Suze Orman: Living a Rich and Satisfying Life

I was excited to interview Suze Orman because I love the principles she teaches about delayed gratification, fiscal responsibility, and knowing the difference between what you want and what you truly need.

I learned those principles early on and they have served me well. At 13, I started babysitting and earned 50 cents an hour. I was so excited when the going rate increased to 75 cents and then a dollar.

After spending five long hours with hyper kids or a fussy infant and coming home with five dollars, I quickly learned to think more consciously about what I wanted to buy rather than squander my hard-earned money thoughtlessly.

At 16, I got my first real part-time job that paid minimum wage, which was something like $1.40 an hour. On pay day I would spread my meager earnings on the table and put various amounts of cash into different envelopes marked Savings, Clothes, and Miscellaneous. Those were the days when lay-away existed, when people made payments each week and only took the merchandise home when it was paid in full. Two years later I started another envelope labeled Car Payment.

When I was 20, I got my first credit card, and I learned an important lesson that has stayed with me throughout my entire life. I bought a purple suede vest with long fringe and turquoise and white beads that I thought was so cool. I also bought some hot pants, and a few other things that I can’t remember because that purple suede vest overshadowed everything. If memory serves me, my credit card bill was about $300, which was a fortune for a young girl back then. What I remember very clearly is that I made minimum payments, and by the time that balance was paid off, the clothes were old and I hated that purple suede vest.

Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”

– Will Smith

I proudly told Suze Orman that story when I interviewed her for my celebrity column, Up Close and Personal in Luxury Las Vegas magazine. She in turn shared some amazing stories about her childhood and beyond that will touch your heart.

A lot of folks think of Suze Orman as a money maven, whose no nonsense tough love approach has taught millions of people how to get out of debt and be financially free. In my interview with her, she shares a more person side to herself.

In my interview with Suze, she talks about:

• The three people who have most influenced her life. Her answer is fascinating and will provide a lot of insight into who she really is.
• Her lifestyle, which really surprised and impressed me.
• Her greatest strength and yes, her greatest weakness.
• What a perfect day looks like.
• What she treasures most.
• Her long relationship with KT and why Gay marriage must be legalized on the Federal level, along with and much more.

Suze is one of the most honest, direct and outspoken people around, whether she’s telling people that they have to get real and curtail their spending or talking about her life as a lesbian.

My hope is for a world where everyone accepts and embraces each other for their character and their diversity regardless of the color of their skin, their religion, or their sexual orientation. We are all  equally beautiful, colorful threads in this tapestry of life.”

LIFE LESSON: I’ve been fortunate to discover that the size of the home we live in, the kind of car we drive, the label on the clothes we wear, don’t define who we are. If we don’t like ourselves, it won’t matter how many material things we acquire. The need for bigger, better, more will always leave us empty. Peace and fulfillment will always come from within.

When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.”

– Wayne Dyer

Enjoy my full Up Close and Personal with Suze Orman interview as it appeared in Luxury Las Vegas magazine.