeed, but if you happen to see one say “money, money, money”.  Can you tell me why I should say “money, money, money”, other than to look stupid to my fellow campers?

10. Always place a bill with a person’s face on it with the person’s face facing down. If you leave the bills with the faces facing up in your wallet, they will want to peek out and leave. But if they are facing down, they will want to stay buried inside your wallet.  OMG!  My money is alive!

11. If you make money on Monday, keep it and the amount will increase during the remainder of the week.  Seems to me that the more you keep, regardless of the day of the week, the amount will increase.

12. Wrap a penny in paper and carry it with you. This will make sure you never go broke.  Good idea, but if you use bills with pictures of presidents to wrap it in, see #10.

13. On January 1, be sure to have greens (spinach is my favorite) and black-eyed peas to ensure prosperity for the coming year. The greens represent paper currency and the peas are for added coinage throughout the year.  Actually, this is true.  If you learn to eat low cost food and refrain from dining out, you will have more money.  Case closed.

If you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, you are probably not reading this, for that means you are totally paranoid about Friday the 13th.  Today, look at your superstitions, consider the irrational “rules” you live by, or the money practices you have learned from others.  Those lessons may, or may not, be ones you need to disregard or relearn. So, even if you walk under a ladder while a black cat crosses the street in front of you, you are able to overcome irrational fears and to create financial success.  Finally, if your hand itches and you see a penny on the ground, pick it up and put it in your snakeskin wallet.