景氣奇差無比,但美國當紅理財達人歐曼卻工作滿檔。

「很抱歉這麼說,但我的生意一飛沖天。」1月某個傍晚,個人理財大師歐曼(Suze Orman)這麼對記者說。當天美國道瓊工業指數大跌近200點,穿著豹紋緊身衣和牛仔靴的歐曼宣稱:「這一切會發生是因華爾街的謊話連篇與貪得無厭,房貸業者和美國證管會也有責任。」

聽過歐曼談論美國經濟前景的人,可能會以為世界末日到了。她認為美國還將有數百萬人失業,股市可能繼續下跌,直到2015年經濟都不會好轉。她愈說愈激動:「他們全是缺德的騙子,我之前已警告過無數遍。」

房貸危機、赤字、裁員浪潮和房屋查封潮都顯示美國經濟已殘破不堪,但57歲的歐曼目前的事業如日中天。

如同在戰場上照料傷兵的軍醫,歐曼現在每天忙著替身陷財務險境的客戶處理難關,這些人不是快被信用卡債逼瘋就是被指數型房貸壓的喘不過氣來。

他們每周call-in歐曼的CNBC節目要歐曼指引明燈或購買她出的書,盼能從書中找到脫離金融煉獄的答案。

為了滿足讀者源源不絕的需求,歐曼趕忙推出名為「歐曼2009行動計畫」的平裝新書,一舉登上紐約時報的暢銷書排行榜。此外,要歐曼開金口每次要價8萬美元,但來自世界各地的演講邀約持續蜂湧而至。

歐曼幼時家道中落,因此比一般人更懂得金錢紀律,尤其擅長用淺顯的語言解釋理財觀念,她能快速診斷出call-in觀眾的問題,很快地給出藥方,據說這些建議事後都證明有效。

提到負責處理危機的政府官員時,她常語帶藐視。

她曾痛斥美國總統歐巴馬的經濟顧問桑莫斯建議美國人應開始買車以提振經濟是「最不負責任的話」,她說:「我了解我們必須刺激經濟,但現在很多人失業,也有人連尿壺都買不起。美國現在有很多帳棚城市,桑莫斯應該去瞧瞧誰在排隊領湯,裡頭肯定有白領勞工。」

歐曼的無所不在已成為某種非官方的經濟指標,你愈常看到她,代表經濟愈糟。

她說話的風格已接近惱人的地步,藍色眼珠瞪得老大,對著鏡頭大嚷大叫或齜牙咧嘴在罵人,但其實她的話是忠言逆耳,也是美國人早該聽進去的話。

她向來大力反對卡債,呼籲人們省錢和儘速償還房貸。她曾說:「別再找藉口,坐公車並不丟臉,趕快把車賣掉,省下的油錢和保險費可用來清償卡債。」「你的屁股沒那麼嬌貴,從今天起把家中廁紙換成再生紙。」

【2009/03/09 經濟日報】

Take Suze Orman's simple financial pledge

You love your stuff. Stuff makes you feel good. People see your stuff and they think that you are doing good. Suze Orman is here to challenge you. Having the best stuff is no substitute for having the best life.

What can you live without? Take Suze Orman's challenge. Simplify your life. Follow Suze's financial three tips and scale back.

For one day, don't spend any money
For one week, don't use your credit card
For one month, don't eat out at any restaurants

This is all about awareness and appreciation. The goal is to gain more by taking things away.
You will be happier with less. You will be more in balance. You will be better.

As an Interior Designer, I see a lot of clutter. You all have a lot of stuff. You need to clear your home. Open up your space. When you make more space, good things will come into your life.
This weekend, take my three bag challenge. Fill three bags with stuff from three spaces in your home.

Bedroom: Fill it with shoes and shirts and coats
Kitchen: Fill it with cans and boxes and containers of food
Bathroom: Fill it with toothpaste and soap and shampoo

Take your three bags to your local donation drop-off center. There are dozens of donation sites in San Francisco including Goodwill, Salvation Army and homeless shelters.
Start the process. Help others. Open yourself and create space for good things to enter.

I look forward to hearing your stories.
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