Securing this life and the next (Part 1 of 3)

Once a layman asked the Buddha,
"We are laymen who like to enjoy worldly pleasure, who have family. We enjoy luxuries of life and love to beautify ourselves. We meddle with money. For people like us, Buddha, is there a teaching for our happiness in this life and the next rebirth?

4 things which brings happiness in this life:

1. Whatsoever career you are in — you are skilled in that field of knowledge and is not lazy. You are wise in learning and knowing the proper ways and means, so that you are able to carry out your assigned duties. ( Persistent Effort )

2. You handle your wealth and belongings with care, protecting and guarding them from confiscation by authorities, thief, fire, flood and vengeful inheritors. ( Watchfulness )

3. Wherever you are, you associates with people or their family members, regardless of age, which are faithful, virtuous, generous and reasonable(wise) people. You talk to them, discuss with them on suitable topics of their kind. ( Good friendship )

4. You lead a balanced lifestyle: Not spending overly (too much) or too miserly (too stingy), but not spending beyond what your income can afford.

-Dighajanu Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya 8.54