If I told him once, I told him a hundred times.

"To make money you got to spend money."

He always responded the same way.

"No, to make money you have to save money!"

That never did make no sense to me and I never could get him to understand. I had a sheep farm.  I had to buy stuff to keep it going - feed, machines, shearing equipment. Otherwise, how could I raise the sheep and get the wool off them?

He said that, while all that was necessary to run a sheep farm, the only way to make any money off it was to be able to save some of the income. Part of that income would pay for newer equipment, vet bills and all those expenses, yes. However, once it was spent, it didn't make no more money. The money in the bank, however, did, since the value of money (whatever the hell that meant - ain't ten dollars ten dollars?) increased over time and the bank would pay interest on it if you put it in a savings account or in a Certificate of Deposit.

"Aha!" I'd yell, "How the hell can you get a Certificate of deposit, and make money off it, if you don't have the money to buy it in the first place?"

"That's different. It's an investment," he replied calmly, " as opposed to an expense."

"Dumbass banker," I'd say as I left. Shouldn't probably call my own brother that, but hell, he should have lent me the damn money!

"Stupid sheep herder," he'd yell after me. Then we'd both laugh and say our goodnights. Wasn't worth leaving on bad terms and besides we really didn't get mad at each other, even though we argued.

So, after a few years, he was real surprised when I tripled my income for five years straight. I'll never tell him my secret. Since I know you won't either, I'll tell you.