The Money

Money is a tool which easily enables us to buy and exchange services and products. It is simply one kind of wealth which is taken, not for itself, but to be passed along. Further, it serves as the general instrument of exchange, as a measure and medium in the sale and purchase of other commodities and as a common denominator in comparing values.

            Money reinforces our economic pursuits with commitment to basic human values that gave us a reason to work hard since we expect that the work will pay off. Money also contributed to the realization of personal, family, community and spiritual values and dreams. Moreover, human interests, ambitions and activities tend to descend around money.

            We invest a great deal of effort in creating money designed to manage a complex social relations that expresses not only intimacy but also inequality, love but also power, care but also control and solidarity but also conflict. Hence, we used and absorbed money, transforming it to fit our variety of values and social relations.

            Money brings disputes and misunderstanding among people. Women, men and children often lied, stole or deceived each other to protect and get money. Money gifts also become controversial currency especially when it came to exchanges between strangers.

             Further, it symbolizes the disparity of particular social relation.  On the other hand, money given to poor people balanced precariously between gift, tip, rightful benefit and payment for services.

            However, we can reshape money in other positive form, that of a sentimental gift, expressing care and affection. At Christmas, weddings, christenings, or other religious and secular events, money becomes a dignified, welcome gift, almost unrecognizable as market money.

            Money is a powerful and visible symbol of our social relations and meanings. It directly affects our social practices. We turned spending money not only in our central economic practice but also in our dynamic, complex cultural and social activities.

             We do not only think of our money per se, but also on how we will spend and save it for different purposes and for different people. We also think of what should money buy, when and how often.