The tapestry

It's tempting to evaluate people based on one act, a mere stitch in their life.

Tiger Woods' moral lapse or Martha Stewart's insider trading scandal come to mind.

And yet life is more of a tapestry than a lone stitch.

That's good news for those looking to create prosperity. Several financial decisions make up your financial tapestry; no single stitch is omnipotent.

That expensive dress you bought seven years ago is a single event. It isn't who you are, it must not define you.

Instead build a rich life, a tapestry, using multiple single stitches.

Successful single stitches include automating bills, using shareable budgets, obtaining multiple quotes, waiting and waiting, buying economy or thrifty cars, and buying modest homes.

A single stitch usually doesn't matter too much. But sewing a beautiful tapestry requires many beautiful single stitches.

(Photo courtesy Wikipedia)