為什么中國人和印度人可以存那么多錢，而美國人則不行？

Dante Wong, Author
Do you know why when, the Canadian stand-upcomedian, Russell Peters, tells his jokes about the frugality of Indians andChinese (+ other Asians) and how tight-fisted with money they are, the Indiansand Chinese (and other Asians) in the audience laugh uproariously, with someeven wiping back tears?
Because they all know it is absolutelytrue.
You can’t laugh like that if there was notruth in the joke.
I can tell you that my parents instilledfrugality in me at a tender age.
As kids, we didn’t have much in the way oftoys.
But my parents would bring me to thelibrary every other weekend, so that we could have something more valuable thantoys: books. Loads and loads of books, more books than we could ever hope toread in a fortnight.

你知道為什么當加拿大脫口秀主持人Russell Peters（羅素彼得斯，印度裔）在講有關印度人和中國人（以及其他亞洲人）的節儉和多么舍不得花錢的笑話時底下的印度人和中國人（以及其他亞洲人）觀眾笑得合不攏嘴甚至笑出眼淚嗎？
因為他們知道他說得太對了。如果這個笑話里沒有真實的成分，人們是不可能笑成那樣的。
我父母在我很小的時候就給我灌輸了節儉的美德。小時候，我們沒有多少玩具可以玩。但是每隔一個周末，他們就會帶我去圖書館看書，這樣我們就可以獲得比玩具更加珍貴的東西：書籍。大量的書籍。

We seldom went out to eat, even though wecould afford to.
My parents taught me and my siblings how tocook.
We didn’t eat junk food or fast food; myparents told us that eating these foods will only end up costing us more in thelong run.
My parents still use the same wok they usedwhen I was a kid.
They even still have the same choppingboards.
I estimate the wok to be slightly olderthan I am.
We got a set of clothes on our birthdaysand another set during the Lunar New Year. That was it. None of the clotheswere branded. No GAP, no Armani, no CK. Just regular, durable clothes thatcould take a pounding or two.
The only time you’d get new clothes is ifyour underwear starts getting holes.
In that case, you MUST throw it away,because hole-y underwear (not to be confused with holy underwear) brings badluck.
Same thing with shoes - you wear them untilyou start seeing holes.

我們很少出去吃飯，雖然我們也吃得起。
我父母教我們兄弟姐妹如何煮飯做菜。我們不吃垃圾食品或者快餐；我父母對我們說吃這些食物從長遠來看會讓我們付出更大的代價。
我父母現在使用的鍋依然還是我們小時候使用的那一個。他們使用的砧板也是以前使用的那些。我估計那個鍋的年紀比我都大。
我們在生日和農歷新年的時候分別獲得一套新衣服。僅此而已。這些衣服都不是名牌。不是GAP，不是阿瑪尼，不是CK。就是普通耐穿的衣服。
你獲得新衣服的唯一機會就是你內衣褲破洞的時候。內衣褲破洞的話只能扔掉，因為那會給你帶來壞運氣。鞋子也是這個道理，除非破洞，否則就一直穿著。
原創翻譯：龍騰網 http://www.mmg13444.com 轉載請注明出處

Basically, as a kid, you spent most of yourtime in school, studying.
If not, then you’re at private or groupafter-school tuition classes, where you probably spend more time at compared toschool.
There was no time for anything else - whichalso meant you didn’t have time to spend whatever meager allowance you weregiven.
As for “treats” - well, what do you thinkthe piano and violin classes are?
You might not be musically inclined or havemuch musical talent - but by golly gee, unless you actually put your all intoit, how would you ever know?
If you get good grades, you might berewarded with a trip to the cinema.
Maybe once every 3–4 years, you could havea family trip to another city. You never buy souvenirs, because your parentswould tell you “That’s a waste of money! We’re not tourists! Put that back!”
Lather, rinse, repeat for about 18–22 yearsbefore you fly the coop, leave the nest, head off into the great wilderness insearch of adventure.

基本上，小時候，我們大部分時間都花在學校里學習。如果不在學校的話，那就是在校外補習班里，你花在補習班的時間可能比待在學校的時間還多。
沒有時間干其他事情了——這意味我們連零花錢都沒時間花。
就其他的“好處”而言，你覺得鋼琴課和小提琴課怎樣？
你可能不喜歡音樂或者沒有太多的音樂天賦，但是如果你沒有全力以赴，你怎么知道自己不行？
如果你考試分數很高，你可能會被獎勵一張電影票。
或許每3-4年，你們全家可以去另外一個城市旅游一次。你從不買紀念品，因為父母告訴你“那是浪費錢！我們不是游客！把東西放回去！”
就這樣過了18-22年，你開始逃離，離開自己的老巢，開始走向自己的探險之路。
原創翻譯：龍騰網 http://www.mmg13444.com 轉載請注明出處

But even as you leave the halcyon days ofyour youth behind, even if you end up not living with Dad or Mom, you willalways hear those words in your head.
“Don’t waste money.”
“Spend below your means.”
“Save and save and save for your future.”
“And please, don’t wear hole-y underwear.”

