For Cash

Value is the ability of something to influence the quantity, quality or availability of future possibilities of existence. A change can be caused by an object, money, information, a decision, a relationship, knowledge or simply by saving time. The basic relationship: ΔFC = FC after the event − FC before the event.

• Price is not value — price describes an exchange; value is the impact on life possibilities.
• Value can be positive or negative — something can create, preserve or destroy it.
• Value depends on context — the same thing has different value for different people.
• Value changes over time — what is valuable today may not be valuable tomorrow.

For Cash does not measure only money; it measures the overall impact on life possibilities. The first version of the model can be based on the sum of partial changes with different weights: FC = Σ (wᵢ × vᵢ).

• Time and freedom of choice — how much life something frees or consumes and how many real choices it opens up.
• Financial capacity and material security — resources, housing, transport and access to resources.
• Health, functionality, security and stability — the ability to act and resilience against crises.
• Knowledge, relationships and trust — competences and social capital that open new possibilities.
• Social influence, meaning and satisfaction — legitimate standing, fulfillment, joy and identity.

A common measure must be comparable, yet life value is also personal. The system therefore distinguishes two layers from the outset.

• Standard FC — a reference value determined by common rules for comparing people, situations and projects.
• Personal FC — a value adjusted to a person's goals, limitations, priorities and stage of life.
• Example: the same car has a similar price, but greatly expands possibilities for someone who needs it for work; for someone else, it is merely an expensive luxury.

The same price does not mean the same value.

Time that has been spent cannot be returned. Every decision costs not only money, but also hours and years of life. A person can gain financially while losing in terms of value.

• An hour of work for €20 — a monetary account sees +€20; a value account also sees time and energy consumed, and experience, reputation or meaning gained.
• FC now, FC future and ΔFC — the system distinguishes present value, future value and the net change between them.
• Education, investments, relationships, health and business often create value only later.

A truly advantageous decision is not the one that maximizes money, but the one that creates the highest net value.

Core theses on which the system can be built:

• People need a language for value that is broader than money.
• Price and value are two different quantities; the object of measurement is the change in possibilities.
• Every decision has both positive and negative value consequences.
• A common system must allow both reference comparison and personal interpretation.
• For Cash should not tell people what to want — it should show them the value consequences of their own choices.
• The purpose is not to monetize life, but to reveal value where money alone cannot express it.

For For Cash to become a real system rather than merely a powerful metaphor, a measurable, transparent and verifiable model must be developed — genuine “value accounting”.

• Precise definitions of the ten dimensions and conversion of real-world inputs into partial FC values.
• Reference weights for Standard FC and personalization rules for Personal FC.
• Time factors and rules for risk, uncertainty and negative value.
• Calibration examples and transparency — it must always be possible to trace why the system assigned a particular value.