This seems a great length to go for a few extra bucks, which brings me back around to the eight in my wallet. I can’t keep a plant alive to save my life, and the southeast corner of my home is occupied by my stove, which doesn’t seem to be a particularly auspicious arrangement. So what’s the significance of the eight in the wallet? One explanation goes back to the Chinese—again: the word for “eight” in Mandarin (in most dialects) sounds just like the word for “prosper.” Logically, you’d put this prosperous-sounding number in the place where you most commonly carry around the fruits of your prosperity: your wallet. Furthermore, the appearance of two eights, 88, looks just like that of the Chinese character that means “double joy.” Double joy is always a good thing, but when it comes to cash, it’s even better than a Daily Double.
The Web site NumbersLady.com explains the function of the eight in the wallet this way: “You are simply letting the universe know that you are ready for more financial prosperity in your life.” To which I say, hear, hear! In the end, it comes down to the power of positive thinking. Note that the essential element of the money tree ritual is not the red envelope or the coins or even the tree—it’s the conviction that you’ll have more money in your future. No matter what completely rational or slightly strange or mystical activities we indulge in to help us stretch our pennies further, it all comes down to our intentions—our determination to have more dough, to have more breathing room, to worry a little less about how we’re going to make it all happen every month. We work hard, so why not give the old dollar a little extra push however we can?