但是即使你已經成年，即使你不再和父母生活在一起，你的腦海里隨時都會響起這些聲音。
“不要浪費錢?！?br /> “不要入不敷出?！?br /> “為未來存點錢?！?br /> “記住，不要穿破洞的內衣褲哦?！?br>原創翻譯：龍騰網 http://www.mmg13444.com 轉載請注明出處

Maulik Barot
This is very true . All people in Indiaborn before 70s have the same thought as you and your parents had becuase theyhave themselves faced bad times during their childhood and they have surelyheard stories from their own parents or grandparents .
Actually before 70s was a bad time forIndian economy . India was earlier under British rule and that was a bad phaseso when British left India then it took very long to recover & establish Indiaagain at its earlier glory . So people of that time know that what is thatworking for very very less pay, there were no grains or food in market . Forgetabout buying it . There were very harsh or no laws for startup’s . There wereno or very less universities . Adding to that famine & natural calamitiestook away what was left .

你說的對。70年代之前出生的所有印度人和你（以及你父母）的想法一樣，因為他們童年時候也經歷了困苦的生活，他們也從自己父母和祖父母那里聽說了一些事情。
實際上，70年代之前的印度經濟很糟糕。更早之前，印度在英國統治之下，而那是一個糟糕的時期，所以英國離開印度后，印度花了好長時間才恢復過來。所以當時的人們知道工資很低，市場里沒有糧食或者食物。更不用說購買了。當時初創企業面臨著險惡的環境，幾乎沒有什么大學。再加上大饑荒和自然災害讓情況更加惡化了。

Dante Wong

Thanks for sharing, Maulik. In Chinese, wehave a phrase for this. 吃苦 (chīku), the literal translation being “Eating bitterness”. Similar towhat you mentioned, it is about the ability to bear suffering or hardship.
樓上的，感謝你的分享。在中文里，有一個詞叫做“吃苦”。就像你所提到的，這關乎忍受痛苦或者苦難的能力。

Maulik Barot
3m ago
This is the only reason that many Indiansare able to stay rich even at other countries like US,UK or Australia . Indiansor maybe even people from lot many other Asian countries to be specific aretrained by their parents to save their 10–20% of salaries or profits and maybeif savings are in access then to invest it in various commodities . This habitmakes them safe during bad times or during high expenditures . The opposite ofthis is observed with many people from western world who believe to spend allthey have on their weekends . There is a famous proverb “scarcity teachesvaluable lessons of life”.

這也是很多印度人能在其他國家保持富裕的唯一原因，比如在英國，美國或者澳洲。印度人或者很多其他亞洲國家的人們都被自己的父母教育，把自己工資或者利潤的10-20%存起來，或者將這些儲蓄投資在不同的商品上。這種習慣讓他們度過了艱難時期，相反，很多西方人則喜歡把自己的錢花光光。有一句著名的諺語叫做“稀缺性給我們上了一堂寶貴的人生課”。

Carlo Gracci
Hi Dante, the descxtion of your familylife and education reminds me exactly of how life was in Italy in the Fifties.

Dante，你好，你對自己家庭生活和教育的描述讓我想起了50年代的意大利生活。

Afam Ibeabuchi
Okay, Okay, a recap.
You saved every dime you could, read a tonof books, had very good discipline and hobbies (music…), and probably workedpretty hard at your chosen career.
Two questions: Did you get money rich?Also, how much do you consider rich?
Please don't misunderstand my questions, I’monly trying to find out if such a combination can get someone up there. Tryingto figure out what to piece together for maximum results. Thanks.

你非常節儉，讀了很多書，學習成績好，有良好的愛好（音樂。。。），而且在自己的職業上可能還很努力。
兩個問題：你在金錢上很富有嗎？你認為多少錢才算富有？
請不要誤解我的問題，我只是想知道你的這些特點是不是可以幫助你走向成功。我只是想知道什么樣的組合才可以帶來最大的結果。謝謝。

Dante Wong
Original Author · 12h ago · 38 upvotes
I’m not sure what you mean by “up there”.
I’m no Jack Ma or Elon Musk. I have adecent job. I’m doing something I enjoy. I get to go on vacation several timesa year. I have a roof over my head. I don’t have to worry about paying any ofmy bills. I own two pieces of property. More importantly, I don’t have anyoutstanding loans.
Am I rich? I don’t think I’m rich at all.Maybe average?
Jack Ma is rich. Elon Musk is rich. Jeff Bezosis rich.
I’m just a very average guy who’s doingokay, someone who’s just trying to get by and enjoy life as best as I canbefore I shuffle off this mortal coil. :)

我不知道你說的成功是什么意思。我不是馬云，也不是馬斯克。我有一個體面的工作。我可以做自己喜歡做的事情。我一年去度假幾次。我有自己的房子。我不用擔心入不敷出。我擁有兩個房產。更重要的是，我沒有任何未償還的貸款。
我富有嗎？我認為自己根本不富有?；蛟S只是一般水平？
馬云是富有的。馬斯克是富有的。貝佐斯是富有的。
我就是個普通人，努力的過活和享受生活。

