To me, money means the resource to look after our needs. That is my assessment. One wants money to look after oneself, one's family, one's day-to-day activities...

(As chief minister), generally, I don't even have time to think (about investments). I know how to plan in a big way for the government! As far as personal expenditure is concerned, my missus takes care of everything. She is totally independent. Actually, it all (investments) depends on the economy. Boom or slump -- everything is interlinked. I can't say which is wiser -- real estate or the stock market -- it depends on how each individual conceives of it. But anybody earning legally has to do it with a conscience. Illegal earning only creates fear in the mind.

Money is necessary, but it alone cannot doanything. It cannot give happiness or health. If that were true, all moneyed people would be happy! How you take money psychologically is very important. One needs to have some money to look after one's minimal needs. Beyond that, how much you spend is a luxury.

I am neither a spendthrift nor a miser. I am moderate -- its a matter of balancing everything. My life is very simple. I use only an Ambassador car. I don't wear watches or rings -- nothing fancy for me.

I don't get much time to myself, and so I don't have the time to think on how I'd like to spend my money -- that is the situation. Now, I have an honorarium of Re 1 as salary! I became an MLA when I was very young, and at that time, they used to give some perks. So you can say that was my first salary.

To even imagine someone leaving me a million dollars is not correct! I have not aspired towards this, so I can't think about it. If someone were to leave my wife a million dollars? Well, she has always been totally free to do what she wants, but Ihave the confidence that she will spend very judiciously.

All my travelling is done as the chief minister, but I do enjoy a lot of it. Very rarely do I get the time to go on a holiday with my family -- that too only for a day or two. Yes, I do go abroad, but that's because I want to attract investment for my state. I want to observe and implement their ideas with modifications to suit our way of thinking and working.

My wife and I both believe in helping those who are disadvantaged -- I am talking in my personal capacity, and not as CM.

Money is important, and to a certain extent, it helps you. One should have vision, then all resources will fall into place. My advice would be to spend money judiciously. Everyone has to save for the future--capital assets or whatever you choose -- and that should be a habit.

-- as told to Punam Mohandas