Over a period of a good many years I have known a great many people who at some time or another have suffered in various ways simply because they did not have ready cash. I have known people who have had to sacrifice some of their holdings in order to have money that was necessary at that time.
在相当多年的时间里，我认识了许多人，他们在某个时期以这样或那样的方式受过苦，原因仅仅是他们手头没有现钱。我也认识一些人，为了在当时获得必需的现金，不得不牺牲掉自己的一部分持有资产。
For a good many years your grandfather kept a certain amount of money where he could put his hands on it in very short notice.
在很多年里，你的祖父都会留出一笔钱，放在一个他能在很短时间内随手取用的地方。
For a number of years I have made it a point to keep a reserve, should some occasion come up where I would need money quickly, without disturbing the money that I have in my business. There have been a couple occasions when I found it very convenient to go to this fund.
这些年来，我一直刻意保留一笔储备金，以防遇到需要迅速用钱的情况，同时又不必动用我放在生意里的钱。有过那么一两次，我发现动用这笔资金非常方便。
Thus, I feel that everyone should have a reserve. I hope it never happens to you, but the chances are that some day you will need money, and need it badly, and with this thought in view, I started a fund by placing $200.00 in an envelope, with your name on it, when you were married. Each year I added something to it, until there is now $1000.00 in the fund.
因此，我认为每个人都应该有一笔储备金。我希望你永远用不上它，但很可能总有一天你会需要钱，而且会非常急迫。基于这种考虑，在你结婚时，我就开始设立这笔基金：我把 200.00 美元放进一个信封里，并在信封上写上你的名字。此后每一年我都会往里添一点，直到现在，这笔基金已经累积到 1000.00 美元。
Ten years have elapsed since you were married, and this fund is now completed.
从你结婚至今已经过去十年，这笔基金现在也已经完成了。
It is my wish that you place this envelope in your safety deposit box, and keep it for the purpose that it was created for. Should the time come when you need part, I would suggest that you use as little as possible, and replace it as soon as possible.
我希望你把这个信封放进你的保险箱里，并把它保留下来，用于它当初设立的目的。如果将来确实到了需要动用其中一部分的时候，我建议你尽可能少用，并尽快把用掉的部分补回去。
You might feel that this should be invested and bring you an income. Forget it -- the mental satisfaction of having $1000.00 laid away where you can put your hands on it, is worth more than what interest it might bring, especially if you have the investment in something that you could not realize on quickly.
你也许会觉得，这笔钱应该拿去投资，让它带来一些收入。别这么想——把 1000.00 美元存放在一个你随时能取到的地方所带来的心理满足感，比它可能带来的那点利息更有价值，尤其是在你把钱投到一些无法迅速变现的东西上的情况下更是如此。
If in after years you feel this has been a good idea, you might repeat it with your own children.
如果在未来的岁月里，你觉得这确实是个好主意，你也可以在自己的孩子身上重复这一做法。
For your information, I might mention that there has never been a Buffett who ever left a very large estate, but there has never been one that did not leave something. They never spent all they made, but always saved part of what they made, and it has all worked out pretty well.
供你参考，我想提一句：从来没有哪位 Buffett 留下过非常巨大的遗产，但也从来没有哪位 Buffett 什么都没留下。他们从不把自己赚到的钱全部花光，总会把其中的一部分存下来，而事实证明，这一切的结果都相当不错。
This letter is being written at the expiration of ten years after you were married.
这封信写于你结婚满十年之际。