Al Allington, lived in Cedar Springs, MI
Great question.
My Chinese wife says Chinese think likethis: number 1=eat number 2=buy a home. No car, no $150 sneakers, noboats/camper/toys, no frills until you buy a house.
I don’t know how other Chinese do it but mywife (a widow for 16 years before we met) worked 7 days a week, 10 hours a day(plenty of Chinese do), her boss fed his workers three meals a day, she had afree bus pass to get to work (because of her low income), the ONLY applianceleft on in her home was a small refrigerator, no lights, no phone charger, tvon only a couple hours a week and so on. Her electric bill was nearly zero. Shedidn’t heat her house in winter (very few Chinese do so in mid-south Chinadespite cold winters and occasional snow. She didn’t have a car or motorbikebut rode a bus or walked everywhere. When we met she owned two homes free andclear and had a savings equal to about five years take home pay. I once figuredshe had saved about 75% of her income for 10 years while raising a son andsending him to college in Australia. She did it because she was expected tosave for her old age and she was expected to help out her son who had no fatherto help him.
I have seen/met plenty of young peopleworking 10 hour days who then have small street vendor businesses, working fourhours in the evening. That’s how they do it. They work for it, scrimp, they gowithout and they plan.

這個問題很好。我的中國妻子說中國人是這么想的：第一吃飯，第二買房子。在買房子之前，不買車，不買150美元的運動鞋，不買船艇/野營車/玩具。
我不知道其他中國人怎樣，但是我的妻子（她當了16年的寡婦，直到我們相見）每周工作7天，每天工作10小時（很多中國人都這樣），她的老板給員工提供三餐，她可以用免費公交一卡通上下班（因為它收入低），她家里留下的唯一家電就是一個小冰箱，沒有電燈，沒有手機充電器，電視一周只開幾個小時。她的電費幾乎是0。冬天她也不使用暖氣，不過中國中南部的人們很少使用暖氣，即使冬天很冷，有時還下雪。她沒有汽車，也沒有電動摩托車，而是坐公交或者走路。我遇到她的時候，她已經擁有兩套房產，而且儲蓄相當于五年凈薪。10年來她把自己收入的70%都存起來了，同時撫養自己的一個兒子并送他到澳洲學習。她這么做是因為她得為自己老了以后做準備，而且要幫助自己的兒子，因為兒子沒了爸爸。
我見過很多年輕人白天工作10小時，晚上又在街上擺攤4小時。他們就是這么勤勞。他們精打細算，富有計劃。

Ryan McClintick
In America you pretty much need a car toget to work in most cities, almost every city. Public transportation exists butit’s not so widespread. If you don’t have a car in the midwest or can’t havsomeone drive you then you can’t work as you usually don’t live close enough toa place of employment. Only if you live downtown is a public transport buss areal option. Busses usually run late. Many emplorers require the worker to havetheir own transportation. You don’t need a new or fancy car but you need avehicle in most of the USA. with that car you need car insurance, and have toregister it and get a license plate. that all costs money. In America ones rentand car payment is a huge chunk of ones income.

在美國的大部分城市里，你一般需要自己開車去上班，幾乎所有城市都是這樣。公共交通是有，但是沒那么方便。如果你在中西部沒有車，或者沒人接送你，那么你是無法上班的，因為你的住處離公司一般都挺遠。只有居住在市中心才可能乘坐公交車去上班。而且巴士經常遲到。很多雇主都要求員工自己開車。自己買車意味著要給車上保險，要登記注冊，要獲得車牌號碼，這些都需要花錢。在美國，房租和車輛費用占據了一個人收入的很大一部分。

Adam Fayed
Culture. I lived in China for 4.5 years,and for all the faults, Chinese people are taught to delay gratification. Thatis changing with the new materialistic generation- much more materialistic thanWestern countries in general.
However, the state in China doesn’t providefor people. So you can’t relay on the state to provide you with housing, or apension. It exits but it is limited. So you need to state and invest.
Most people have seen, or heard fromgrandparents, about the bad times. The Cultural Revolution or whatever. Sopeople are careful. Beyond that, families look after each other in China.
So even though selfishness has gotten outof control in China, and that can be seen by the way many wealthier peoplebehave, they look after their family. So you will see many Chinese people in2nd and 3rd tier cities, who only make 4,000–7,000RMB, and yet they are able toconsume and save, due to parental and family support.

文化使然。我在中國生活了四年半，中國人被教育去延遲享樂。但是新一代中國人崇拜金錢，所以這一點正在發生變化，總體上比西方國家還要崇拜金錢。
然而，中國政府并不供養人民。所以人們無法不能期望國家給他們提供住房或者養老金。雖然也有，但是有限。所以你得自己投資自己。
大部分人見過或者從祖輩那里聽說過以前的困難時期。所以人們很謹慎。此外，在中國，家庭之間是互相照顧的。
所以雖然現在的中國人變得很自私，這可以從很多富人的行為中看出來，但是他們還是會照顧自己的家人。所以你會看到中國二三線城市的很多人每個月賺4000-7000元，但是他們卻能消費和存錢，就是因為有父母和家庭的支持。