MoneyPants - See More Interviews

Anne Taintor	The Week of May 7th, 2006

Artist

1. What’s in your wallet right now?

The only store within 40 miles lets me run a tab, so I never have much immediate need for cash. I have $3.00 in my wallet now... in case I run into my neighbor who sells fresh eggs.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

I didn't really get it until I was over 30 that I was actually going to have to support myself and my daughter, and that I was going to need to make a lot more money than I would have guessed in order to do so. That would have been a handy bit of information to have had earlier.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

I have no budget. I alternate between being ridiculously frugal and insanely profligate.

4. What makes you happy?

I love spending time with my family, preferably not all at the same time though.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

I bought a pin years ago that says: sometimes all she wanted to buy was time. That says it all.

6. Where does money come from?

The post office? That's where our checks seem to come from, anyway.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

First I'd pay off my mortgage. What little remained I'd invest in something safe. At this point I can afford to retire for about 3 months, and I'd like a little more of a cushion than that.

8. What is your most prized possession?

A Walt Kuhn drawing. It technically belongs to my husband, but I figure what's his is mine.

9. Who is your role model?

Tom Waits, because he's the most brilliant practitioner of the English language and he just gets more brilliant every year.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Raising my daughter, a wonderful and lovely young woman.

11. What organizations do you support?

I support efforts to protect the planet and end world hunger, such as The Trust for Public Land, and America's Second Harvest, as well as a bunch of good local charities.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

I'll never make any large-scale contributions to large-scale society. However I believe that all my employees' lives have improved pretty dramatically since they began working for me, and I get great satisfaction out of that.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

I have my eye on a 500 acre lot that backs up to The Chama Wilderness.

14. Favorite activity that doesn’t cost a dime?

Hiking.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

I lie in the sun (or if it isn't sunny, I lie in the bathtub) and read.

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Anne Taintor